Qualifying Two
Fixture. Saturday 14.2.15. kick off 2.30pm
Coleraine v Lisburn
Qualifying Three
Fixture. Sat 14.2.15. kick off 2.30pm
Ophir v Strabane
Qualifying Four
Letterkenny v Londonderry YMCA
Playing Sunday 15th February. Kick off 2.30pm
Cavan v Virginia
McCrea Cup
Holders Grosvenor and last years beaten finalists CIYMS both face tricky ties against Cooke and Malone seconds this weekend. Instonians would remain favourites for this Cup as they continue their undefeated run in all competitions. They will face difficult opponents in Queens seconds.
Academy v Civil Service
Coach Gareth Lynn was disappointed to see his Academy side lose back to back league games against Enniskillen in Jan. They bounced back with an impressive league win over a strong Coleraine xv at Roughfort 25 -16 last Sat. There is the playing strength in his squad to reach the final of this competition.
Civil Service coach Roy Lawton will know his side will be going in as underdogs in this match. Can they cause an upset.
Grosvenor v Cooke
On paper you would say a Cooke win. This is the Cup and anything can happen at Belmont on Sat. Grosvenor as holders will not want to give up their hold on this trophy. As is the case with the McCrea Cup it gives teams in the Greater Belfast area a real opportunity to play in a final at the Kingspan stadium. Cooke player coach Colin Atkinson felt his team underperformed against a clinical Instonians side last Sat. For this weekends game winger Andy Pollock and second row Brian Mannuis will return. Injuries rule out scrum half Gareth Robinson and centre Kyle Mitchell. The coach is also planning to give a debut to young scrum half Matthew Elliott. Difficult game to call.
Instonians v Queens seconds
Another Cup tie that will bring the supporters out in their hundreds at Shaws bridge. Despite the distraction of the Six Nations last Sat the supporters turned out in large numbers for the derby match between Cooke and Instonians. For Inst coach William Leacock he will once again rotate his starting xv as they did in the Junior Cup. Injuries will rule out props Fergal Lynch and Alan Whitten for four weeks. Second row Erin Wagner remains a long term injury doubt with full back Robbie Kirk unavailable. With lots of games coming up the coach will rest Robert Whitten, Sebastiono Fallo, Glen Baxter, David Scott, Brian Hughes, Fraser Wright, Marcus Hart and Matthew Keane for the game on Sat. He watached his second xv defeat a strong CIYMS second xv last night 21 – 9 and will be bringing in Lewis Jones, Conor Gallagher, Harry Martin, Michael Blackwood, Rory mcCurry, Ben Scott, Michael Melville and Andrew Keane for this match as he strenghtens his 1st xv playing squad. What pleased the coach last Sat was the performances of the players who stepped up to play for the 1st xv. Queens coach Chris Moore is hoping his talented second xv can upset the form book and win at Shaws bridge. Should be a thrilling game for the spectators who will see two highly talented and skilful sides looking to move the ball.
Malone seconds v CIYMS
Head coach Gareth Fry will be hoping his CIYMS side can put one over his old club when they travel to Gibson Park on Sat. Again you would have to favour the East Belfast side in this fixture. What team will Malone be able to put out depends on players returning from injury. CIYMS were favourites to win the McCrea Cup last season and were swept aside by the underdogs Grosvenor in the final. Their goal this season is to finish in the top four of Q1 and qualify for the All Ireland Junior Cup. Interesting game this. You can expect a competitive match between these two sides with a few former Malone players lining out for CIYMS. Another contest that will draw a large crowd to the Cregagh Road venue.
Fixtures. Saturday 14.2.15. Kick off 2.30pm
Academy v Civil Service
Grosvenor v Cooke
Instonians v Queens seconds
Malone seconds v CIYMS
Towns Cup
Both the current holders Clogher Valley and last years beaten finalists Donaghadee remain on course to challenge for a Towns Cup final place. Once again we have a strong representation from the Ulster second xv league in Ballynahinch, Ballymena and Armagh. Can a Qualifying Two side make the latter stages as Omagh and Enniskillen did in the Junior Cup. Once again Enniskillen are their alongside Carrickfegus. The one team I have not mentoioned is Richard Hedley’s perennial under achievers in the Cup competitions; Portadown. Who will be the four semi finalists. Difficult to call.
Donaghadee v Carrickfergus
You can expect the Dee supporters to come out in their hundreds for this mouth watering tie at Donaldson Park. Several weeks ago it was all doom and gloom for player coach Paul McKenzie and his players as the Dee looked for their first league win. Three wins on the trot against Ballyclare, Portadown and Holywood have reinvigorated this club. Can the 1st xv keep this winning run continuing. The prizes are securing their 1st xv status in Q 1 with four matches remaining and against all the odds reaching another Towns Cup final. What an achievement this would be for their Senior players, Gareth Gordon, Chris Good, Paul Blewitt and Billy Allen who just keep on playing. What an example they are to other clubs and players. As Paul Blewitt said to me. “What else would you do on a Sat”. Their opponents on Sat Carickfergus still believe they can achieve a league and Cup double in their 150th Anniversary season. PRO Eddie Lloyd believes his side are in a good position to upset another Q 1 club after defeating neighbours Ballyclare. All the ingredients are their for what should be a fast and furious game of rugby over eighty minutes.
Clogher Valley v Armagh seconds
Once again Cup fever has gripped the faithful at the Cran in Fivemiletown as they savour another trip to the Kingspan to retain the Towns Cup. The Armagh side will have other ideas after knocking out Junior Cup finalists Omagh and All Ireland Junior Cup Finalists Bangor in previous rounds. The astute Clive Bowles will have a full squad available as his Armagh seconds team look to emulate the achievements of the 1st xv in the All Ireland league and Ulster Championship league. Clogher coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black have been there before and will ensure their players are not complacent. Out half Philip Holme will be out for 2/3 weeks after being injured in the league match at Dromore last Sat. Captain Aaron Best moves to outhalf with Mark Ellis stepping in to take over at scrum half with centre Nathan Orr and back row Allister Tenier retaining their places.
Enniskillen v Ballynahinch seconds
Junior Cup semi finalists Enniskillen will have ambitions to go one step further and reach the Towns Cup final. For their opponents Ballynahinch the Towns Cup has been the “Holy Grail” they look to win every season. On their home pitch at Mullaghmeen the Skins team will provide stern opposition for their County Down visitors. Having missed out on contending for promotion this season to rivals Omagh, Head coach Norman Richmond will want to see his players rewarded for their efforts this season. Amazing when you consider they just missed out on relegation to Q 3 by one point last season. Captain Jamie Johnston along with the experienced backs Nicky Finlay, Alan Wilkinson and Chris McVitty will have key roles to play on Sat. They did dispose of a strong Ballymena second xv in the quarter finals of the Junior Cup and will require a similar performance to defeat Hinch seconds. Again expect no quarter to be given by either side in front of what is sure to be a large partisan crowd.
Ballymena seconds v Portadown
On paper you would have to say the Braid side would have to be favourites. Portadown have lost their last six league games, but recorded two excellent wins over Dromore and Limavady in earlier rounds of the Towns Cup. Ballymena have considerable playing strength in depth and have ambitions to see their second xv bring the Towns Cup back to Eaton Park. Portadown coach Richard Hedley restores Peter Lamb and John Graham to the pack with Robert Reid moving to the centre. He has experienced players in back row forwards Gareth McCoy and Diarmuid O ‘Kane who can guide the team through this difficult fixture.
Fixtures Saturday 14.2.15. Kick off 2.30pm
Donaghadee v Carrickfergus
Clogher Valley v Armagh seconds
Enniskillen v Ballynahinch seconds
Ballymena seconds v Portadown
Ulster Championship League.
Current champions Ballynahinch will look to retain the Stevenson Shield with four fixtures remaining. They are in second place behind leaders City of Derry with two games in hand along with third place Armagh. The meetings between these three sides will go some way to deciding the league. Ballymena v Malone and the Armagh v Queens fixtures have been brought forward to tonight with all four club second xv teams competing in Towns Cup and McCrea Cup on Sat.
Fixtures Thursday 12.2.15. Kick off 7.45pm
Armagh v Queens
Ballymena v Malone
Fixtures Saturday 14.2.15. Kick off 2.30pm
Ards v Ballynahinch
Banbridge v Belfast Harlequins
City of Derry v Dungannon
by George Millar
