As First Trust Senior Cup winners, Queen’s University will represent Ulster in this year’s Ulster Bank All Ireland Bateman Cup semi finals.
As First Trust Senior Cup winners, Queen’s University will represent Ulster in this year’s Ulster Bank All Ireland Bateman Cup semi finals.
They travel to Temple Hill this Saturday to take on current holders Cork Constitution. UCD host Galwegians in the other last four clash.
The competition involves the four winners of the provincial Senior Cups. Ballynahinch remain the sole Ulster club to win the cup since it was reformatted for the 2005/06 season, when they defeated Cork Con in an Athlone final in 2009.
It is interesting to note that this is the first meeting of Cork Constitution and Queen’s since they contested the original Bateman Cup final in 1932 when Queen’s were winners by 19-0 at the old Lansdowne Road. Queen’s had also won the Cup in 1924 and again in 1937 before the competition was suspended.
Cork Constitution will start be favourites to progress to this year’s final which is due to be played on 26th April 2014. Exams and Ulster Ravens commitments will determine the team Queen’s can put out to compete in Cork. The coaching staff at Queen’s will be hoping to have Ravens players Marc Campbell, Lorcan Dow and David Busby available to play.
An under-strength Queen’s team recorded an impressive 22-10 win in the Ulster Bank League at Seapoint on Saturday. Coach Paddy Armstrong will be once again looking to captain Stuart McIIwaine and his backs of Ritchie McMaster, Chris Colvin, Damian Hall, Conor Spence, Michael McAuley and Paddy Farrell to showcase their pace and undoubted talent.
In the forwards they will look to their impressive back row of Ryan Clarke, Matt Clarke and Stuart Hooks to win the battle at the breakdown as they undone the formidable Ballynahinch pack in the First Trust Senior Cup Final. The availability of Marc Campbell, Lorcan Dow, Robert Whitten and Grant Bartley in the second row will greatly enhance their engine room. In the front row, props Ben Howard, Jonny Craig and Andrew Clingan along with hooker David Swann have key roles in ensuring the Queen’s scrum is competitive. Late decisions could be made on the inclusion of Patrick Colhoun and Rory Winters subject to fitness tests this week.
Despite the long journey to Cork you can be assured that the Queens team will give 100% as they push for their third piece of silverware this season. Can they add the All Ireland Senior Cup to the Ulster Senior Cup and Dudley Cup. The priority for the students is promotion to Ulster Bank Division 1B, after they missed out in 2011/12 to near neighbours Malone on the final day of the season.