The Ulster Bank League kicks off this weekend, with 12 Ulster teams involved. Here are match previews for Divisions 2A and 2B.
All kick off are 2.30pm unless otherwise stated.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 2A
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY v Highfield, Dub Lane, 2pm
Both sides finished in the lower half of the table last season and with negative points difference so a good start this weekend will be important. Last season's game in Woodleigh Park was a high scoring affair with the some side winning ...
The Ulster Bank League kicks off this weekend, with 12 Ulster teams involved. Here are match previews for Divisions 2A and 2B. All kick off are 2.30pm unless otherwise stated. ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 2A QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY v Highfield, Dub Lane, 2pm Both sides finished in the lower half of the table last season and with negative points difference so a good start this weekend will be important. Last season's game in Woodleigh Park was a high scoring affair with the some side winning 40-33. Highfield may have the edge in terms of preparation time over their university opposition, but the students have demonstrated they will be serious contenders for promotion this season after a strong showing in the Ulster Senior League and their Dudley Cup success over Trinity. With the returning Ulster representative players Robbie Moore and his coaching team will have a few selection headaches. Highfield lost narrowly to Old Crescent 22-18 after extra time in the Munster Senior Cup last Saturday. BALLYMENA v Galwegians, Eaton Park This is a big game for both sides to kick off their league campaign. The home side will have promotion firmly in their sights from the off while the visitors will look to improve on some missed chances last season. This early in the season it is hard to read too much into provincial form but this could be an intriguing tie. Ballymena will be tested at Eaton Park by a Galwegians team that remains undefeated, having secured wins over Buccaneers in both the Connacht Senior Cup and league. Ballymena's coaching team will be pleased with their recent performances and a home win is essential for Ballymena to bounce back from relegation last season. Cashel v BANBRIDGE, Spafield The Bann finished third with ten wins and ten bonus points last season and must be a team to watch. The Tipp side are tough to beat but their visitors were good on the road last season and should win. The Munster men caused an upset in the Munster Senior Cup last Saturday, winning 28-18 away to rivals Young Munster who play in Division 1A. Scrumhalf and club captain Ian Porter will prove vital to the club's promotion ambitions after missing out narrowly last season. CITY OF DERRY v RAINEY OLD BOYS, Judges Road A candidate for match of the round as these two Ulster clubs go head to head. City of Derry finished fourth last season with a late surge. Rainey topped Division 2B last season winning 14 out of their 15 games and notching up nine try bonuses to boot. Both teams have performed strongly in the Ulster Senior league with Rainey top of the table after four wins. They suffered a recent 48-8 loss to City of Derry in the Ulster Senior Cup at Hatrick Park. Rainey went through Division 2B last season undefeated as league winners. With the addition of players including Colin Mitchell and Stephen Mulholland they have the playing strength to mount a promotion challenge. The respective coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair at Derry and Richard Boyd and John Andrews at Rainey have big ambitions for both their playing squads this season. Derry Captain David Funston knows his players will have to perform at the top of their game to secure a home win.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 2B ARDS v Suttonians, Hamilton Park Ards finished 13th last season and will be hoping to avoid the relegation battles that have dogged them in recent years. A good start always helps so they will be ready for Suttonians on Saturday. The Dublin side finished just three points ahead of Ards but crucially they did win the tie this time last season by 29-12. Despite no wins from four Ulster Senior league outings, Ards would be expected to win this opening fixture at home to Suttonians. They performed strongly against Rainey, Dungannon and Instonians and lost narrowly away to Queen's 8-6. Key players for Ards will be the returning Stuart Paul along with Scott Young and Mark Bamford. Suttonians lost 57-0 to Naas in the Leinster shield last weekend. ARMAGH v De La Salle Palmerston, Palace Grounds Armagh have taken time to settle since they joined the Ulster Bank League but last season's sixth place puts them in position to challenge for honours this time. First game up they host a DLSP side who struggled in Division 2A but with plenty of determination to bounce back. Home advantage always counts and 'Salmo will have their work cut out on Saturday. Armagh coaches Andy Hughes and player coach Seamus Mallon will have been pleased by the endeavour shown by his squad in their early season matches. DLSP will be difficult opposition but a home win is crucial for the team. Skerries v INSTONIANS, Holmpatrick It was tight enough when these two sides met at Shaw's Bridge last season, with Inst. winning 22-20. Instonians have impressed with their early season form. They have strengthened their squad considerably under the guidance of their coaching team of William Leacock, Mark McDowell and Keith Crossan. They will travel South with a lot of confidence and a win could see the Belfast men mount a serious promotion challenge.
The Ulster Bank League kicks off this weekend, with 12 Ulster teams involved. Here are match previews for Divisions 2A and 2B. All kick off are 2.30pm unless otherwise stated. ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 2A QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY v Highfield, Dub Lane, 2pm Both sides finished in the lower half of the table last season and with negative points difference so a good start this weekend will be important. Last season's game in Woodleigh Park was a high scoring affair with the some side winning 40-33. Highfield may have the edge in terms of preparation time over their university opposition, but the students have demonstrated they will be serious contenders for promotion this season after a strong showing in the Ulster Senior League and their Dudley Cup success over Trinity. With the returning Ulster representative players Robbie Moore and his coaching team will have a few selection headaches. Highfield lost narrowly to Old Crescent 22-18 after extra time in the Munster Senior Cup last Saturday. BALLYMENA v Galwegians, Eaton Park This is a big game for both sides to kick off their league campaign. The home side will have promotion firmly in their sights from the off while the visitors will look to improve on some missed chances last season. This early in the season it is hard to read too much into provincial form but this could be an intriguing tie. Ballymena will be tested at Eaton Park by a Galwegians team that remains undefeated, having secured wins over Buccaneers in both the Connacht Senior Cup and league. Ballymena's coaching team will be pleased with their recent performances and a home win is essential for Ballymena to bounce back from relegation last season. Cashel v BANBRIDGE, Spafield The Bann finished third with ten wins and ten bonus points last season and must be a team to watch. The Tipp side are tough to beat but their visitors were good on the road last season and should win. The Munster men caused an upset in the Munster Senior Cup last Saturday, winning 28-18 away to rivals Young Munster who play in Division 1A. Scrumhalf and club captain Ian Porter will prove vital to the club's promotion ambitions after missing out narrowly last season. CITY OF DERRY v RAINEY OLD BOYS, Judges Road A candidate for match of the round as these two Ulster clubs go head to head. City of Derry finished fourth last season with a late surge. Rainey topped Division 2B last season winning 14 out of their 15 games and notching up nine try bonuses to boot. Both teams have performed strongly in the Ulster Senior league with Rainey top of the table after four wins. They suffered a recent 48-8 loss to City of Derry in the Ulster Senior Cup at Hatrick Park. Rainey went through Division 2B last season undefeated as league winners. With the addition of players including Colin Mitchell and Stephen Mulholland they have the playing strength to mount a promotion challenge. The respective coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair at Derry and Richard Boyd and John Andrews at Rainey have big ambitions for both their playing squads this season. Derry Captain David Funston knows his players will have to perform at the top of their game to secure a home win.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 2B ARDS v Suttonians, Hamilton Park Ards finished 13th last season and will be hoping to avoid the relegation battles that have dogged them in recent years. A good start always helps so they will be ready for Suttonians on Saturday. The Dublin side finished just three points ahead of Ards but crucially they did win the tie this time last season by 29-12. Despite no wins from four Ulster Senior league outings, Ards would be expected to win this opening fixture at home to Suttonians. They performed strongly against Rainey, Dungannon and Instonians and lost narrowly away to Queen's 8-6. Key players for Ards will be the returning Stuart Paul along with Scott Young and Mark Bamford. Suttonians lost 57-0 to Naas in the Leinster shield last weekend. ARMAGH v De La Salle Palmerston, Palace Grounds Armagh have taken time to settle since they joined the Ulster Bank League but last season's sixth place puts them in position to challenge for honours this time. First game up they host a DLSP side who struggled in Division 2A but with plenty of determination to bounce back. Home advantage always counts and 'Salmo will have their work cut out on Saturday. Armagh coaches Andy Hughes and player coach Seamus Mallon will have been pleased by the endeavour shown by his squad in their early season matches. DLSP will be difficult opposition but a home win is crucial for the team. Skerries v INSTONIANS, Holmpatrick It was tight enough when these two sides met at Shaw's Bridge last season, with Inst. winning 22-20. Instonians have impressed with their early season form. They have strengthened their squad considerably under the guidance of their coaching team of William Leacock, Mark McDowell and Keith Crossan. They will travel South with a lot of confidence and a win could see the Belfast men mount a serious promotion challenge.