What a festive season of competitive club rugby we have on offer for the thousands of supporters in Ulster who follow their teams. With Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup semi final action, Ulster Championship League, Qualifying league fixtures the excitement will continue to build as we complete the first half of a dramatic season during December. Despite the horrendous weather conditions at a wind swept Kingspan stadium last night, we were treated to a drama filled First Trust Senior Cup Final between Ballynahinch and Malone. Ballynahinch lived up to their favourites tag by out scoring the East Belfast side three tries to one to win 17 – 10. Both sides contributed to an exciting and fast flowing game to entertain the hundreds of supporters who made the effort to come out and support the two teams. Ulster rugby stadium manager David Boyd has to be congratulated on accomodating the supporters in the new stand as they braved the elements. The organisation of this final reflected well on Ulster rugby with supporters able to park within the confines of the stadium with access provided to bar facilities, hot drinks and food. These arrangements made it a night to remember for the supporters and players of both clubs. Next Tuesday night, Instonians and Omagh rugby clubs will contest the final of the Millar/McCall/Wylie Junior Cup at the same venue. Hopefully the weather will have improved.
This week I was alarmed to hear that the Ulster Branch had refused a request by CIYMS to register two schoolboys who had left Campbell College after deciding to take time out after playing Schools rugby. We know the demands that are placed on players in Schools rugby which sadly leads to many of these players giving up playing club rugby after completing their studies. In fact I believe statistics would show that 80% of players drop out of playing rugby at Youth and Schools level in Ulster. There is a positive side with several clubs indicating that former schoolboys are returning to play club rugby after taking time out. We have discusssed player welfare and workload at great length in this column over recent months. Is there not the flexibility within the rules to permit players who take time out and make a decision to return to play rugby earlier than planned to be permitted to play for their chosen club without restrictions being imposed on them. We should be encouraging players to play rugby not denying them that opportunity. Player movement takes place between clubs during the season with each case being judged on its merits before an Ulster Branch committee.
Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup
This weekend the focus has to be on the All Ireland Junior Cup semi finals with the final due to be played on the 31st Jan 2015. At Upritchard Park we have an all Ulster affair with Bangor hosting last seasons beaten finalists Clogher Valley. Whilst at Belmont CIYMS welcome Leinster league leaders Dundalk. For the Ulster rugby community, they want to see an All Ulster final staged in Ulster. In the first semi final both Bangor and Clogher Valley are at full strength with seven replacements permitted on the bench. Choosing between these two sides is difficult. Bangor have secured two impressive wins over pre tournament favourites Clonmel (Away) and current holders Enniscorthy at home 14 – 9. On paper you may say Bangor are the team to beat. It is three years since Clogher Valley won at the North Down venue. Bangor have demonstrated their never say die attitude to win crucial games against Clonmel and Enniscorthy in injury time. We witnessed it again at CIYMS last Sat when they defeated the home side 22 – 21 after trailing 21 – 15 with minutes to go. Coaches Rupert Preston and Jason Morgan have restablished Bangor as a recognised force within Ulster rugby. There are no weaknesses in either team with Player coach Jason Morgan and winger Mark Widdowson presenting real threats to the ambitions of the Fivemiletown team. Up front number 8 Curtis Stewart has been the go forward player for his side ably supported by Captain Jamie Clegg and backrow colleague Ryan Latimer. What a contest it will be at the breakdown with Clogher’s experienced back row of Ryan and BJ Wilson along with David Sharkey. The one area where Clogher Valley are deemed to be stronger is their front five. Such is their strength in the front row they have been able to rotate selections during the season. Players including Rodney Bennett, Phil Moore, Richard Primrose and Ronan McAleer make the competition for starting places at prop very competitive. Bangor have developed strength in depth in the front row with James Leary, Phil Whyte, Scott Irvine and Oran McIImurray offering real depth to the coaches. The two hookers Andrew Jackson for Bangor and Kyle Cobane for Clogher will have to be on top of their game. In the second row Clogher have two of the most dynamic and hard working players in Eugene McKenna and Michael Treanor who will make it diffcult for their opposite numbers James Henley and Gareth Irvine with the versatile Darren Kelly added to the competition for places. Who will establish surpremacy up front for the undoubted talent both sides have in their back lines. The half back combinations of Ricky Armstrong and Jason Morgan for Bangor will be up against CV Captain Aaron Best and Philip Holme. Bangor have two exciting centres in Michael Weir and Mike Apsley up against the experienced PC Falconer and David Dunlop. The threequarters pose real threats with Mark Widdowson, Davy Charles and Chris Morgan up against Jack Stott, Andy Breen and Paul Armstrong. Both Widdowson and Stott have been scoring tries regularly for their sides. Clogher Valley coach Davy Black is aware of the challenge his side face as they seek the win to move them one step closer to bringing the All Ireland Junior Cup back to the Cran. Bangor Chairman, Jonny Watson is expecting a crowd of several hundred with facilities available to provide food, beverages and hot drinks for supporters. Such is the interest in the game Clogher Valley have laid on two buses for their supporters. It is occasions like this, the rugby mad community in North Down Down yearn for. No excuses for supporters, get down to Upritchard Park to support both clubs.
At Belmont there is real concern about the performances of the 1st xv in Q 1 as they slipped to seventh place outside the top four. With only two wins from their last seven matches – both in the All Ireland Junior Cup the coaches Gareth Fry, John Anderson and Davy Scott know they face a diffcult side in current Leinster league leaders Dundalk. The border side suffered their first league defeat of the season away to Enniscorthy 16 -15, two weeks ago. They bounced back last Sat to defeat Ashbourne 41 – 14. A narrow 22 – 21 defeat to fellow semi finalists Bangor last Sat should act as a spur for the East Belfast side to make the final. They picked up injuries to Scott Dowle, Alan Whitley and Ben Robinson. Concussion protocols will rule our Robinson with late fitness tests tonight on Dowle and Whitley. The coaches will welcome the return to training of Ross Hackney, Jonny Jordan, Jason Gilliland and Matt Armstrong after injury. Winger Harry Howard will also be available for selection. The experienced and semi retired hooker Stuart Ferguson will cover for Whitley. There are some difficult selections particularly in the front row as Elliott Boyd, Captain Gavin Woods, Ricky Greenwood and Jonny Jordan push for a starting place. The back row is equally diffcult with Ross Hackney, Scott Dowle, Mark McConkey, Mark Scott and Matt Armstrong looking to start. The second row will see Paddy Aiken, Mark Scott and Chris Davidson competing for a place. If the CIYMS forwards, can stand up to the big and strong Dundalk pack, they have the backs to put the points on the scoreboard with Michael Wilson and Sam Baker starting at halfback. The centre combination will be between the returning Jason Gilliland, Andy Hodgen and Phil McVitty. Again a difficult decision for the coaches as the centre pairing of former Campbell centres Jason Gilliland and Jordan Boyd was very effective last season. In the threequarters Peter Raine, Harry Howard and Neil Wallace are expected to start. There will be disappointment for those players not starting but rugby is a squad game and having a strong bench that can make an impact is crucial in this competition. With twelve roll on/roll off replacements allowed during the game, utilising the bench players, coaches have to be able to manage their match day squad. A difficult match for the Belmont side due to their indifferent league form. The talent is there amongst the players. Can they keep their discipline and play for eighty minutes. The reward is an All Ireland league Cup final at the end of January. Again there will be food, beverages and hot drinks available to supporters at the impressive Belmont Sports complex. We have a big rugby community in this area, so lets get along to Belmont and cheer the team on.
Fixtures. Sat 13.12.14. Kick off 2.30pm
Bangor v Clogher Valley
CIYMS v Dundalk
Ulster Championship League.
Very little information has been forthcoming from the AIL clubs this week except Moss Dineen at City of Derry. The priority for the clubs will be the crucial AIL fixtures next Sat before the Xmas break. With league leaders Ballynahinch involved in the Senior Cup final last night their match with Belfast Harlequins has been rearranged for Sat 24th January 2015. This will be a welcome rest for both clubs and players. Ballynahinch have an important AIL game at home to Young Munster next Sat as they push for a top four placing and the play offs in DIV 1A of the All Ireland League. Having secured the Ulster Senior Cup they will represent Ulster in the All Ireland Bateman Cup in the new year. We will await the provincial winners of the Senior Cup to see who the opposition will be for Ballynahinch. Can they secure a unique quadruple in the clubs sixtieth anniversary season. Losing Senior Cup finalists Malone welcome winless Ards to Gibson Park on Sat. Both sides will look to rest players with AIL games coming up away to Buccaneers for Malone and Ards facing promotion chasing Armagh on Sat week. Queens are suffering from Ulster Ravens call ups and injuries and will face a Dungannon side looking a strong performance before their Ulster AIL derby at Stevenson Park next Sat against Banbridge. Promotion chasing Ballymena play Armagh and will look to rest players as they face another away trip to Galway next sat to play Corinthians. Armagh coach Andy Hughe’s side will have been boosted by the win over Midleton last Sat and he will look to keep that momentum going into their Ulster derby at Ards. One Ulster league match that will be competitive is the meeting of Rainey OB v City of Derry at Hatrick Park. Both sides will be after the bragging rights due to the strong playing conncections between both clubs. Rainey coach Richard Boyd will be pleased with back to back AIL wins. They face a diffcult trip away to Cashel next Sat, whereas City of Derry face promotion chasing Blackrock at Judges Road. Coaches Mark Nicholl and Neil Beddow are resting several players including Sam Duffy, David Ferguson and Richard McCarter. Both Chris Barber and Stuart Simpson are unavailable due to injury. Cathal Cregan and Ross Harkin return to the front row. David Houston replaces Adam Bratton in the second row with Stephen Corr joining him from the back row. Scott Lindsay comes into the back row to replace Corr. Stuart Simpson resumes at scrum half with Andrew Semple moving to out half. Adam Bratton returns to the centre with Jack Beattie coming in on the wing. Peter Henderson returns at full back. The Derry faithful are looking forward to seeing young wing forward Scott Lindsay who hails from New Zealand. He has been working in Melbourne as a physio playing Aussie Rules. He had met City of Derry players David Funston and Andrew Semple in NZ. Scott and his girlfriend are in Europe for six months and he has taken the opportunity to play rugby for Derry seconds in recent weeks.
Fixtures. Sat 13.12.14. Kick off 2.30pm
Rainey OB v City of Derry
Ballymena v Armagh
Malone v Ards
Queens v Dungannon
Qualifying League
There are no fixtures in Qualifying One with both the All Ireland Ireland Junior Cup and Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup matches being staged this weekend and next Tues. The attention is on Q 2 this weekend. League leaders Omagh have been able to rearrange their league game scheduled for this weekend against Randalstown to the 24th January 2015 due to their Junior Cup final against Instonians on Tuesday night. The meeting of second and third placed Carrick and Coleraine at the Tom Simms Memorial Park will surely attract a large crowd this weekend. Carrick caused a surprise back in Sept when they defeated Coleraine at Sandel Lodge to record an invaluable 9 – 6 win. Both sides know they cannot afford to lose this match if they are to remain in contention with title favourites Omagh for promotion. Once again bonus points will be important in the final analysis. Coleraine have struggled with injuries and face a full strength Carrick squad. Carrick are looking to complete the double over Coleraine as they prepare to enter the clubs 150th Anniversary year in 2015. Both teams will have have two weeks off before they face local derbies in the Towns Cup on the 3rd Jan. Carrick hosting Ballyclare and Coleraine playing Ballymoney. Exciting times at the East Antrim venue. Enniskillen have had a weekend off after their Junior Cup semi final defeat away to Instonians. They are at full strength as they look to make up ground on runaway leaders Omagh. Both sides meet at Mullaghmeen on Friday the 19th December in what is sure to be fiesty derby encounter. First up for Norman Richmond and his Skins side is a trip to Blaris on Sat to face a struggling Lisburn side plagued with injuries. Coach Mark Crothers continues to be optimistic as his side chase points to move away from the relegation zone. His team have lost their last three league matches. Important week coming up for both teams. Grosvenor travel to play fellow strugglers UUC at the Riverside in another crucial fixture for both teams. Grosvenors last win was at Holywood on the 24th October when they defeated Holywood 31 – 0. A win for the students would lift them out of the relegation zone. With the potential for two teams to be relegated from this league UUC, Holywood, Lisburn and Grosvenor are only separated by six points.
Fixtures Sat 13 .12.14. Kick off 2.30pm
Carrickfergus v Coleraine
Lisburn v Enniskillen
UUC v Grosvenor. Kick off 2pm
Qualifying Three
Fixtures. Sat 13.12.14. Kick off 2.30pm
Larne v Ophir
Lurgan v Donegal
Strabane v Newry
Qualifying Four
Fixtures. Sat 13.12.14. Kick off 2.30pm
Cavan v Civil Service. Kick off 2pm
BHSFP v Londonderry YMCA
Virginia v Monaghan
Cheers
George
PS Lets see all you Ulster rugby supporters going along to support your local Community rugby club.
