ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 2A
BALLYMENA v BRUFF
After their surprise home defeat to Banbridge two weeks ago, Ballymena had to dig deep to record a narrow 14-18 win at Naas last Saturday. They will not want to slip up against Munster side Bruff who sit bottom of the league with no wins. Rainey struggled to beat the Limerick side 10-9 at home in the Ulster Bank League. Fullback Timothy Small continues to kick crucial points for his side, but due to Ulster commitments Ballymena will not ...
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 2A BALLYMENA v BRUFF After their surprise home defeat to Banbridge two weeks ago, Ballymena had to dig deep to record a narrow 14-18 win at Naas last Saturday. They will not want to slip up against Munster side Bruff who sit bottom of the league with no wins. Rainey struggled to beat the Limerick side 10-9 at home in the Ulster Bank League. Fullback Timothy Small continues to kick crucial points for his side, but due to Ulster commitments Ballymena will not have Ricky Andrews or scrumhalf David Shanahan available. BANBRIDGE v RAINEY Bann coach Daniel Soper will look for another strong performance from their forwards against the Magherfelt side. Their front row of James McCrum, Jonny Weir, and Stuart Cromie will come up against Neil O'Kane, George Fritz and Stephen Rutledge who have been ever present for Rainey this season. The battle between the outhalves Adam Doherty (Bann) and Gavin Martin (Rainey) will decide the outcome of this match. Rainey suffered a surprise home defeat to Cashel 19-15 last Saturday. After two successive defeats they will not want to lose this game. Banbridge need a win to move away from the relegation zone. QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY v CITY OF DERRY The students have two crucial games coming up in the next few days as they also contest the First Trust Senior Cup Final against Ballynahinch at Ravenhill on Wednesday. Undefeated Derry will want to maintain their title challenge as they push for promotion to Ulster Bank League 1B. The students, after two successive defeats against Ballymena and Galwegians, have secured two wins over Naas and Bective to move back into contention in third place. A win is also important for the students if they are to maintain their push for promotion. Injuries have proved problematic for Derry coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair in recent weeks. Despite these set backs they have earned wins over Old Crescent and Bruff. Young outhalf Neil Burns has had to step in and replace the injured Richard McCarter in recent weeks and kicked 19 points against Bruff. Queen's have so much playing talent at their disposal with winger Damon Hall adding another two tries against Bective last Saturday.  Queen's recorded a 50-15 win over Derry in an Ulster Senior League game four weeks ago but that will mean nothing on Saturday. A fascinating contest in prospect.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 2B ARDS v TULLAMORE The Hamilton Park faithful will be asking questions. What has happened to a team that impressed with three wins from their opening four games. The wheels have come off with two successive defeats at home to Sligo (0-30) and away to Instonians (36-6) last Friday. Coach Stewart Porter will know they need to start picking up points. Ards have the experience in their playing personnel but failed to exploit their strength in the forwards. After a bright start, newly promoted Tullamore have also slipped down the table. ARMAGH v SLIGO It was a confident Armagh team that travelled to Navan last Saturday. Despite scoring four tries they conceded eight late points to lose 32-24. Coach Andy Hughes will be disappointed with two consecutive defeats on the road. His team remains undefeated at home and will be stretched by a Sligo team coming off back to back wins. INSTONIANS v THOMOND Thomond have moved into third place after an impressive 14-27 win at Boyne last Saturday. Twelfth place does not do justice to the Instonians side who have lost several games by one score. Their five try victory over Ards was built on a solid performance by their forwards, with No 8 Andy McKeen scoring two tries. Strong running winger Matthew Kilpatrick scored two tries last Friday and represents a real threat to opposing defences. Coach Willy Leacock looks to have found an exciting combination of Matthew Keane and Richard McCarthy at nine and ten. Thomond will be favourites but Inst pushed league leaders Nenagh all the way down in Munster two weeks ago.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 2A BALLYMENA v BRUFF After their surprise home defeat to Banbridge two weeks ago, Ballymena had to dig deep to record a narrow 14-18 win at Naas last Saturday. They will not want to slip up against Munster side Bruff who sit bottom of the league with no wins. Rainey struggled to beat the Limerick side 10-9 at home in the Ulster Bank League. Fullback Timothy Small continues to kick crucial points for his side, but due to Ulster commitments Ballymena will not have Ricky Andrews or scrumhalf David Shanahan available. BANBRIDGE v RAINEY Bann coach Daniel Soper will look for another strong performance from their forwards against the Magherfelt side. Their front row of James McCrum, Jonny Weir, and Stuart Cromie will come up against Neil O'Kane, George Fritz and Stephen Rutledge who have been ever present for Rainey this season. The battle between the outhalves Adam Doherty (Bann) and Gavin Martin (Rainey) will decide the outcome of this match. Rainey suffered a surprise home defeat to Cashel 19-15 last Saturday. After two successive defeats they will not want to lose this game. Banbridge need a win to move away from the relegation zone. QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY v CITY OF DERRY The students have two crucial games coming up in the next few days as they also contest the First Trust Senior Cup Final against Ballynahinch at Ravenhill on Wednesday. Undefeated Derry will want to maintain their title challenge as they push for promotion to Ulster Bank League 1B. The students, after two successive defeats against Ballymena and Galwegians, have secured two wins over Naas and Bective to move back into contention in third place. A win is also important for the students if they are to maintain their push for promotion. Injuries have proved problematic for Derry coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair in recent weeks. Despite these set backs they have earned wins over Old Crescent and Bruff. Young outhalf Neil Burns has had to step in and replace the injured Richard McCarter in recent weeks and kicked 19 points against Bruff. Queen's have so much playing talent at their disposal with winger Damon Hall adding another two tries against Bective last Saturday.  Queen's recorded a 50-15 win over Derry in an Ulster Senior League game four weeks ago but that will mean nothing on Saturday. A fascinating contest in prospect.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 2B ARDS v TULLAMORE The Hamilton Park faithful will be asking questions. What has happened to a team that impressed with three wins from their opening four games. The wheels have come off with two successive defeats at home to Sligo (0-30) and away to Instonians (36-6) last Friday. Coach Stewart Porter will know they need to start picking up points. Ards have the experience in their playing personnel but failed to exploit their strength in the forwards. After a bright start, newly promoted Tullamore have also slipped down the table. ARMAGH v SLIGO It was a confident Armagh team that travelled to Navan last Saturday. Despite scoring four tries they conceded eight late points to lose 32-24. Coach Andy Hughes will be disappointed with two consecutive defeats on the road. His team remains undefeated at home and will be stretched by a Sligo team coming off back to back wins. INSTONIANS v THOMOND Thomond have moved into third place after an impressive 14-27 win at Boyne last Saturday. Twelfth place does not do justice to the Instonians side who have lost several games by one score. Their five try victory over Ards was built on a solid performance by their forwards, with No 8 Andy McKeen scoring two tries. Strong running winger Matthew Kilpatrick scored two tries last Friday and represents a real threat to opposing defences. Coach Willy Leacock looks to have found an exciting combination of Matthew Keane and Richard McCarthy at nine and ten. Thomond will be favourites but Inst pushed league leaders Nenagh all the way down in Munster two weeks ago.