ARMAGH v ARDS
Armagh recorded an impressive 17-16 win at home to fellow Ulster Bank League 2B side Instonians last Saturday after coming back from a 3-16 deficit at the Palace Grounds. Armagh coach Andy Hughes put his side's comeback down to their fitness levels. He rested six of his front line players and gave game time to squad players Andy Morton, Gareth Warnock, Matthew Wright, John McDonagh, Peter Eves, Peter Bassett and Matthew Steenson. The strength of the Armagh squad is built on ...
ARMAGH v ARDS Armagh recorded an impressive 17-16 win at home to fellow Ulster Bank League 2B side Instonians last Saturday after coming back from a 3-16 deficit at the Palace Grounds. Armagh coach Andy Hughes put his side's comeback down to their fitness levels. He rested six of his front line players and gave game time to squad players Andy Morton, Gareth Warnock, Matthew Wright, John McDonagh, Peter Eves, Peter Bassett and Matthew Steenson. The strength of the Armagh squad is built on the players coming through from their youth structure and the Royal School Armagh. Ards continue to struggle and despite a strong first half performance at Ballymena they ended up losing 50-0 and conceding eight tries. Captain Rob McCausland and coach Stewart Porter will look to Saturday's game to restore confidence to the side. Armagh to win. CITY OF DERRY v BANBRIDGE After building up a comfortable 3-14 lead at Deramore Park, Derry allowed Belfast Harlequins to come back and score two late tries to win 15-14 last Saturday. The North West side continue to rotate their playing squad using Gareth Beatty, Cathal Cregan, Paul McFeely, Jonny Lyons, Jack Caithness, Mark Robinson and Jack Hargan in their outing at 'Quins. Expect coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair to use these players to build their squad for the second half of the Ulster Bank League. Banbridge have recorded three consecutive wins and will want to keep the winning habit amongst their tight knit squad as they look to push up the table in Division 2A. New scrumhalf Lee Steenson from Dromore has formed an exciting half back partnership with Adam Doherty. In the absence of club captain Ian Porter, experienced second row Simon McKinstry leads a formidable pack that has been well drilled by former Ulster and Ireland prop Simon Best. Brothers Matthew and Stephen Irvine continue to impress in the back row. Banbridge could nick an away win. INSTONIANS v DUNGANNON Both clubs will be looking for a confidence boosting win after a poor run of results. Inst coach William Leacock was disappointed that his side surrendered the lead at Armagh. He will be looking to his squad to repeat the performance they displayed in recording their 36-6, five try win over Ards in the UBL three weeks ago at Shaw's Bridge. The County Tyrone side continue to struggle without their Ulster players, exposing their lack of strength in depth. Coach Paddy Johns has much work to do to turn round the fortunes of the Stevenson Park club. MALONE v BELFAST HARLEQUINS The Cregagh Road side will be delighted with their five tries in their 3-25 win at Stevenson Park last Saturday. Captain Neil Alcorn turned in a Man of the Match performance, scoring three tries. Coaches Jacque Benade and Gareth Fry used the match to give game time to squad players Rob Haldane, Michael Rainey, Ben McDonnell, Gary Crawford, Lee McClure, Nathan Brown, Andrew Kelly and Rob Falls. Belfast Harlequins won their UBL meeting with Malone five weeks ago 25-15 after coming back from large deficits. They showed their fighting qualities again last Saturday at home to City of Derry to win 15-14. The return of Captain Neil Simpson has seen the Deramore Park side move up to mid table in Division 1B of the Ulster Bank League. Halfbacks Josh Fullerton and Liam Cambridge continue to impress. A tough game to call. QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY v BALLYNAHINCH A re-match of the First Trust Senior Cup Final. A depleted student side lost 18-6 last Saturday away to the ever improving Banbridge. Coach Paddy Armstrong is using this window to expose his fringe players in the Ulster Senior League before they resume their All Ireland League programme on the 11th January 2014. The Ulster Senior Cup winners will also represent Ulster in the All Ireland Bateman Cup in the New Year. Armstrong has been impressed by the performances of John Russell, Conor Spence, Justin Rea and Eoin Devlin in the backs along with Jonny Craig, David Swann, Nigel Simpson and Ben Howard in the forwards. Ballynahinch coach Derek Suffern will be pleased to have Michael Lawton available during this Ulster Senior League fixtures block. Injuries continue to hamper his first XV playing squad. He will have been pleased by the performance of his 2nd XV in winning the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup on Wednesday night. The County Down men will be determined to maintain their pursuit of Ballymena in the Ulster Senior League. The Ballymacarn side will not want to relinquish their hold on the Stevenson Shield and should win this encounter. RAINEY v BALLYMENA Can the Magherfelt side topple the current front runners in the league. Any hope of Rainey challenging for the league disappeared in their 24-15 defeat at second placed Ballynahinch last Saturday. Rainey coach Richard Boyd will know his squad has to start winning matches to build confidence in his squad. The loss of their South African hooker George Fritz to a long term injury has been a big blow to the team and captain Neil O'Kane will have to lift his players. Ballymena have so much strength in depth as illustrated last week by winger Michael Johnston who scored three tries to add to the two he scored recently against Armagh. Coach Andy Graham wants the 2nds players to push for places in the 1st XV. They are certainly making a case with several of the Ballymena squad involved in the recent Ulster Ravens fixtures. The Eaton Park side want promotion back to Ulster Bank League Division 1B this season. Strength in depth is crucial for the New Year run in. Ballymena to win.
ARMAGH v ARDS Armagh recorded an impressive 17-16 win at home to fellow Ulster Bank League 2B side Instonians last Saturday after coming back from a 3-16 deficit at the Palace Grounds. Armagh coach Andy Hughes put his side's comeback down to their fitness levels. He rested six of his front line players and gave game time to squad players Andy Morton, Gareth Warnock, Matthew Wright, John McDonagh, Peter Eves, Peter Bassett and Matthew Steenson. The strength of the Armagh squad is built on the players coming through from their youth structure and the Royal School Armagh. Ards continue to struggle and despite a strong first half performance at Ballymena they ended up losing 50-0 and conceding eight tries. Captain Rob McCausland and coach Stewart Porter will look to Saturday's game to restore confidence to the side. Armagh to win. CITY OF DERRY v BANBRIDGE After building up a comfortable 3-14 lead at Deramore Park, Derry allowed Belfast Harlequins to come back and score two late tries to win 15-14 last Saturday. The North West side continue to rotate their playing squad using Gareth Beatty, Cathal Cregan, Paul McFeely, Jonny Lyons, Jack Caithness, Mark Robinson and Jack Hargan in their outing at 'Quins. Expect coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair to use these players to build their squad for the second half of the Ulster Bank League. Banbridge have recorded three consecutive wins and will want to keep the winning habit amongst their tight knit squad as they look to push up the table in Division 2A. New scrumhalf Lee Steenson from Dromore has formed an exciting half back partnership with Adam Doherty. In the absence of club captain Ian Porter, experienced second row Simon McKinstry leads a formidable pack that has been well drilled by former Ulster and Ireland prop Simon Best. Brothers Matthew and Stephen Irvine continue to impress in the back row. Banbridge could nick an away win. INSTONIANS v DUNGANNON Both clubs will be looking for a confidence boosting win after a poor run of results. Inst coach William Leacock was disappointed that his side surrendered the lead at Armagh. He will be looking to his squad to repeat the performance they displayed in recording their 36-6, five try win over Ards in the UBL three weeks ago at Shaw's Bridge. The County Tyrone side continue to struggle without their Ulster players, exposing their lack of strength in depth. Coach Paddy Johns has much work to do to turn round the fortunes of the Stevenson Park club. MALONE v BELFAST HARLEQUINS The Cregagh Road side will be delighted with their five tries in their 3-25 win at Stevenson Park last Saturday. Captain Neil Alcorn turned in a Man of the Match performance, scoring three tries. Coaches Jacque Benade and Gareth Fry used the match to give game time to squad players Rob Haldane, Michael Rainey, Ben McDonnell, Gary Crawford, Lee McClure, Nathan Brown, Andrew Kelly and Rob Falls. Belfast Harlequins won their UBL meeting with Malone five weeks ago 25-15 after coming back from large deficits. They showed their fighting qualities again last Saturday at home to City of Derry to win 15-14. The return of Captain Neil Simpson has seen the Deramore Park side move up to mid table in Division 1B of the Ulster Bank League. Halfbacks Josh Fullerton and Liam Cambridge continue to impress. A tough game to call. QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY v BALLYNAHINCH A re-match of the First Trust Senior Cup Final. A depleted student side lost 18-6 last Saturday away to the ever improving Banbridge. Coach Paddy Armstrong is using this window to expose his fringe players in the Ulster Senior League before they resume their All Ireland League programme on the 11th January 2014. The Ulster Senior Cup winners will also represent Ulster in the All Ireland Bateman Cup in the New Year. Armstrong has been impressed by the performances of John Russell, Conor Spence, Justin Rea and Eoin Devlin in the backs along with Jonny Craig, David Swann, Nigel Simpson and Ben Howard in the forwards. Ballynahinch coach Derek Suffern will be pleased to have Michael Lawton available during this Ulster Senior League fixtures block. Injuries continue to hamper his first XV playing squad. He will have been pleased by the performance of his 2nd XV in winning the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup on Wednesday night. The County Down men will be determined to maintain their pursuit of Ballymena in the Ulster Senior League. The Ballymacarn side will not want to relinquish their hold on the Stevenson Shield and should win this encounter. RAINEY v BALLYMENA Can the Magherfelt side topple the current front runners in the league. Any hope of Rainey challenging for the league disappeared in their 24-15 defeat at second placed Ballynahinch last Saturday. Rainey coach Richard Boyd will know his squad has to start winning matches to build confidence in his squad. The loss of their South African hooker George Fritz to a long term injury has been a big blow to the team and captain Neil O'Kane will have to lift his players. Ballymena have so much strength in depth as illustrated last week by winger Michael Johnston who scored three tries to add to the two he scored recently against Armagh. Coach Andy Graham wants the 2nds players to push for places in the 1st XV. They are certainly making a case with several of the Ballymena squad involved in the recent Ulster Ravens fixtures. The Eaton Park side want promotion back to Ulster Bank League Division 1B this season. Strength in depth is crucial for the New Year run in. Ballymena to win.