All Ireland League rugby and Qualifying action will provide the ‘fayre’ on offer to those dedicated supporters who follow their clubs throughout Ireland and Ulster every weekend.
For the All Ireland Clubs there will be a four week break from the league after this weekend with the focus switching to provincial domestic competitions before AIL action resumes on the 1st November. With the British & Irish Cup kicking off on the weekend of the 11th October the four provincial ‘A’ teams will play friendlies this weekend. First up is the Ulster Ravens who play the Connacht Eagles at Deramore Park on Thursday 2nd October with a 3pm kick off followed by Leinster who play Munster at Donnybrook on Sat 4th October with a 1pm kick off. The availability of players to the Div 1 A & B sides will test the quality and strength of the clubs playing squads. What impact will this have on the teams selected by Ballynahinch, Ballymena, Belfast Harlequins and Malone!!! In the Qualifying leagues Ulster’s top four Junior Clubs last season Clogher Valley, Portadown, Bangor and CIYMS engage in a demanding four week programme that will include league, Junior Cup and All Ireland Junior Cup fixtures with the outcomes deciding the potential to win silverware for the clubs this season. In Qualifying One we have the meeting of the only two remaining undefeated teams, Instonians and CIYMS at Shawsbridge. We preview the All Ireland League action with Ulster’s sole representative Ballynahinch in Div 1A facing the inform Landsdowne at Ballymacarn Park. With three wins from three the Dublin club sit proudly at the top of the table with undefeated Terenure College. Hinch coach Derek Suffern knows what his team can potentially achieve after that nail biting win over Old Belvedere. He will have been disappointed by their 23 – 16 loss at Cork Constitution. They have seven players ( five forwards) involved in the Ravens squad that will delay their team selection for Sat. Expect another big crowd to get behind the team.
Fixtures Div 1A kick off 2.30pm
Clontarf v UCD. Played Friday 3.10.14 . kick off 7.30pm
Ballynahinch v Landsdowne
Dolphin v Terenure College
St Mary’s College v Cork Constitution
Young Munster v Old Belvedere
In Div 1B the three Ulster clubs Ballymena, Belfast Harlequins and Malone face difficult fixtures as they look to enter the break with morale boosting wins. Newly promoted Ballymena along with Galwegians sit proudly at the top of the table with three wins each. Ballymena undertake the long trek to Limerick to play UL Bohemians on the back pitch at Thomond Park. With only Ulster under 20 Captain Michael Lagan released by Ulster this weekend Coach Andy Graham will have to dig deep into his playing resources to secure all four league points as eight players are involved with the Ulster Ravens. The benefit of two experienced players such as Bryan Young and Ian Caldwell on the pitch cannot be underestimated in the rugby hotbed of Munster rugby. Standout players Stephen Mulholland, Timothy Small and Sean Taylor continue to secure those crucial scores for the team. Belfast Harlequins boosted by that morale boosting win at Gibson Park will have to dig deep again this weekend with an ever lengthening injury list and Ulster commitments. Five of their players are involved with the Ulster Ravens. Once again coach Adam Larkin will look to his inspirational Captain Danny Annett who has been a driving force for the 1st xv this season. Malone visit Dublin Uni for the Grand opening of their new synthetic playing surface at College Park on Sat. The great and good of Irish rugby will be lead by the IRFU president to mark this official opening. The students will revel playing on this surface with their charismatic Head coach Tony Smeeth looking his players to display their top of the ground game. The action is sure to be fast and furious. Malone have an ever lengthening injury list with three players involved with the Ulster Ravens and question marks over the availability of Alan O’Connor and Connor Joyce. No decision on selection will be made untiltonight.
Fixtures 1B kick off 2.30pm
Belfast Harlequins v Garryowen
Buccaneers v Galwegians
Galway Corinthians v Shannon
Dublin Uni v Malone
UL Bohemians v Ballymena
In Div 2A the five Ulster clubs have had mixed fortunes in results. With clubs contesting a top ten placing as well as promotion Banbridge, Rainey OB and Queens Uni occupy 6th/7th and eighth in the table. Both City of Derry and Dungannon occupy 14th and 16th respectively. Both clubs will need to start winning games otherwise they face the prospect of playing in the fourth tier of the AIL next season. Banbridge welcome newly promoted Thomond to Rifle Park with Head coach Daniel Soper looking to build on their promising start. He will have been pleased by the form of his two wingers Jonny Porter and Adam Ervine who have scored five tries between in the opening two AIL matches. City of Derry entertain high flying Old Wesley who put fifty points on Dungannon last weekend. With a smaller than anticpated playing squad coach Mark Nicholl has had to utilise players with Adam Bratton experiencing roles in the backs and forwards in recent weeks. They will welcome back the returning Sam McAuley to the bench. Dungannon face another difficult trip away to Naas after two opening defeats. With a limited playing squad the County Tyrone side will be looking to Ulster under 20 outhalf Jack Milligan to steer the team through these difficult times. We have another Ulster derby this week in Magherfelt when Rainey play the highly talented playing squad from Queens Uni. Richard Boyd has been building a new 1st xv at Hatrick Park this season with talented Ulster under 20 players Ross McCloskey and Mark Gordon catching the attention. His team is very much a mixture of youth and experience. Queens have a richness of talent that despite two players Sean O’Hagan and Jack Owens being involved with the Ulster Ravens they have quality players to fill all fifteen positions. It was interesting to note Queens had 95 players registering to play rugby on Tuesday night. Coach Bob Young has the playing squad to challenge for promotion in the coming seasons.
Fixtures 2 A. kick off 2.30pm
Banbridge v Thomond
Bective Rangers v Nenagh Ormond
Blackrock College v Seapoint
City of Derry v Old Wesley
Naas v Dungannon
NUIM Barnhall v Cashel RFC
Rainey OB v Queens Uni
Skerries v UCC
In Div 2B the two Ulster clubs Armagh and Ards have experienced contrasting fortunes in their start to their AIL campaign. Andrew Hughes Armagh side have two wins under their belts and face a lengthy trip to play Kanturk in Munster. A difficult game against the lastest team to join the ranks of the AIL. The acquistion of Hawkes Bay outhalf Manihera Eden will only strengthen the promotion ambitions of this highly talented Armagh playing squad. Ards travel to Drogheda to play Boyne in what is already termed a relegation decider, with so much at stake in this league. Top four join the fourth tier of AIL rugby with next ten teams forming the new fifth tier of AIL. The bottom two sides are automatically relegated with the third bottom team facing a playoff game against the Round Robin winners.
Fixtures 2B kick off 2.30pm
Boyne v Ards
Bruff v Sundays Well
Greystones v Highfield
Kanturk v Armagh
Navan RFC v Midleton
Old Crescent v DLSP
Richmond v Wanderers
Sligo v Tullamore
In Qualifying One high flying Instonians will look to keep their undefeated record when they welcome undefeated CIYMS to Shawsbridge for the game of the day. Instonians coach William Leacock rested several players for the comfortable 24 – 7 Junior Cup win at Academy. The South Belfast club have made their intentions clear to return to AIL rugby. International additions to their forwards including South African second row Conor Brockschmidt and Italian second row Sebastiano Folla would reinforce their claims. CIYMS will enter this match with confidence after scoring seven tries in their 48 -13 demolition of Ballyclare at Belmont. The addition of Auckland outhalf Sam Barker to the squad has confirmed the ambitions of Gareth Fry and his coaching team to bring more league and Cup honours to the East Belfast club. Expect one of the biggest crowds at a Belfast club game in recent years. Ballyclare have the opportunity to pick up maximum points against Cooke at the Cloughan to maintain their league ambitions. Gareth Byers moves into the 15 slot for the injured Robert Smith with Michael Kirk coming in on the wing. Cooke come into this match on the back of two wins over Donaghadee and City of Derry where they amassed over 100 points. Can coaches Colin Atkinson and Rowan Frost plot a win for the South Belfast club. Clogher Valley visit Bangor at Upritchard Park with a win crucial for the league ambitions of both clubs. Clogher slipped up at home to Portadown 19 – 18 and will want to push hard on the heels of Instonians. Injuries continue to unsettle the team with hooker Kyle Cobane being replaced by Nathan Orr. Prop Rodney Bennett by Richard Primrose. Alastair Trenier replaces Nathan Orr in the back row. Clive Donaldson returns from injury to take a place on the bench. Key forwards David Sharkey and Matty Robinson remain long term injuries. Bangor will be at full strength after a break of three weeks with no rugby. The seasiders will want to get their season back on track after a miserable league start. Dromore recovered from their 60 – 5 defeat at Instonians to defeat Randalstown 45 – 3 in the Junior Cup last weekend. They will welcome back their influential half back Lee Steenson for the visit of winless Ballymoney to Barben Hill. Coach Jason Taggart has much work to do to keep the County Antrim Club in Qual One. Donaghadee will hope to improve on their last visit down country when they lost 41 – 10 at Clogher Valley. Both fullback Billy Allen and centre Nigel Barker will be unavailable for selection. The trip to Portadown will not be easy for player coach Paul McKenzie and his players as the County Armagh side push to be contenders in the league race.
Fixtures Qual One. kick off 2.30pm
Ballyclare v Cooke
Bangor v Clogher Valley
Dromore v Ballymoney
Instonians v CIYMS
Portadown v Donaghadee
In Qualifying Two Omagh continue their impressive run when they entertain Lisburn at Mellon Park. As Ballymoney discovered last weekend any visiting teams to this venue will encounter a well organised and talent squad that has been assembled by Phil Marshall and his coaching team. With the playing resources at his disposal the coaches have been able to rotate and rest players. Flanker Richard Harpur is unavailable this weekend and is replaced by Dean Porter at 7 with the outstanding Andrew Ferguson returning at 8. Richard Smith fills the 6 slot. A late decision will be made on the fitness of scrum half Stuart McCain with Lloyd Kane on the bench. Lisburn coach Mark Crothers retains the team that played impressively in their 35 – 14 home defeat to Junior Cup holders Ballynahinch seconds last weekend. His squad has been decimated with twelve injured players – four of whom are suffering from fractured bones. Coleraine ( Have a new Pitchero website) have suffered two narrow defeats in recent weeks against Carrickfergus and Ballymena seconds will look for a morale boosting win over Academy to put their season back on track. Indiscipline cost them dearly last week when they entered injury time with a five point lead to only concede a late converted try to lose 19 – 17 to Ballymena seconds. Promotion is the goal for the North coast side this season in this competitive league. Grosvenor will look to bounce back from their opening 40 – 0 defeat at Omagh. Their task will not be made any easier by a resurgent Carrickfergus team who won 9 – 6 at Coleraine. The County Antrim side will want to make it three away wins in a row to back up their Junoior Cup success at Ards. Coaches Warren McClean, Jonny Cullen and Neil Hanna have played a key role in developing this talented playing squad. Grosvenor coach Alastair McKee will know how competitive this league is from his time at Enniskillen. North Down team Holywood make a trip to the North coast to play UUC in what is potentially being called a relegation decider this early in the season. Both teams have yet to win any league or Cup fixtures. The students suffering a thumping 59 – 0 defeat at Banbridge seconds in the Junior Cup. Their opponents this weekend did not fair any better losing 50 – 5 at Donaghadee.
Fixtures Qual Two. kick off 2.30pm
Coleraine v Academy
Grosvenor v Carrickfergus
Omagh v Lisburn
UUC v Holywood
Fixtures Qual Three. kick off 2.30pm
Larne v limavady
Strabane v PSNI.
Fixtures Qual Four. kick off 2.30pm
Cavan v BHSFP
Civil Service v Virginia
Monaghan v Londonderry YMCA
