There’s a full programme of fixtures across all three Championship Rugby sections this weekend.
After taking a break for the first round of the SolarFix NI Junior Cup and Shield, it’s a return to league action for clubs in Championship 1 & 2.
It’s Round 2 in Championship 3 where there are five fixtures down for decision with Donaghadee’s visit to Grosvenor being the stand-out tie.
Early pacesetters in Championship 1 Dromore, visit Belast Harlequins on Saturday afternoon.
It’s been a difficult start to the season for Quins who are still on the hunt for their first points of the season. Dromore on the other hand will arrive at Deramore Park high in confidence after two bonus-point wins from two outings.
Limavady and Omagh have also two wins to their credit and they’ll but their unbeaten starts to the season on the line when they travel to North Down on Saturday with visits to Bangor and Ards respectively.
At Upritchard Park, Bangor will officially open their new clubhouse and changing facilities. They’ll no doubt be itching to celebrate the occasion with their first win of the season. But it won’t be easy against a Limavady side whose momentum continues to grow following promotion from championship 2 last season.
Ards will be hoping to return to winning ways against Omagh at Hamilton Park. Their season started in a whirlwind with a win against Bangor, but with key personnel missing through injury, they have fallen to the wayside against Limavady and Randalstown.
Portadown return to Shaw’s Bridge for the second time in seven days. Last week they got the better of Instonians 2XV in the SolarFix NI Junior Cup, and they will be hoping for a similar outcome against a Cooke side who would’ve been energised by their 43-14 win over Banbridge 2XV in the SolarFix NI Junior Cup last week.
Both Ballymoney and Lurgan have responded well from opening day defeats, and their clash at Kilraughts will be one that will be expected to go down to the wire.
In Championship 2, the stand-out tie this weekend is the meeting of Strabane and CIYMS at Bradley Way.
Many have expected CIYMS to have a positive start to life in Championship 2, but few would’ve the predicated the impact that Strabane have made.
A SolarFix NI Junior Shield win over City of Derry followed wins over Academy and Randalstown, and the Tyrone men will be keen to add the name of CIYMS to their list of scalps.
At Tom Simms Memorial Park, unbeaten Carrickfergus welcome Randalstown, while Lisburn will be aiming for another away day success when they travel to Coleraine.
At Judges Road, City of Derry will be aiming to keep their unbeaten league season intact against Academy, while Larne and Letterkenny will be hoping for their first win of the season when they go head-to-head at The Glynn.
It’s matchday two in Championship 3 with five fixtures down for decision.
Two teams with hopes of promotion clash at Gibson Park as Grosvenor entertain Donaghadee. Both opened their accounts last week with wins, and a whoever comes out on top in this one will gain a huge boost over a rival in the race for promotion.
Cavan play host to Ulster University while Civil Service welcome Belfast High School Former Pupils to Stormont.
Newry take on Virginia while in Armagh, Monaghan take on PSNI.
This weeks fixtures.
Championship 1
Ards v Omagh
Ballymoney v Lurgan
Bangor v Limavady
Belfast Harlequins v Dromore
Cooke v Portadown
Championship 2
Carrickfergus v Randalstown
City of Derry v Academy
Coleraine v Lisburn
Larne v Letterkenny
Strabane v CIYMS
Championship 3
Cavan v Ulster University
Civil Service v Belfast High School Former pupils
Grosvenor v Donaghadee
Monaghan v PSNI (Being played at Armagh RFC)
Newry v Virginia