2B OR NO 2B – THAT IS THE QUESTION
It’s “squeaky bum” time at the Palace Grounds. Following a tremendous bonus-point win away to Sligo, City of Armagh 1st XV have placed themselves firmly in the “promotion” mix. Plying their trade, this year, in 2B of the Ulster Bank All-Ireland League, Armagh are seeking to gain promotion to ………2B. What? Your eyes do not deceive you! Following an IRFU re-organisation of Senior Club Rugby, 2B is changing from a league involving teams ranked 36 to 52, to a contest for clubs ranked 30 to 40, with the new 2C accommodating those ranked 40 to 50. Maintaining 2B status is, therefore, “promotion”.
With two games remaining, Armagh fill the last promotion spot of 4th and have their destiny in their own hands. Following two successive home defeats, Armagh welcome Richmond to the Palace Grounds on 28th March, the visitors urgently requiring points to maintain their senior status. As recent results have shown, no team in this league can be taken lightly and complacency is not an option for Armagh’s talented young team.
Anything less than a win, of any sort, in this penultimate match, will, in all likelihood, leave the last game an irrelevancy. With Sundays Well and Midleton snapping at Armagh’s heels, concentration on the next opponent is crucial.
A date for your diary, then : Saturday, 28th March, Palace Grounds, Kick-off 2.30.
