All Ireland League action returns this Saturday with three crucial weeks of league action coming up for all the Ulster clubs. Divisons 1A &1B will then resume playing in the AIL on Sat 4th January 2014 with the Division 2A&2B sides not playing until the 11th January. Congratulations to both Ballynahinch 1st xv and Queens 1st xv on reaching the final of the First Trust Ulster Senior Cup at Ravenhill on wednesday the 11th December 2013. The winners will then represent Ulster in the All Ireland Bateman Senior Cup. All in Ulster rugby will wish our clubs every success in their endeavours to be successful in their AIL league fixtures.
It is interesting to note the Academy players available to the club sides in the four provinces. Leinster have 22 players, Connacht 20 players, Munster 17 players and Ulster have 12 players.
Division 1A
Landsdowne v Old Belvedere. Playing Friday 22.11.13. ko 7.30pm
UCD v St Marys College. Playing Friday 22.11.13. ko 7.30pm
Ballynahinch v Garryowen
Cork Constitution v Clontarf
Young Munster v Dolphin.
Can Ballynahinch secure their first AIL league win of the season? They face Munster side Garryowen who like Ballynahinch reached the final of their provincial Senior Cup after defeating Young Munster. They will play Cork Constitution in the Munster Senior Cup Final. Both sides occupy the bottom two positions in the league. With four losing bonus points from their opening five league games the County Down side pushed Old Belvedere close before losing 30 – 26 two weeks ago. All of Ulster will be urging the Ballymacarn side on to record their first win. We wish Captain Stuart Morrow and the Coaches Derek Suffern and Charlie McAleese every success this weekend.
Division 1B
Belfast Harlequins v Dublin Uni
Buccaneers v Dungannon. Kicking off at 7.30pm
Malone v Blackrock College
Terenure College v Shannon
UL Bohemians v Corinthians
With five points separating the three Ulster sides in the bottom half of the league the next three weeks are crucial for Belfast Harlequins, Dungannon and Malone.
Belfast Harlequins v Dublin Uni
Quins will be confident of taking maximum points from bottom side Dublin Uni at Deramore Pk on Sat. They bounced back from a 15 – 3 HT deficit at Malone to score 22 unanswered points in a strong second half performance to secure back to back wins. Coach Adam Larkin will look for more of these fighting qualities against the students. Ulster players Neil McComb and Hooker Niall Annett will key players for the Belfast side. Injuries will rule out Michael Heaney and Rory Scholes. Coming fixtures against Shannon and Corinthians can help the Malone Road side to consolidate their mid table position.
Malone v Blackrock College
Promising opening performances by the Cregagh Road side against Dungannon and Buccaneers has been followed by heavy defeats to UL Bohemians, Terenure and Belfast Harlequins. Indiscipline and failure to manage territory and field position has proved costly for the side. Coach Jacque Benade and Captain Neil Alcorn have key roles in lifting this talented side to win this key relegation game at Gibson Park on Saturday.
Buccaneers v Dungannon
Another diffciult trip for the Tyrone side to Dhubarry Park for this evening kick off. Coach Paddy Johns and Captain James Bates will be looking to the release of Ulster players to strengthen their squad. They recorded an outstanding 31 – 21 win in Dublin against Blackrock in their last outing. The Buccaneers side sit third in the league and are pushing for promotion this season. Their squad has several Connacht Academy players available to strengthen an already strong playing squad. Dungannon will look to consolidate their mid table position.
Division 2A
Seapoint v NUIM Barnhall Playing Friday 22.11.13 ko 7.30pm
Ballymena v Banbridge
Cashel v Bective Rangers
City of Derry v Old Crescent
Galwegians v Highfield
Old Wesley v Bruff
Queens Uni v Naas
UUC v Rainey OB
With Ulster sides occupying three of the top four positions in this league the competition for the top two places in the league is hotting up. Ballymena sit top with 18 points: one point ahead of City of Derry with both sides remaining undefeated. Rainey sit level with Galwegians on 14 points. After an encouraging start Queens have lost their last two league games to sit mid table. Banbridge are still looking for their first win and sit third from the bottom with two points.
Ballymena v Banbridge
The Eaton Park side used the break to win an outstanding Ulster Senior league game at Armagh 31 – 13 and move one point clear of Ballynahinch and Rainey at the top of the league. Such is the strength of their playing squad Head coach Andy Graham was able to rest players. Ulster players Ricky Andrew and his brother John along with Academy scrum half David Shanahan have added options to the squad. Their back row of Matthew Rea, Michael Entwistle and Adrian Hamilton have impressed this season with Entwistle regularly scoring tries. Banbridge again put in a strong first half performance against Queens last Sat only for the students to run out comfortable winners. The games dont come any easier for Bann coaches Daniel Soper and Simon Best. They have a talented playing squad but have struggled to measure up against other teams in this league. Ballymena to win
City of Derry v Old Crescent
The North West side have a lengthening injury list that includes Richard McCarter, Davy Houston, Chris Shields, Chris Barber, Chris Cooper and Captain David Funston. Last season during the same period Mark Nicholl’s side lost a Senior Cup semi final to Ballymena and went on to lose their three All Ireland league games before Xmas. The players and coaching staff will not be looking for a repeat as the team continue their push for promotion. Derry’s playing squad will be fully tested in the coming weeks. Old Crescent sit two points above Banbridge with the Derry side looking to win this game.
Queens v Naas
Two wins during the break against City of Derry in the USL and a Cup semi final win over Banbridge will have lifted the students as they look to bounce back from AIL losses to Ballymena and a heavy 28 – 0 defeat away to Galwegians. Naas will provide stiff opposition for the students as both sides sit mid table on ten points with two wins. Half backs Paddy Farrell and Ritchie Mcmaster are key players for the students.
UUC v Rainey
The students will provide strong opposition for the South Derry side. They sit one point behind Rainey in the league and have promotion ambitions. Rainey coach Richard Boyd has had two weeks away from league action to rest his playing squad and refocus them on their goal to push for a top two place in the league. Key players for the Magherfelt side are back row players Stephen Mulholland and Colin Mitchell along with second row Michael Shiells who has scored key tries for his side. They will have to match the pace and power of the student side to secure all four points.
Division 2B
Ards v Sligo
Armagh v Skerries
DLSP v Tullamore
Greystones v Boyne
Midleton v Richmond
Nenagh Ormond v Instonians
Sundays Well v Suttonians
Thomond v Navan
Both Armagh and Ards sit in fourth and fifth place with one point separating the two sides. Instonians are in twelfth place on 6 points with the Shawsbridge side needing a win to move away from the relegation zone.
Armagh v Skerries
Coach Andy Hughes has had two weeks to refocus his side after their recent defeats to Ballymena in the USL and Richmond in the All Ireland league. The defeat in Limerick will have hurt the County Armagh side as they were expected to win this game. Their squad will have second place Skerries as the visitors to the Palace grounds on Saturday. Armagh half backs Harry Doyle and Richard Reaney along with player coach Seamous Mallon have key roles to play in winning this game. Andy Hughes expects nothing less than 100 % from his players. Can they defeat Skerries who remain undefeated after four matches.
Ards v Sligo
The County Down side have recorded three wins from four and have the opportunity to push up the table with games coming up against Instonians and Tullamore. There is a new belief amongst the playing squad at Hamilton Park under coach Stewart Porter. The return of Captain Rob McCausland has been a major boost to the squad. Sligo maybe third from the bottom of the table but have provided stiff opposition in their opening four matches.
Instonians v Nenagh Ormond
This will be a difficult away trip for William Leacock and his squad against the league leaders Nenagh who remain undefeated. They have lost their last two league games by small margins against Greystones and Boyne. Inexperience has been identified as key element in losing these matches by the coach. Can the Shaws bridge side pull off a surprise result. Every point is vital in their push away from the bottom half of the table.
[youtube jfJorQEEHic]
