The waiting is over. Competitive league action returns this weekend with the opening fixtures in the Ulster Senior League and Qualifying One. With the start of the All Ireland League brought forward to the 13th September Division One clubs Ballynahinch, Belfast Harlequins, Ballymena and Malone have two weeks to prepare their playing squads with the remaining Ulster clubs commencing their programme the following week. Proposed changes to the All Ireland league will see the number of clubs reduced from 52 to 50 at the end of this season with the introduction of five ten team leagues playing home and away. There will be a playoff match between the third bottom team in Division 2B and the Round Robin winners to secure a place in the 2015/16 league. The implications for the Qualifying league teams is that we could see two teams relegated from the Qualifying leagues if a relegated Ulster AIL side is not replaced by a Round Robin winner from Ulster. What a fascinating scenario even before the first whistle is blown in the opening games. Ulster clubs will view with interest the recommendations of a working party into the already congested fixture schedule in Ulster:They are due to report in October. Back to the action. Reigning Stevenson Shield holders Ballynahinch will look to make it three league tiles in a row when they welcome runners up Ballymena to Ballymacarn Park. The County Down side celebrate their Diamond Anniversary ( Sixty years: Formed in 1954 ) and will want to make it a season to remember with more silverware being secured. New Captain Harry McAleese has to fill the shoes of the unavailable former Captain Stuart Morrow. Such is the strength in depth of Derek Suffern’ s squad expect his players to retain their title as Ulster’s number one club. There has been a quiet revolution at Eaton Park with Andy Graham assembling a formidable squad. The addition of out half Ritchie MCMaster and number 8 Stephen Mulholland will add to the expectations of the club faithful. Malone will travel to the Dub for what promises to be a thrilling encounter with Queens. Once again despite losing several players the students like Malone have added several promising under age representative players to their squads. New students coach Bob Young has quickly established his presence with the players. City of Derry narrowly missed out on promotion last season to Div 1 B. Under the guidance of Mark Nicholl and Neil Beddow they are expected to be contenders again this season. They welcome Andy Hughes well organised Armagh side to Judges Road for what should be a competitive fixture. The addition of players including Neil Faloon and Chris Colvin will strengthen their bid for promotion. Two Senior clubs who may struggle this season Dungannon and Ards entertain Rainey and Banbridge. Dungannon suffered a shock 26 – 10 home defeat to Bangor last Sat with Ards losing 19 – 12 at Hamilton Park to Cooke. Visitors Rainey will look forward to this County Tyrone derby as Head Coach Richard Boyd enters his fifth season in charge of the Magherfelt club. Banbridge may have lost Captain Ian Porter to Connacht but have been quick to replace him with Ulster Junior pivot Scott Nelson from Ballymoney. They had a good run out last Saturday, losing 32 – 16 to neighbours Ballynahinch in a game to mark the official opening of their new pitch. With only eleven teams in the Ulster Senior League this season – Belfast Harlequins have a week end off. They lost a friendly with Scottish Premier club Glasgow Hawks last week end 34 – 30.
Fixtures all have a 2.30pm kick off on Sat 30th August.
Ards RFC v Banbridge RFC
Ballynahinch RFC v Ballymena RFC
City of Derry RFC v Armagh RFC
Dungannon RFC v Rainey OB RFC
Queens RFC v Malone RFC
League action commences in Qualifying One with five eagerly awaited contests. Even the most experienced pundit would struggle to pick a winner of this highly competitive league. With four ex Senior clubs including Bangor, CIYMS, Instonians and Portadown amongst potential champions the ever perennial league and Cup specialists Clogher Valley and current holders will not relinquish their hold without a fight. Newly promoted Ballyclare with their Cup and league achievements in recent seasons can spoil the party. No team can be guaranteed a place in this league; witness the relegation of Coleraine after forty years in Qualifying One last season. With the potential for two teams to be relegated, clubs including Donaghadee, Ballymoney, Dromore and Cooke will know it is vital for their teams to win their home games. Two experienced coaches Richard Hedley of Portadown and Davy Black of Clogher Valley have stated that the league winners could lose four/ five games such is the competitiveness of this league. Spectators and players will welcome this gladiatorial contest this season. League champions Clogher Valley open their campaign at Kilraughts Road against Ballymoney. With Jason Taggart entering his tenth season coaching the Braid men; Clogher Valley coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black will know that the Ballymoney team will provide stiff opposition as they rebuild their playing squad. The County Tyrone side have once again assembled a formidable squad despite the loss of last seasons Captain Stephen Baxter to Dungannon. Injuries will rule out John Clarke, Clive Donaldson, David Sharkey and Richard Primrose for this weekend. This early in the season the strength in depth of their squad will be tested. Runners up Portadown travel to Shaws bridge to take on relegated Instonians. Once again the core of the experienced County Armagh side is in place under Captain Johnny Holden. Coaches Richard Hedley and Ciaran O’Kane understand Junior rugby and will present Instonians coach Wilbur Leacock and his young squad with a daunting opening fixture. Many rugby pundits see both Bangor and Ballyclare as serious challengers to Clogher Valley and Portadown’s dominance. Both sides meet at Upritchard Park in a game that will surely attract a large crowd. Bangor have strengthened their playing squad in the off season with ex Fijian international out half Jack Prasad their latest addition. Despite the absence of player coach Jason Morgan and full back Davy Charles to injury they have recorded two impressive wins over Ards 42 – 29 and away to Dungannon 26 – 10 in recent weeks. Ballyclare under new coaches Chris Campbell and Darren Best have quietly prepared for this campaign with an impressive 24 – 7 win over a strong Coleraine side last weekend. With Ulster Juniors Rab Boyd ( Captain), Niall Lawther and Gary Weatherup in their starting xv not to mention the return of Davy Clarke at centre and the inclusion of ex B’hinch number 8 Davy Chambers, the ‘White Hare’ side present a real challenge to the ambitions of the North Down team. Fourth placed CIYMS have a new coaching team with the experienced Gareth Fry, John Anderson and Davy Scott in charge. There is a real buzz at Belmont that this young and exciting squad can mount a challenge for league and Cup honours. The recruitment of ex Campbell players has provided a spine to the team. The addition of an experienced Auckland out half in recent days will only reinforce their ambitions. Experienced players such as Captain Gavin Woods, Stuart Ferguson, Mark Scott, Andy Hodgen and Ross Hackney have a key role this season. Hackney will be unavailable for the next two weeks due to injury. Their opponents Donaghadee this Sat at Donaldson Park may have a small playing squad but they play with a heart and passion that makes it difficult for their opponents. Again player coach and Ulster Juniors: Paul McKenzie, Ally Lockhart and Chris Hamilton will provide the go forward dynamic for this young squad. Expect a large and partisan crowd for this thrilling encounter. The final game will see Dromore under the stewardship of new head coach Graham Cloke. They have retained their playing squad and under the Captaincy of Mike Harshaw, visiting sides to Barban Hill will receive a warm welcome. The addition of South African centre Jacobus Koos demonstrates their ambition having narrowly missed out on an All Ireland Junior Cup place this season. Opponents Cooke will have been boosted by their 19 – 12 win at Ards. Having lost key backs Davy Creighton, Ashley and Richard Finlay, Alan Goulay and Tim Murphy they have recruited well in the close season. Under coaches Colin Atkinson and Ex Ulster player Rowan Frost the Shaws bridge squad will look to move away from the lower reaches of the table.
Fixtures all have a 2.30pm kick off on Sat 30th August.
Ballymoney RFC v Clogher Valley RFC
Bangor RFC v Ballyclare RFC
Donaghadee RFC v CIYMS RFC
Dromore RFC v Cooke RFC
Instonians RFC v Portadown RFC
