Now we enter the business end of the season with nine games left for the sides in AIL 1A & 1B and seven games left for the sides in AIL 2A & 2B. For the twelve Ulster sides much work remains to be done. We have four sides Queens, City of Derry, Balymena and Armagh pushing for promotion in Div 2A and 2B. Belfast Harlequins and Rainey sit mid table in Div 1B and 2A whilst Ballynahinch, Malone, Dungannon, Banbridge, Ards and Instonians are staring at relegation unless they can start winning more games. Only three clubs in the AIL have yet to win a game, they are Garryowen, Bruff and Suttonians. In Ulster this weekend we have two Ulster derbies with Dungannon playing Malone and Banbridge hosting City of Derry. With the four provincial sides not playing again until the weekend of the 7th/8th February the release of squad and Academy players could influence the outcome of games over the next two weekends. With the announcement of Senior and Under 20 squads for the Six Nations; they are once again dominated by players from Leinster. Nineteen in the Senior squad and seventeen from twenty eight in the Under 20 squad. Ulster provide ten senior and two under 20 players. It once again raises the question what is being done to develop the future indigenous Ulster and Irish players in Ulster. Is too much emphasis being put on players coming through Schools to the exlusion of the clubs. Stephen Ferris and Sean O’Brien are two examples of players who came through club Youth Development structures. David Humphreys , Allen Clarke and Brian McLaughlin have key roles to play in the implementation of structures to create player pathways to service both the club and professional game in Ulster. Irish coach Joe Schmidt talks about a hierarchy of the four provinces supporting a successful Irish squad. Does the same concept not need to be applied by Ulster Rugby to support the development of club rugby in Ulster. Ulster rugby needs the clubs to be competitive in the AIL to give their squad and Academy players meaningful rugby. Ulster clubs need the support of Ulster Rugby with Ulster Rugby needing the support of the clubs. We want our Ulster clubs to be competitive and successful in the All Ireland League; Not just making up the numbers!!!!
Division 1A
Ballynahinch v Dolphin
Cork Constitution v UCD
Lansdowne v Garryowen
Old Belvedere v St Mary’s
Young Munster v Clontarf
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Ballynahinch v Dolphin
Ulster’s number one side Ballynahinch remain in nineth place: twelve points ahead of bottom side Garryowen. Fixtures over the next two weeks will go some way to determining the future direction of the County Down side in Div 1A. They have fellow bottom four side Dolphin at Ballymacarn Park this weekend followed by a trip to Garryowen on Sat week. In the corresponding fixture with Dolphin at Musgrave Park in Nov the Cork side ran out narrow 25 – 18 winners. In their last outing Hinch recorded an impressive 32 – 26 win at UCD. They have accumulated six losing bonus points from nine games this season to show how competitive the Ballymacarn park side have been in the AIL. There is a general feeling around the club they are moving in the right direction with key players returning from injury. Coaches Derek Suffern and Charlie McAleese along with Captain Stuart Morrow will know a win is vital for their team on Sat.
Ballynahinch to win
Division 1B
Dungannon v Malone. Played Friday 24th Jan. KO 7.30PM
Blackrock College v Shannon
Buccaneers v Belfast Harlequins
Corinthians v Dublin Uni
UL Bohemians v Terenure College
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Dungannon v Malone
Stevenson Park, Dungannon will host a crucial AIL relegation decider on Friday night, which neither side can afford to lose with the County Tyrone side facing a trip to Dublin the following week to play fellow bottom four side Dublin Uni. As the league table stands it is between Blackrock College, Dublin Uni, Malone and Dungannon to avoid the bottom two relegation places in this league. The release of Ulster squad and Academy players will be crucial to Dungannon. They will hope to have Chris Cochrane, Chris Farrell, Stewart McCloskey, Peter Nelson, Sean Doyle, Adam Macklin and Paul Jackson to strengthen their playing squad. Coach Paddy Johns will know his experienced Captain James Bates and Club President Paul Magee have key roles to play in keeping their side in this league. Without these players his side have struggled this season. Malone have endured a rebuilding process this season with a young playing squad including Adam Liddell, Nathan Brown, Rudolph Benade, Ross Kane and Ben Alexander. Their two summer signings from Donaghadee Philip Eadie and Richard Millar have become key players in the forwards. The East Belfast side were unlucky not to take the points in their narrow loss away to a Corinthians side that included eight Connacht squad and Academy players in Jan. An gutsy display by the team with the backrow of Captain Neil Alcorn, Conor Joyce, Ben McDonnell and Richard Millar outstanding as they held a 3 – 0 lead for seventy minutes only for one decision by the officials denied them a well deserved win. Coach Jacque Benade will know his young side will be underdogs going into this game, but if they show the character that has yielded them five losing bonus points from nine games they have a chance of battling their way out of the relegation zone. Malone won the corresponding AIL game at Gibson Park in Sept by 20 – 10. When the two sides met at Stevenson Park in the USL before Xmas – Malone ran out 25 – 0 winners. Tough game to call. Home advanatge should favour Dungannon.
Buccaneers v Belfast Harlequins
Belfast Harlequins face a daunting trip to Athlone to play Buccaneers at Dubarry park. The Belfast side sit mid table in sixth place – eight points behind fourth place Buccaneers. The Connacht side were sitting in second place until defeats to Terenure and UL Bohemians have seen them slip down the table. Harlequins have consolidated their mid table position after defeating Dungannon 13 – 3 and suffering narow losses to Corinthians and Shannon. The release of Ulster players including Rory Scholes, Michael Heaney, Neil McComb and Ricky Lutton will be critical for Coach Adam Larkin if they are to get any points from this game. Buccaneers will have up to thirteen players to call on from the Connacht squad to strenghten their playing squad. Buccaneers won the opening AIL game in Belfast in Sept 29 – 21. Buccaneers to win
Division 2A
Ballymena v Cashel
Banbridge v City of Derry
Bective v Old Crescent
Galwegians v UCC
Highfield v Seapoint
Naas v Bruff
Queens Uni v Old Wesley
Rainey v NUIM Barnhall
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Ballymena v Cashel
The faithful at Eaton Park are still in shock from that injury time 8 – 3 loss to City of Derry two weeks ago. With Galwegians looking in pole position for promotion the battle for second place is developing into a contest between fellow Ulster sides Ballymena, Queens and City of Derry. Ulster Ravens commitements will have denied coach Andy Graham key players for that loss in the North West. They will look to have these players Dave Shanahan, Ricky Andrew and Andrew Warwick back in contention this weekend along with the injured duo of Timmy Small and Jamie Smith. Cashel are nineth in the table where seven points separates seven sides in the bottom half of the table. They are a typically strong Munster side who will provide stiff opposition for Ballymena. Expect Ballymena to win. Hard earned.
Banbridge v City of Derry
The County Down side sit 13th in the table with Derry in third place pushing for promotion. The fact that the Bann side have four losing bonus points whilst Derry have three try scoring bonus points gives us some indication of the fortunes of both clubs in the AIL this season. When the two sides met in the USL before Xmas, Derry ran out 35 – 24 winners. City of Derry are coming of the back of that 8 – 3 win over Ballymena and will start as slight favourites. Bann have been unlucky in losing narrowly to league leaders Galwegians 11 – 7 at home and salvaged a losing bonus point in their 37 – 30 loss at promotion chasing Barnhall last Saturday. The timely return of Club Captain and Ulster scrum half Ian Porter has bolstered the playing resources available to Daniel Soper and Simon Best. The unavailability of Jonny Graham in recent AIL games has been a big loss to the Bann side. The coaches have a wealth of talent in the half backs as they struggle to find their best combination. Due to injury the Derry coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair have been pleased withthe performance of their new half back pairing of Jack Caithness and Andrew Semple with Mark Robinson and Captain David Funston to call off the bench. So much at stake for both sides in this game. The packs are very evenly matched with the two sets of half backs the key to deciding the outcome of this game. The battle between the two centres Adam Bratton and Andrew Morrison will be one to watch. Expect a big crowd at Rifle Park for this game, City of Derry to win.
Queens Uni v Old Wesley
As Ulsters representative in last Sat’s All Ireland Bateman Cup Semi final against Cork Constitution: the students were overwhelmed by seven tries to two in a 46 – 14 defeat. As Queens DoR Robbie Moore said their players will learn from the experience. The gulf between sides in Div 1A and 2A was clearly in evidence as the students struggled to cope with the pace and power of the Munster side. How often have we heard that said this season when Ulster club sides play their Southern opponents in the AIL !!! There is the opportunity this Sat for the students to bounce back and maintain their push for promotion this season. Winger David Busby will be unavailable due to Ireland Under 20 commitments in the Six Nations. They will welcome back Ravens duo Marc Campbell and Lorcan Dow. The students also picked up injuries in Cork to players Matt Clarke, Chris Colvin and Conor Spence. Old Wesley sit in seventh place in the table, seven points behind Queens. They would still regard themselves in the hunt for promotion . With seven points separating the sides between second and seventh place this league will go down to the final day. After this weekend there are only six AIL league games left. Every game is a Cup Final in the push for promotion. Queens to win.
Rainey v NUIM Barnhall
There must have been great relief amongst the Rainey supporters following their 25 – 19 win over Naas two weeks ago. Coach Richard Boyd will be hoping that will a full squad to choose from his side can have a say in who is promoted from this division. He will have welcomed the return of South African George Fritz and influential out half Michael Pyper to the team. With a strong bench to call on. The Magherfelt side will be up against a Barnhall side who were too strong for Banbridge two weeks ago. Key forwards Paddy McGowan, Peter Boyle and Captain Neil O’Kane along with the rest of the pack will need to dominate their opponents if they are to win this game. Tight game to call. Barnhall to win
Division 2B
Ards v Skerries
Armagh v Boyne
DLSP v Sligo
Midleton v Instonians
Nenagh v Navan
Sundays Well v Richmond
Suttonians v Tullamore
Thomond v Greystones
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Ards v Skerries
The Hamilton Park side will have taken alot of confidence from their narrow 22 – 16 defeat at Richmond in their last AIL outing. The task facing them this weekend will be difficult as they face fifth place Skerries. Ards Captain Rob McCausland and the experienced second row John Dowey will need to lead from the front if Ards are get any points from this game. Half Backs Kyle Agnew and Stuarty Paul will look to their fellow backs Scott Young, Davy Parkhill and Mark Bamford to score the tries. Winger Paul Cox scored all 16 pts in their loss at Richmond and his kicking skills will be vital on Sat as they look to push clear of the tightly congested relegation zone in this league. Skerries to win
Armagh v Boyne
The Armagh boys lost this fixture in Drogheda last season and will be looking to win this game to keep their promotion hopes alive with only six games remaining after this weekend. Coach Andy Hughes knows his side can’t afford any slip up’s at this stage. His pack has been one of their strength’s this season with the talented half backs Harry Doyle and Richard Reaney controlling the play. Ex Ulster centre Seamus Mallon contiues to score vital tries for his side. Armagh recorded an impressive 31 – 10 win at Instonians in their last AIL outing. Expect the outcome to be close. Armagh to win
Midleton v Instonians
William Leacock’s side know they have to fight for every point in their remaining seven league games. A trip to Cork this weekend against fellow strugglers Midleton is a must win game for the Shawsbridge side. The return of Ulster Raven openside Josh Atkinson will strengthen their backrow. There is talent throughout the squad but they have struggled against the more physical sides. Nothing less than 100% from the players will see this proud club fight their way out of this relegation battle. Is this time for Instonians to win their first away game in the AIL this season. Instonians to win
