The Autumn international series continues this weekend. At Grassroots level the action will be fast and furious. We have fixtures in DIV 1A and B of the Ulster Bank All Ireland league with the clubs in Div 2A and B enjoying a welcome two week break before their league programme recommences on Sat 6th December. The All Ireland Junior Cup quarter finals will involve three Ulster sides, Clogher Valley, Bangor and CIYMS. Qualifying two league fixtures see several teams closing in on title favourites Omagh. The final Group matches in the Gordon West Cup will be completed with the top eight teams from the four groups progressing through to the quarter final draw. Two of the the Cup favourites Limavady and Larne clash at the John Hunter Memorial Grounds with both sides chasing promotion from Qualifying Three.
We had the IRB conference in London this week. One announcement was the setting up of a Rugby Athletes Commission with our own Andrew Trimble one of the nominated representatives to sit on this important committee. Its role will be to provide a formal, more structured forum for the players views to be channelled into rugby’s decision making processes. These will include player welfare and the laws of the game. It has been emphasised by the IRB that this representative body will ensure that players are put at the heart of world rugby’s decision making process. With player welfare a major concern in the modern game we will monitor with interest the impact Andrew Trimble and his committee has on reducing the player payload that is contributing to player fatigue and the growing injury concerns at all levels. The recently expressed views of Professor Allyson Pollock on injuries in schoolboy rugby are a reminder of the impact the game of rugby union has on the human body. Having spoken to coaches involved in Ulster schools rugby there is real concern at the number of injuries and the burden carried by young players to fulfil so many fixtures. Just like the club game there is a need to restructure both the club and schools games in Ulster to reduce the payload on players. Rest periods need to be built into fixture scheduling. Placing fatigued bodies into a conflict zone on a rugby pitch, can only lead to more injuries. We need action not inaction from the administrators of the game in Ulster and Ireland. How many more players must die or be seriously injured before the existing culture has to change.
Ulster Bank All Ireland league
Fixtures are confined to DIV 1A and B with the four Ulster teams Ballynahinch, Ballymena, Malone and Belfast Harlequins struggling with an ever demanding schedule of fixtures. I noticed that these four clubs will have played 22 games by the end of January before getting a break.Our Southern teams play approx 25 matches in a season whilst our AIL clubs play between 33/35 matches. Two of the clubs have had one weekend off due to a bye in the Senior Cup and another side with their opponents conceding their match. How can we expect our teams to be competitive without rest periods. Most Southern teams had a three/four week break from AIL action in October. Injuries and Ulster commitments have meant that these sides failed to win any of their matches last weekend whereas the Southern teams were greatly strengthened by released provincial players. With the resumption of the British & Irish Cup on the weekend of the 29th Nov for three weeks, player releases by Ulster will limit the opportunities for coaches to strengthen their teams. Ballynahinch held on for a 7 – 7 draw with bottom side Dolphin at Ballymacarn Park last Sat. This weekend Ballynahinch travel to Dublin to play current Div 1A holders Clontarf. Coach Derek Suffern will have been pleased to welcome back former Captain Stuart Morrow and second row Chris Napier.
Div 1A. Fixtures. Kick off 2.30pm.
Clontarf v Ballynahinch
Terenure College v Old Belvedere
Dolphin v St Mary’s College
Sunday 23.11.14. Kick off. 2.30pm
Landsdowne v Young Munster
UCD v Cork Constitution.
Div 1B
In a league where all the teams are capable of defeating each other. Every league point is valuable as teams push for promotion or to avoid relegation. This Saturday at Eaton Park, Ballymena welcome Shannon from Limerick. Two consecutive defeats have dented the promotion ambitions of the Braid men. Nothing less than a win will be accepted by coach Andy Graham and his players. Ulster players Dave Ryan and Ricky Andrew’s have been released by Ulster for the match. Malone coach Jacque Benade was disappointed his side did not secure the fourth try in their 34 – 25 defeat away to league leaders Galwegians last weekend to pick up two bonus points. There were many positives with the side coming back from a 22 – 8 deficit at HT to lead 25 – 22, only to concede two late tries. Winger Adam Liddell continues to impress with another two tries. The task this weekend gets no easier as a resurgent Garryowen – conquerors over Ballymena last weekend by 32 – 24, travel to Gibson Park this Sat. Scrum halves John Creighton and Shane Kelly are both ruled out through injury. A must win game for the Cregagh Road team. Belfast Harlequins return to Galway this weekend to play Galwegians. Injuries continue to plague the Deramore side who narrowly failed to pick up a losing bonus point against Corinthians due to a last minute try. Once again Ulster prop Ricky Lutton put in an outstanding shift for his side. Badly depleted in the backs, Oli Loughead continues to fill in the centre.
Div 1B. Fixtures. Kick off 2.30pm
Dublin Uni v Corinthians
Ballymena v Shannon
Galwegians v Belfast Harlequins
Malone v Garryowen
UL Bohemians v Buccaneers
Ulster Bank AIL Cup Quarter Finals.
Four matches down for decision this weekend. Reigning champions Enniscorthy visited Upritchard park to play Bangor whilst losing finalists Clogher Valley face Connacht league leaders and former AIL side Connemara at the Cran. CIYMS have to make the trip to Dublin to play Coolmine. All three Ulster teams face daunting fixtures if they are to make the semi final draw on the 13th Dec. It will be a case of the teams matching the physicality and intensity of their Southern opponents. Discipline will be crucial as the coaches keep all fifteen players on the pitch and make good use of their rolling subs from the bench.
Clogher coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black will complete team selection on Thursday night after a few late fitness checks. The Fivemiletown side have a great tradition in this tournament and know it is the one trophy that has eluded their trophy cabinet. Key players for the Tyrone team will be their second rows Michael Treanor and Eugene McKenna along with their half back pairing of Aaron Best and Philip Holme. Sure to be a nail biting affair, played to a packed Cran. Bangor coaches Rupert West and Jason Morgan have said if you are going to win this trophy you have to beat the best. Well the seasisders could not have picked a more difficult side than Enniscorthy who have swept aside all Ulster sides in this competition, including Donaghadee, Portadown, CIYMS and Clogher Valley in recent seasons. Bangor welcome back influential number 8 Curtis Stewart along with their experienced half backs of Ricky Armstrong and Jason Morgan with Chris Morgan at fullback. Forwards Oran McIImurray and Gareth Irvine will also be pushing for a starting place. Nothing less than eighty minutes of committed rugby will see Bangor defeat the Cup holders. So lets see the rugby community in North Down and Ards come out and lend their support. CIYMS travel to Coolmine. Injuries like most sides have prevented consistency in team selections. The loss of the experienced Stuart Ferguson in the front row will be felt by the Belmont side. Again their half back pairing of Michael Wilson and Sam Baker have been crucial in their progress. Coach Gareth Fry will be happy that he has his strongest squad asembled for this tricky fixture. The East Belfast side have the talent to win this match.
Fixtures. Kick off 2.30pm
Bangor v Enniscorthy
Clogher Valley v Connemara
Coolmine v CIYMS
Newcastle West v Dundalk.
Qualifying Two
What an intriguing promotion chase is developing in this league with Carrickfergus and Academy joining Omagh at the top of the table. With Coleraine, Randalstown and Enniskillen in the frame, Omagh coach Phil Marshall knows his side cannot afford any slip ups with two games in hand. His side travel to play a Grosvenor side who defeated them in their opening league match at Belmont last season that primarily cost them promotion. Omagh have already recorded a 40 – 0 win in the league over Grosvenor in Sept at the Thomas Mellon playing fields. Complacency is a word the coach has used with a Junior Cup semi final coming up at Ballyclare the follwing week. Grosvenor have a lengthy injury list with two back row players ruled out for the season with ACL procedures not to mention their physio who required surgery for a back injury. Enniskillen welcome promoted Holywood to Mullaghmeen as they continue preparations for their Junior Cup semi final at Instonians. Head coach Norman Richmond keeps the same side that defeated Ballymena seconds in the Junior Cup with no players being rested. It is all about the team maintaining momentum going into the league and Cup. Both forwards Jack Harte and Michael Cadden remain on the injured list as they battle to be fit for the Junior Cup semi final. For a struggling Holywood team. Coach Laurence Kelly is optimistic his small playing squad can survive in Q 2. He knows his players are involved in a dogfight that makes it exciting for the players. He has been full of praise for his inspirational captain Rory Eaves and centre Kyle McFarland who lead by example each week. A refocused Randalstown have completed the double over Coleraine and the Coleraine students from UUC in consecutive matches that has seen Gary Longwell’s team climb into the promotion chase. They entertain Lisburn at Nelisbrook this weekend hoping to extend their run. There are injury concerns over two key players Chris Allen and Drew McWhirter. They will welcome back experienced scrum half John O’Kane and former Captain Neil Foster along with Garry Irwin and David Millar. It has been a stop start nature of fixtures for the team that seems to have been a hindrance. They are now hoping for a good run. Visitors coach Mark Crothers has been plagued with injuries this season. It has been an extremely difficult period for the team. He has struggled with consistent selections as he works with a young squad who have little experience but have massive potential. Marks attitude is that the team have to keep plugging away. We have a North coast derby at the Riverside when the students of Coleraine Uni welcome near neighbours Coleraine. This is a match Head coach John Boyd and Captain Stephen Dickey will be looking maximum points to maintain their pursuit of Omagh. The match has also the potential to see an upset. Coleraine have also benefited from a rest week as they complete preparations for this game that is sure to attract a large crowd.
Fixtures. Kick off 2.30pm
Enniskillen v Holywood
Grosvenor v Omagh
Randalstown v Lisburn
UUC v Coleraine
Gordon West Cup
Group A
BHSFP v Ophir
Limavady v Larne
Group B
Lurgan v Newry
PSNI v Civil Service
Group C
Donegal Town v Strabane
Londonderry YMCA v Letterkenny
Group D
Monaghan v Cavan. Played Friday 21.11.14. Kick off 8pm
VIrginia have no match as there are only three teams in this Group.
The eight teams looking favourites to progress to the quarter final draws are Limavady, Larne, Lurgan, Newry, Letterkenny, Strabane, Virginia and Monaghan.
Cheers
George
PS All you Ulster rugby supporters do make the effort to get along and support your local community rugby club this weekend.
