We reach the final Sat of 2015 with Ulster Championship league and Qualifying One league matches the main focus this weekend. City of Derry coaches Mark Nicholl and Neil Beddow would swap their team’s league position in the UCL for their lowly league position in Div 2A of the AIL. They sit top of the UCL, having played two matches more than title favourites Ballynahinch. It is perhaps a weekend the DIV 1A and B clubs Ballynahinch, Ballymena, Malone and Belfast Harlequins would have preferred off with crucial AIL fixtures coming up over the next two weeks. Ballynahinch are chasing the playoffs in Div 1A with Ballymena pushing for promotion from Div 1B. Belfast sides Malone and Belfast Harlequins have a battle on their hands to avoid relegation to the third tier of the AIL. Injuries have decimated the playing squads available to coaches Jacque Benade and Adam Larkin. The absence of second row players Alan O’Connor, Richard Millar and James McAllister has impacted on the second row options available at Gibson Park. Quins picked up a valuable five league points last Sat with the returning Neil McComb, Michael Heaney and Rory Scholes contributing significantly to their win. In Div 2A and B the Ulster AIL clubs will have a three week break after this weekend, before they resume UCL matches on the 17th Jan and AIL fixtures on the 24th January. A welcome opportunity for coaches to rest players and allow fatigued bodies and niggling injuries time to recover. In Div 2A Queens continue their pursuit of promotion with the remaining Ulster clubs Banbridge, Rainey, City of Derry and Dungannon fighting to avoid the drop into the fourth tier of the newly restructured AIL next season. Banbridge will be hoping they can build on their eight try AIL win at struggling Dungannon last Sat. Small margins continue to deny City of Derry those all important league wins in the AIL. Rainey coach Richard Boyd was disappointed with their late loss in Cashel last weekend after back to back wins. Dungannon continue to struggle after being relegated from Div 1B last season. In Div 2B Armagh are fighting for that all important top four placing to avoid playing in the fifth tier of the AIL. Struggling Ards put in an improved performance last Sat against Armagh before going down 40 – 11. The Hamilton Park have a battle on their hands to retain their AIL status.
Ulster Championship League
The feedback from the clubs is that the coaches will rest alot of their front line players this weekend. Coaches Mark Nicholl, Daniel Soper, Richard Boyd, Andrew Hughes and Stewart Porter have small playing squads at City of Derry, Banbridge, Rainey OB, Armagh and Ards. Player management is crucial for these clubs as they enter the latter stages of their AIL programme. The stand out fixture this weekend will be the meeting of Ballynahinch v Queens at Ballymacarn Park. Hinch have shown the playing strength they have, to maintain their challenge in the AIL this season. No other Ulster AIL clubs, apart from Queens and Ballymena can match the playing resources available at these clubs to compete in the AIL. Quins will welcome back the injured Mark Wylie in the centre for his first outing of the season with forwards Kenny McCombe, Stuart Currie and Charlie Sargaison starting for the 1st xv at Ards on Sat. PRO Roy Rennix is delighted with the buzz around the club after recent wins for the seconds over Ballynahinch and Armagh seconds. They will welcome the undefeated Instonians 1st xv to Deramore Park for a preliminary McCrea Cup match on Sat week. Numbers have been excellent at training with the coaching staff confident they can overturn a disappointing first half to the season.
Fixtures. Sat 27.12.14. Kick off 2.30pm
Ards v Belfast Harlequins
Armagh v Rainey OB
Ballynahinch V Queens
Banbridge v Ballymena
City of Derry v Malone
Dungannon have a rest weekend with both Dungannon and Ballymena playing their annual Jack Kyle Cup match at Eaton Park on Boxing Day.
Qualifying League One
These are the fixtures that will attract hundreds of supporters to watch these games. It is evident from the feedback of clubs the Qualifying leagues are experiencing increasing numbers of supporters to their games with several Ulster AIL clubs struggling to replicate their attendances. Instonians last gasp 19 – 17 win over second place Clogher Valley last Sat has enabled them to open up a commanding nine point lead over the Fivemiletown side. The league title may be heading to Shawsbridge but competition to finish in the top four and qualify for the Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup next season means the league will go down to the final matches. We also have the potential for two teams to be relegated from Q 1 this season with Ards rooted firmly to the bottom of Div 2B in the AIL. If Instonians fail to return to the AIL, two teams will be relegated from Q 1 with the resulting knock on effect in Q 2 and Q 3. Ask the Roesiders from Limavady who ended up being relegated from Q 2 last season after finishing in the dreaded bottom two positions.
Ballyclare v Bangor
The meeting of the third and fourth placed teams in this league at the Cloughan on Sat is another eagerly awaited contest this weekend. Bangor were surprised by newly promoted Ballyclare in their opening league match in August when the ‘White Hare’ squad won 16 – 8 at Upritchard Park. Can Chris Campbell and his squad complete the double over the much fancied North Down team. Bangor have bounced back after a slow league start, qualifying for the final of the Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup. Bangor coaches Rupert Preston and Jason Morgan have successfully rotated their large playing squad to great effect in recent weeks as they push to be competitive in all competitions. Ballyclare twice came back from being behind to Portadown last Sat to score two tries in the final quarter to win 18 – 12. Expect one of the biggest crowds at a Junior club venue for this eagerly anticipated match.
CIYMS v Donaghadee
Interesting fixture this weekend between these two sides. Despite a valiant effort in Dundalk last Sat, CIYMS failed to make the final of the AIL Junior Cup losing out to an injury time penalty to lose 27 – 25. Wonderful effort by the Belmont side to come back from a 24 – 5 halftime deficit to lead 25 – 24 with the game on the blow. Losing their inspirational Kiwi Sam Baker to injury early in the match was a big blow as his kicking was missed with CI failing to convert three conversions and a penalty during the game. Coach Gareth Fry has to lift his players as much to the surprise of the rugby community, CIYMS were expected to be competing for the league title this season. They sit eleven points behind fourth placed Ballyclare in seventh place with one game in hand. Donaghadee upset the form book four weeks ago by defeating their Belfast opponents 34 – 15 at Donaldson Park. Player coach Paul McKenzie expected his Dee side to push on, only to lose their last two league games to Dromore and Ballymoney at home last sat. They sit bottom of the league alongside Ballymoney and a further five points adrift of Cooke. CIYMS are ten points ahead of the Dee and Ballymoney and cannot afford to lose this match. Dee recall Richard Martindale and Kyle Morrow to the pack with the injured Chris Hamilton still unavailable. Adam Alexander replaces the injured Ryan Irvine in the backs. Another fixture that will attract a large crowd.
Clogher Valley v Ballymoney
It has been a disappointing two weeks for the Fivemiletown based club , losing to Bangor 9 – 6 in the AIL Junior Cup semi final and 19 – 17 to Instonians in the league last Sat. With the Towns Cup commencing on the 3rd Jan and a top four place in the AIL Junior Cup at stake you can expect coaches Davy Black and Glen Kyle to see their players bounce back against Ballymoney at the Cran this weekend. On paper you would say a straight forward win for the County Tyrone side. Having watched Ballymoney deservedly defeat Donaghadee 24 – 8 last Sat you can see the influence coach Jason Taggart has had on rebuilding this team as they pushed Instonians and Bangor all the way before losing these games. Clogher Valley will be without the injured Captain, Aaron Best, Jack Stott, David Dunlop and Phil Moore with both Alastair Trenier and Philip Holme unavailable. David Sharkey continues as Captain. Mark Ellis and Paul Armstrong form a new half back pairing at 9 and 10. Nathan Orr replaces Stott in the centre. Matty Robinson retains his place in the second row after a strong performance against Instonians with the versatile Eugene McKenna on the bench along with debutant Stephen McWilliams. Ballymoney are expected to field the same squad with their flying winger Davy Rea one player to watch. When these two sides met at Kilraughts Road in the opening league match, CV ran out comfortable 38 – 0 winners. Don’t be surprised if the County Antrim side upset the form book in this game.
Cooke v Dromore
Coach Colin Atkinson was disappointed with his Cooke side after letting slip a 20 -15 lead at Bangor last Sat only to concede two late tries to lose 29 – 20. His squad may have picked up injuries to key players Graham Jewhurst, Andrew Quigley, Liam Bennett, Andrew Pollack, Adam McIIwaine and Philip Cartmill, but they have shown they have young developing talent in Andrew Hanna and Gareth Robinson coming through. Dromore may be favourites after a winning run that has seen them move into sixth place four points behind fourth place Ballyclare with a game in hand. They have real ambitions to qualify for the All Ireland Junior Cup next season. The addition of Lee Steenson, Marty Follis and Robert Greer to the playing squad this season has strengthened the playing options available to coach Graham Cloke. A fascinating contest at Shawsbridge. Cooke have shown they are a quality side with narrow defeats to Instonians, Bangor and Clogher Valley. Difficult game to call. When the two sides met at Barben Hill in August, Dromore were winners by 25 – 13.
Portadown v Instonians
What a contest we have at Chambers Park this weekend. Fifth place Portadown have ambitions to once again qualify for the All Ireland Junior cup. Coach Richard Hedley was disappointed his side, twice allowed leads to slip at Ballyclare after tries from Andrew Chambers and Ollie Montells. In the final quarter they conceded two tries to lose 18 – 12. He knows he is in a period of transition at the Mid Ulster Club. Entering his fifth season incharge alongside Ciaran O’Kane, Clive Bowles and Neill Irwin, the coach is confident his playing squad are moving in the right direction after introducing several members of their successful under 19 squad to senior rugby this season as they challenge for a top four placing and hopefully a good run in the Towns Cup. Silverware is something that has eluded the Chambers Park club during his tenure. There was disappointment when the club lost the services of Ulster under 20 star Caleb Montgomery to Belfast Harlequins in September. Hedley’s squad has talent with Mark Neilly, Jordan Elliott, Peter Lamb, Mark Henderson and Rab Reid competing for front row places with Prop Matthew Wilson remaining on the injured list. The ever present Willy Graham starts in the second row with John Graham and James Carleton his second row partners. No where is competition more competitive than the backrow with Gareth McCoy, James Carleton, Aaron Abraham and Diarmuid O’Kane combining youth and experience. The coach will welcome back the returning Gary Hall who will start on the bench against Instonians. New scrum half Brian Forristal from Navan has been a welcome addition this season. He remains on the injured list at present with former Portadown scrum half Neil Irwin stepping up. The evergreen Barry Gribben remains an option for the coach. Chris Cousens continues to impress at 10. The coach has been disappointed that a knee injury has ruled out exciting young winger Louis Pearson for the season. In the threequarters he looks to Andrew Chambers and Rab Reid Hooker/Centre to cover the absence of Pearson with the talented Ryan Purvis at full back. Captain and centre Jonny Holden will be unavailable this weekend with Ollie Montels and another of their exciting youth players Robert Gacek facing the Instonians backline. The introduction of Jordan Elliott, Aaron Abraham, Ryan Purvis, Robert Gacek and Louis Pearson from their Under 19s shows the benefit of clubs having in place a successful under age structure. Instonians coach Wiliam Leacock continues his unbeaten run with his side having to dig deep in recent weeks to defeat Clogher Valley, Omagh and Ballymoney. He is expecting another difficult match despite a comfortable 27 – 3 win at Shawsbridge in August over Portadown. Scrum half Matthew Keane was his sides match winner over CV last Sat scoring two late tries. Back row Robert Whitten has now added a Junior Cup medal to his Senior Cup medal he won with Queens last season. Can Richard Hedley and his team once again upset the form book. Expect another big holiday crowd for this match.
Cheers
George
PS Happy Xmas to everyone and once again I would like to thank the clubs for their support this season.
