Ulster Championship rugby, AIL, Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup and the Gordon West Cup dominate club fixtures in Ulster rugby this weekend.
Ards have a rearranged AIL match at Hamilton Park against Bruff from Munster on Sat. It is a must win game for the Ulster side who suffered a heart breaking last minute 24 – 20 loss away to Boyne two weeks ago. Coach Stewart Porter is faced with last minute selection decisions due to the clubs lengthening injury list. Once again recent additions Ali Coulson, Max Porter and Bruce Duff from Malone have key roles in negotiating their team through this match.
Div 2B Kick off 2.30pm
Ards v Bruff
In the Ulster Championship league current Stevenson Shield holders Ballynahinch welcome undefeated Malone to Ballymacarn Park.
Ballynahinch have been able to use their own playing resources to build on some impressive results in the AIL. Malone coach Jacque Benade continues to look at players to find the winning formula for the AIL. Always a difficult venue for the East Belfast side who have struggled to perform against their opponents. In form Armagh welcome Mid Ulster neighbours Banbridge to the Palace grounds. Coach Andy Hughes has selected a strong playing squad with the upcoming First Trust Senior Cup game coming up against Ballynahinch the following week. Banbridge coach Daniel Soper has injury problems with their seconds hosting Bangor at home in Junior Cup. Stag weekends do not mix with fixture schedules at Rifle Park. Ballymena make the trip to Judges Road to play hosts City of Derry. Spectators should be treated to a high scoring entertaining game by two talented teams. Ballymena will welcome back Bryan Young and Matthew Rea to the pack. Derry coach Mark Nicholl has a small playing squad at his disposal that has struggled to impose themselves in the AIL. All is not well at Stevenson Park as Dungannon entertain Belfast Harlequins. The meeting of these two sides follows a convincing 46 -13 win by the Belfast side over the Tyrone team last weekend. Ethan Allen remains a injury doubt for the home team. Quinn’s coach Adam Larkin continues to use these fixtures to expose his under 19 players and new faces in the club to the rigours of Adult rugby. Rainey OB have no match this weekend due to Ards playing a rearranged AIL match. Coach Richard Boyd will welcome the break for his players as he attempts to reduce their injury list.
Ulster Championship league. Kick off 2.30pm
Armagh v Banbridge
Ballynahinch v Malone
City of Derry v Ballymena
Dungannon v Belfast Harlequins
In the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup we have eight ties down for decision this weekend.
Holders Ballynahinch seconds welcome CIYMS to Ballymacarn Park. With the clash of the Junior Cup and AIL Junior Cup in consecutive weekends team selections will impact on the priorities of the four clubs Clogher Valley, Portadown, Bangor and CIYMS who received a bye in the first round. The scheduling of these fixtures will provide opportunities for squad players as clubs balance their playing resources and priorities. CIYMS have made their intentions clear in prioritising the AIL Junior Cup. Coach Gareth Fry has a large playing squad at his disposal as he ponders over selection with several first team players unavailable. Beaten finalists Ballyclare have consolidated their presence in Qual One this season. They play in form Cooke who ran Instonians close before losing 26 – 20 last weekend. When these two sides met in the league two weeks ago at the Cloughan Ballyclare ran out 26 – 10 winners. Cooke are very capable of causing an upset with their exciting three quarters of Alex Gourlay, Kyle Mitchell and Andrew Pollack. In the forwards Graham Jewhurst, Andrew Quigley and new number 8 Brian Mannus can match the Ballyclare threat in the forwards.
Clogher Valley field a strong side minus the unavailable Ryan Wilson and Philip Holme along with the suspended BJ Wilson. Ballymena seconds have injury concerns with their team selection being delayed. Along with Ballynahinch seconds the Ballymena side would pose a real challenge to the ambitions of the Qual One clubs in this competition. The tie of the round is the clash of Portadown and undefeated Instonians at Chambers Park. The County Armagh side are still smarting from their 27 – 3 opening day league defeat at Shaws bridge in August. Portadown have several injury concerns and will look to nullify the threat posed by the dominant Instonians forwards. Interesting to see how the respective coaching teams of Portadown’s Richard Hedley and Ciaran O’Kane and Inst’s William Leacock, Mark McDowell and Keith Crossan plot the outcome of this intriguing cup tie. The silverware has been scarce at Chambers Park while the Instonians faithful would welcome a pre Xmas Cup final at the new Kingspan Stadium. In the West of the province we have another two cracker Cup ties. First up are the ‘formidable’ Omagh side who welcome another side with big ambitions this season namely Carrickfergus. Once again the home side will be wary of coach Warren McLeans side from County Antrim. At Mullaghmeen the Skins team will want to put the disappointment of last weeks 20 – 19 home defeat to Coleraine behind them. They face a Dromore side who have lost all three of their away league games. Not the statistics their coach Graham Cloke would be happy with. Expect a large and vociferous crowd to cheer on the Enniskillen team to more Cup glory. Skins player coach Ashley Finlay welcomes back Gareth Beatty to the front row. Alan Wilkinson remains on the injured list. North Down sides Bangor and Donaghadee face AIL second xv sides. Bangor travel to Rifle Park to play Bann seconds after two impressive league wins over Clogher Valley and Portadown. With an AIL Junior Cup trip to Clonmel the following weekend, coach Rupert West will rest several players with players from the unbeaten second xv being given the opportunity to push for a 1st xv starting place. Veteran scrum half Ricky Armstrong is being given a deserved rest after coming out of retirement to guide his young team to those two league wins. With 50+ players turning up to training at Upritchard Park on a Tues and Thursday night the Bangor club feel they have the playing resources to be competitive in all competitions this season. Near neighbours Donaghadee host Belfast Harlequins seconds at Donaldson Park. Player coach Paul McKenzie was disappointed with their 34 – 10 home defeat to Ballyclare last Sat. He was also full of praise for the Ballyclare team who he rated as the best side his team had played this year. They were well drilled/ well disciplined and were very effective in their play. A glowing compliment for the Ballyclare coaching staff and players. Dee will have Forwards Jack Cooke and Matthew Stockton available along with returning backs Billy Allen, Thomas Slane and Andrew Findlater. It is a relief for the Dee side that their veteran fullback Billy Allen has made it home after after being marooned in Spain. Welcome home Billy!!!
Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup. kick off 2.30pm
Ballyclare v Cooke
Clogher Valley v Ballymena seconds
Banbridge seconds v Bangor
Portadown seconds v Instonians
Ballynahinch seconds v CIYMS
Omagh v Carrickfergus
Enniskillen v Dromore
Donaghadee v Belfast Harlequins seconds
Gordon West Cup. Kick off 2.30pm Second round Group matches.
The top two sides in the four groups will qualify for the knock out stages in February.
Group A
BHSFP v Larne
Ophir v Limavady
Group B
Civil Service v Lurgan
PSNI v Newry
Group C
Donegal Town v Letterkenny
Strabane v Londonderry YMCA
Group D
Cavan v Virginia
Only three teams in this group Monaghan have no match.
