ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 1A
BALLYNAHINCH v CLONTARF
Ballymacarn Park will welcome league leaders Clontarf to County Down for a fixture Derek Sufferin and his players will be looking forward to this weekend. 'Hinch Captain Stuart Morrow will have the opportunity to meet up with his International Club XV centre partner Killian Lett from Clontarf. The Dublin side has provided the International Club XV with second rows for in Simon Crawford and Ben Reilly, along with scrum half Sean Cronin ...
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 1A BALLYNAHINCH v CLONTARF Ballymacarn Park will welcome league leaders Clontarf to County Down for a fixture Derek Sufferin and his players will be looking forward to this weekend. 'Hinch Captain Stuart Morrow will have the opportunity to meet up with his International Club XV centre partner Killian Lett from Clontarf. The Dublin side has provided the International Club XV with second rows for in Simon Crawford and Ben Reilly, along with scrum half Sean Cronin in recent seasons. In Leinster and Munster Academy players Colm O'Shea, Bryan Byrne, Tadhg Furlong and Barry O'Mahoney they have depth in their playing squad. 'Hinch are likely to be hit with a few Ravens call ups this weekend so there squad will be stretched. Their 2nds have a free weekend some fringe players may get a run. 'Hinch may sit second from the bottom of the league but have secured five losing bonus points from their seven games, highlighting their competitiveness. A win this weekend would build momentum for their First Trust Senior Cup Final at Ravenhill on Wednesday the 11th December against Queens University.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 1B BELFAST HARLEQUINS v CORINTHIANS 'Quins were unlucky not to secure a fourth win in a row against Shannon in Limerick last weekend: losing out to an fourth minute injury time try to lose 13-9. Coach Adam Larkin and captain Neil Simpson will be pleased this performance was achieved without any of their Ulster players against a side that contained several Munster contracted and Academy players. Half Backs Josh Fullerton and Liam Cambridge, along with centre Mark Best have key roles to play for the Deramore side on Saturday. Third placed Corinthians will be looking to bounce back from 10-57 home defeat to league leaders Terenure College last weekend. MALONE v SHANNON The Cregagh road side welcome nine times All Ireland League champions Shannon to Gibson Park on Saturday for another crucial All Ireland league game. Coach Jacque Benade and Captain Neil Alcorn were left devastated by the narrow 22-20 loss at Trinity last Saturday. This was the fourth game in a row Malone led at half time and ended up losing. The young squad, minus their Ulster players, were left exhausted at the final whistle as they gave everything, only for a stubborn defence to keep them out. The loss of Ulster under 20 number 8 Ben Alexander to a shoulder injury in the first minute was a big blow to the side. Ulster U20 prop Ross Kane put in another impressive performance for the team along with young half backs Michael Rainey and Rob Haldane. As ever, Shannon have a number of Munster contracted players in their side this season. Ireland Club XV centre Richie Mullane adds significant strength to the backline. Malone will need the same effort they put in against the students to win this game. TERENURE COLLEGE v DUNGANNON The Stevenson Park side face the inform Dublin side who recorded an impressive 10-57 win away to third place Corinthians last weekend. With all the Ulster players Peter Nelson, Chris Cochrane, Chris Farrell, Stewart McCloskey and Sean Doyle likely to be involved with the two Ulster sides this week, coach Paddy Johns has a difficult task ahead of him this weekend. He will be delighted that Michael Dunleavy has returned to playing after injury. Scrumhalf and captain James Bates will need all his experience for the Tyrone side to get any points from this match.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 1A BALLYNAHINCH v CLONTARF Ballymacarn Park will welcome league leaders Clontarf to County Down for a fixture Derek Sufferin and his players will be looking forward to this weekend. 'Hinch Captain Stuart Morrow will have the opportunity to meet up with his International Club XV centre partner Killian Lett from Clontarf. The Dublin side has provided the International Club XV with second rows for in Simon Crawford and Ben Reilly, along with scrum half Sean Cronin in recent seasons. In Leinster and Munster Academy players Colm O'Shea, Bryan Byrne, Tadhg Furlong and Barry O'Mahoney they have depth in their playing squad. 'Hinch are likely to be hit with a few Ravens call ups this weekend so there squad will be stretched. Their 2nds have a free weekend some fringe players may get a run. 'Hinch may sit second from the bottom of the league but have secured five losing bonus points from their seven games, highlighting their competitiveness. A win this weekend would build momentum for their First Trust Senior Cup Final at Ravenhill on Wednesday the 11th December against Queens University.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 1B BELFAST HARLEQUINS v CORINTHIANS 'Quins were unlucky not to secure a fourth win in a row against Shannon in Limerick last weekend: losing out to an fourth minute injury time try to lose 13-9. Coach Adam Larkin and captain Neil Simpson will be pleased this performance was achieved without any of their Ulster players against a side that contained several Munster contracted and Academy players. Half Backs Josh Fullerton and Liam Cambridge, along with centre Mark Best have key roles to play for the Deramore side on Saturday. Third placed Corinthians will be looking to bounce back from 10-57 home defeat to league leaders Terenure College last weekend. MALONE v SHANNON The Cregagh road side welcome nine times All Ireland League champions Shannon to Gibson Park on Saturday for another crucial All Ireland league game. Coach Jacque Benade and Captain Neil Alcorn were left devastated by the narrow 22-20 loss at Trinity last Saturday. This was the fourth game in a row Malone led at half time and ended up losing. The young squad, minus their Ulster players, were left exhausted at the final whistle as they gave everything, only for a stubborn defence to keep them out. The loss of Ulster under 20 number 8 Ben Alexander to a shoulder injury in the first minute was a big blow to the side. Ulster U20 prop Ross Kane put in another impressive performance for the team along with young half backs Michael Rainey and Rob Haldane. As ever, Shannon have a number of Munster contracted players in their side this season. Ireland Club XV centre Richie Mullane adds significant strength to the backline. Malone will need the same effort they put in against the students to win this game. TERENURE COLLEGE v DUNGANNON The Stevenson Park side face the inform Dublin side who recorded an impressive 10-57 win away to third place Corinthians last weekend. With all the Ulster players Peter Nelson, Chris Cochrane, Chris Farrell, Stewart McCloskey and Sean Doyle likely to be involved with the two Ulster sides this week, coach Paddy Johns has a difficult task ahead of him this weekend. He will be delighted that Michael Dunleavy has returned to playing after injury. Scrumhalf and captain James Bates will need all his experience for the Tyrone side to get any points from this match.