Over the past ten days or so we have witnessed some very dramatic events which will influence end results of the qualifying one league race! Last Saturday saw the up and coming side in Ulster, Academy, come to the Palace Grounds with their intentions clearly to knock Armagh off their game. Academy only gained promotion this season from section two and have certainly stamped their mark by beating the like of Cooke handsomely not once but twice! Unfortunately for them their trip to The Palace Grounds coincided with Armagh’s return to match winning form.
Last Saturday’s game certainly illustrated Academy’s tenacity in that they were more than able to keep a degree of pressure on a rampant Armagh side. This tenacity was again illustrated when Academy beat the fancied Portadown side 38-31 on Saturday past. This result meant that the Academy side, the new kids on the block, have played and beaten the other fancied sides in the qualifying one League. This may or may not be a benchmark indicating the form of the teams in the league. So far it has been difficult to gauge match form due to the disastrous number of postponed game because of the arctic weather conditions.
To add to Portadown’s worries they narrowly beat Clogher 15-11 in a mid-week evening fixture at Chambers Park. This narrow win also meant that the Portadown side dropped a crucial match-winning bonus point. All these factors will come into play as the season progresses and the match congestion irons itself out.
Will Armagh’s recent return to form endure and have they a big enough squad to be able to pull off wins in both League, Towns Cup and Junior Cup tournaments? The coaching staff at Armagh will have their hands full to keep fielding winning sides in all three tournaments. There is, however, a renewed confidence after last Saturday and with the Armagh second’s team having a very convincing win at Ballymena in the Crawford cup more than shows that the Orchard men will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in all three competitions now that the squad is banging on all four cylinders!
By Ken Redpath – Armagh Rugby
Below: Interviews pictures and analysis by Intouch Rugby:
3 weeks later and almost everything has changed!
The teams will now knuckle down to the business end of the season. The way this table looks all these clubs can have a massive impact on each other. This is going to be another awesome finish to the season.
4 Q1 Clubs Are in contention – Who has the will to do it! Who has the resources, who has the skill, who wants it?
1 of the clubs below will definitely be playing AIL RUGBY NEXT SEASON
This season is leading up to a massive series of games for all these teams. Can Bangor rise up; which of the leaders will win.
IT WILL ALL BE DECIDED!
As of this week the league table looks like this! (to be updated this week!
Cooke played 9 won 8 lost 1
Armagh played 9 won 8 lost 1
Coleraine played 12 won 8 lost 4
Portadown played 7 won 6 lost 1
Academy played 11 won 6 drawn 1 lost 4
Clogher Valley played 10 won 5 drawn 1 lost 4
Dromore played 11 won 4 lost 7
Ballymoney played 12 won 3 lost 9
Limavady played 9 won 2 lost 7
Bangor played 12 lost 12
COOKE RFC
Est: 1910
Club President: Ian Callaghan
Cooke Coach – Mickey Rainey
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CLICK HERE to enjoy pictures of Cooke playing in the AI Jnr Cup Semi Final
CLICK HERE to enjoy 30 picture slideshow of Cooke playing
ARMAGH RFC
Est: 1875
Club President: Noel Conn
Armagh Coach – Andy Hughes
“This is an important year for us and this is the year that we want to make a real push for the All Ireland League. The fact that there is no round robin at the end of the season is a bonus.”
CLICK HERE to enjoy picture slideshow of Armagh v Portadown
CLICK HERE to enjoy picture slideshow of Armagh v Academy
COLERAINE RFC
Est: 1921
Club President: Dennis McCrum
Coleraine Coach – Richard Kernohan
“Attitude is brilliant, 3 or 4 of the senior players have added to the qulaity of the sessions, intensity and commitment.
Our squad has changed dramatically, with the squad of palyers we have we should be looking for top four and a run in one of the cups, every match is important for us, we take it one week at a time, we are going into every match to win.
We do not mark out critical game, each week is important.”
PORTADOWN RFC
Est: 1879
Club President: John Anderson
Portadown Coach – Richard Hedley
“I started this year with Portadown, I met the players at the beginning of the year, they want to win the league. We are trying to play a game that involves everyone and involves and brings the best out of people.”
CLICK HERE to enjoy picture slideshow of Portadown v Armagh
ACADEMY RFC
Est: 1975
Club President: David Haslett
Academy Coach – Alasdair Mckee
“Our promotion into section one did not come from one season. We have built our club up from the minis. Our development has been 4 years, we were in two for 3 seasons and went up in our 3rd season. We have been aiming for section one for a good long time.”
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CLICK HERE to enjoy 109 pictures from Academy v Limivady
CLOGHER VALLEY RFC
Est: 1977
Club President: Wilfred Bothwell
Clogher Valley Coach – David Black
“Clogher Valley see this as a watershed season.”
CLICK HERE to enjoy picture slideshow of Clogher Valley v Academy
DROMORE RFC
Est: 1932
Club President: Harry Maguire
Dromore Coach – Jackues Benade
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CLICK HERE for pictures of Dromore
“everyone in the club wants to give the junior league everything and work as hard as possible.”
BALLYMONEY RFC
Est: 1952
Club President: Alan Campbell
Ballymoney Coach – Jason Taggart
“We are quite a settled side with a few new guys. We all know what the score is, we know the drills, and what way to play.”
LIMIVADY RFC
Est: 1922
Club President: Wilson Kennedy
Limivady Coach – Glen kyle
“Our first home game was Dromore, we got the home result.”
CLICK HERE to enjoy 109 pictures from Academy v Limivady
BANGOR RFC
Est: 1885
Club President: Harry Williams
Bangor Coach – Mike Rodgers
“Come the second round as some of the younger sides begin to establish patterns and rythm in their play, the results may change somewhat.”
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