After a run of four defeats in the Ulster Bank League and Ulster Senior League, Dan Soper's team bounced back with an impressive 28-13 win at home to City of Derry. There is talent in abundance throughout the playing squad but their inability to develop some consistency this season is holding back their progress. You would expect the Rifle Park side to have too much strength in depth over a depleted Dungannon side missing their strong Ulster contingent. Paddy Johns' team need a win after a run of eight defeats in both competitions. Banbridge to win.
ARDS (12th) v CITY OF DERRY (4th) Saturday 8th February, 12.30pm
The County Down side have shown commendable resilience in defeating Skerries and suffering narrow losses to Richmond and Navan in the Ulster Bank League during January. With a difficult game away to Greystones on 25th February, coaches Stewart Porter and Gerry Flynn will look for a confidence boosting performance from their team this weekend. City of Derry were riding high after defeating Ballymena at home in the beginning of January, but successive defeats to Banbridge and Highfield have dented their UBL promotion ambitions. Important game for both sets of coaches. City of Derry to win.
ARMAGH (10th) v BELFAST HARLEQUINS (7th) Friday 7th February, 7.45pm
On current form you would have expected 'Quins to be competing for the USL this season. To date they are the only Ulster side to have defeated Ballynahinch when they defeated them 14-17 at Ballymacarn Park in September. During this same period, this was the only victory 'Quins could manage in a run of eight games. From the beginning of November 'Quins have went on to win eight of their last eleven games. For coach Adam Larkin the availability of the Ulster players has strenghtened his 1st XV. In addition players such as Mark Best, Daniel Dass and Liam Cambridge have become key players. Strength in depth has created competition for places. It is also no coincidence that the upturn in form coincided with the return to playing of club captain Neil Simpson. Armagh coach Andrew Hughes will have been disappointed in his side's 21-5 defeat away to second place Greystones last Saturday. Their away form down south has seen them lose three out of four games this season but they remain undefeated at home in the UBL. Bottom side Suttonians visit the Palace Grounds on 15th February with the Orchard County side looking a win to take into this game. 'Quins to win.
BALLYMENA (1st) v MALONE (3rd) Thursday 6th February, 7.30pm
An nteresting game under the new floodlights at Eaton Park. Ballymena have been rampant in the Ulster Senior League, scoring 323 points and conceding 110 in eight matches; averaging 40 points per match. Malone have the second best defensive record in the league, conceding 91 points, with 'Hinch on 80 points and Ballymena on 110 points. January has been a disappointing month for the Eaton Park side as they suffered defeats to City of Derry and Cashel in the UBL, seriously denting their promotion hopes. Coach Andy Graham will be looking for an improved performance from his forwards who were out muscled by Munster side Cashel at home. The priority for the Braidmen is to secure promotion back to Division 1B. But now they are sitting top of the Senior League with three games remaining they will not want to slip up in this tricky fixture against an in-form Malone side. The Red Sox have a difficult UBL game away to UL Bohemians on 15th February and that match will be the priority for the coaches Jacque Benade and Gareth Fry as they fight to avoid relegation. Winning helps to maintain confidence and the East Belfast side will look for a strong performance before travelling to Limerick. Malone have only lost once in their last six outings. When the two sides met in the Ulster Senior Cup at Gibson Park in September, Malone ran out comfortable 43-10 winners. Can they do the same again away from home?
BALLYNAHINCH (2nd) v INSTONIANS (9th) Thursday 6th February, 7.45pm
2014 has proved to be a difficult opening for the men in green from Ballymacarn Park. Successive defeats to Dolphin and Garryowen in the UBL has trapped the County Down side in a relegation battle with Garryowen at the bottom of Division 1A. Coaches Derek Suffern and Charlie McAleese will look to their successful 2nd XV to lift the fortunes of the club. His players need to embrace the Munster appetite for battles to avoid relegation. For Instonians coach William Leacock this game is important in restoring confidence to a side that faces a crucial relegation match at home to Tullamore the following Saturday. He has talent in his young squad that will have to fight for every point in their remaining games. Ballynahinch will not want to relinquish their hold on the Stevenson Shield, before the all important league decider against Ballymena at Ballymacarn on the 22nd February. Ballynahinch to win.
RAINEY (6th) v QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY (5th) Saturday 8th February, 2.30pm
This is the first leg of the double header between these two sides over the next eight days in the Ulster Senior League / Ulster Bank League. With Queen's slipping up at Cashel last Saturday and a resurgent Rainey producing back-to-back wins in the UBL, the contest at the Dub next Saturday will be crucial to both sides. The winner of the game this Saturday will definetely have the psychological advantage come next weekend. No doubt the approaches of both coaches to team selection this weekend will determine the winner over the next two weekends. A fascinating contest in prospect.