Weekend Rugby Preview

17th January 2004 By Munster Rugby

There is a full program of leagues games at all levels this weekend, as the club scene swings back into full action after the Christmas break.

There is a full program of leagues games at all levels this weekend, as the club scene swings back into full action after the Christmas break.

In the AIL, Cork Constitution should maintain their unbeaten run with a home win over St. Mary’s who are struggling to avoid relegation.

#Shannon play Co. Carlow at Thomond Park on Sunday and they will be hoping to maintain the pressure on the leaders with a victory. Both Garryowen and Dolphin are up North. The Limerick side face an inform Belfast Harlequins team and will do well to return home with some thing against a side that is challenging for a top four finish. Dolphin could overtake Dungannon, if they were to win Stevenson Park and move further away from the danger zone..

In the Second Division UL Bohemian will try and keep their promotion hopes alive with a win away to Malone and hope that Old Crescent can do them a favour with a win against leaders Old Belvedere at Anglesea Road. Second placed Barnhall are unlikely to ease Waterpark’s relegation worries when they travel to Ballinakill. Young Munster will try halt their losing run of defeats with a win away to Ballynahinch, while bottom side Sunday’s Well must get some thing from their encounter with DLSP to keep in touch with the clubs above them.

Highfield the new leaders of the Third Division will hope to keep pole position, by getting a win away in Belfast against Queens University, while Clonakilty after their great performance in Banbridge last week, should have little difficulty in seeing off the challenge of struggling Ballina at Shannon Vale.

In the First Division of the Heineken Munster Junior league, Nenagh Ormond can move ahead of leaders Bruff who are idle this weekend, with a win away to Clonmel. Kilfeacle meet Clanwilliam in what is always an entertaining derby tie and should preserve their unbeaten record. However the game of the day should be at the foot of the table where the two bottom sides Richmond and St. Mary’s meet with both sides desperately trying to bridge the nine point gap between them and the sides just above them. Youghal and Old Christians will be anxious to extend that difference. Youghal area away to Bandon and Old Christians face Crosshaven at Rathcooney. The other remaining tie is the meeting of Cobh Pirates and St. Senan’s.

Muskerry travel to Thurles in the Second Division and must win to stay in the promotion race. The home side have slipped down the table in recent weeks and will want to halt that slide. Leaders Tralee should hold on to top spot with a win at home to Tralee, while second placed Cashel could add to Castleisland’s relegation worries with a win at the Kerry venue. Skibbereen should keep their hopes alive with a home win over bottom side Ballincollig, while Douglas will be hoping for a change of fortune from their trip to Charleville. Ennis travel to Waterford City and with both in a mid table position, they are likely to use this tie as a warm up ahead of next week’s Cup ties.

In the Third Division Mallow travel to Newport hoping to get back to winning ways after last week’s Cup defeat and maintain their position at the top of the table. Abbeyfeale should keep up their challenge with a home win over Kinsale, while Fermoy should have little difficulty in seeing off the challenge of bottom side Kilrush. Newcastle West should get the points away to Dungarvan. Presentation will hope to get back to winning ways with a home win over Carrick-on-Suir and Galbally should continue their good run with a home victory against Killarney.

It is a top of the table clash in Division Two of the Munster Seconds League, with Thomond playing hosts to Midleton.

SATURDAY 17th JANUARY

European Rugby Cup: Munster v Gloucester,Thomond Park,5.00;

AIB League Division 1: Belfast Harlequins v Garryowen,Deramore Park,2.30; Cork Constitution v St. Mary’s College,Temple Hill,2.30; Dungannon v Dolphin,Stevenson Park,2.30;

Division 2: Ballynahinch v Young Munster,Ballymacarn Park,2.30; Malone v U.L. Bohemian,Gibson Park,2.30; Old Belvedere v Old Crescent,Anglesea Road,2.30; Sunday’s Well v D.L.S.P.,Musgrave Park,2.30; Waterpark v Barnhall,Ballinakill,2.30;

Division 3: Clonakilty v Ballina,Shannon Vale,2.30; Queens University v Highfield,Dub Lane,2.30;

McInerney Cup: Richmond v Bruff,Richmond Park,1.30;

Junior 3 League South Division 1: Corca Dhuibhne v Bandon,Ballydavid,2.00;

Under 20 Cup: Clonakilty v Waterpark,Shannon Vale,2.30; Highfield v Midleton,Woodleigh Park,2.30;

Under 18 League: Ballincollig v Skibbereen,Ballincollig,11.30; Bandon v Sunday’s Well,Bandon,12.00; Cobh Pirates v Muskerry,Cobh,11.30;

Under 16 Development: North Munster v South Munster,Greenfields,12.30;

Under 16 League: Highfield v Mallow,Woodleigh Park,11.00; Youghal v Mitchelstown,Youghal,11.00;

Schools Senior Friendly: C.B.C. v Blackrock College,Lansdowne,2.00; Rockwell v Roscrea,Rockwell,12.00;

Schools Junior Friendly: C.B.C. v Blackrock College,Lansdowne,2.00; P.B.C. v St. Mary’s,Wilton; P.B.C. “B” v St. Mary’s “B”,Wilton ; Rockwell v Roscrea,Rockwell,12.00;

Under 16 Friendly: P.B.C. v Belvedere,Wilton,11.00; P.B.C. “B” v Belvedere “B”,Wilton,11.00;

Under 13 League: Newcastle West v Ennis,Newcastle West,1.00;

SUNDAY 18th JANUARY

AIB League Division 1: Shannon v Co. Carlow,Thomond Park,2.30;

Heineken Munster Junior League Division 1: Bandon v Youghal,Bandon,3.00; Clonmel v Nenagh Ormond,Clonmel,3.00; Cobh Pirates v St. Senan’s,Cobh,3.00; Kilfeacle v Clanwilliam,Kilfeacle,3.00; Old Christians v Crosshaven,Rathcooney,3.00; Richmond v St. Mary’s,Richmond Park,3.00;

Division 2: Castleisland v Cashel,Castleisland,3.00; Charleville v Douglas,Charleville,3.00; Ennis v Waterford City,Ennis,3.00; Skibbereen v Ballincollig,Skibbereen,3.00; Thurles v Muskerry,Thurles,3.00; Tralee v Kanturk,Tralee,3.00;

Division 3: Abbeyfeale v Kinsale,Abbeyfeale,3.00; Dungarvan v Newcastle West,Dungarvan,3.00; Fermoy v Kilrush,Fermoy,3.00; Galbally v Killarney,Galbally,3.00; Newport v Mallow,Newport,3.00; Presentation v Carrick-on-Suir,Rathuard,3.00;

Munster Seconds League Division 2: Thomond v Midleton,Fitzgerald Park,3.00;

Junior League South: U.C.C. v Cork Constitution,Curaheen Road,3.00;

Junior 2 League South: Bandon v Youghal,Bandon,1.00; Bantry Bay v Dolphin,Bantry,3.00; Cobh Pirates v Cork Constitution,Cobh,12.00;

Division 1: Highfield v Shandon,Woodleigh Park,3.00; Old Christians v Muskerry,Rathcooney,1.00; U.C.C. v Tralee,Curaheen Road,3.00;

McCarthy Cup Semi Finals: Bandon v Cork Transport,Bandon,2.30; Skibbereen v Fermoy,Skibbereen,2.30;

Evans Cup: Clonmel v Nenagh Ormond,Clonmel,1.00; Thurles v Clanwilliam,Thurles,12.00;

Junior Friendly: Highfield v Sunday’s Well,Woodleigh Park,1.30; Old Crescent v Bruff,Rosbrien,3.00;

Junior 3 Friendly: Carrigaline v Midleton,Carrigaline,2.30; Clonakilty v Ballincollig,Clonakilty,12.00;

Under 20 Friendly: Shannon v Ennis,Coonagh,12.30;

Under 18 League: Cork Constitution v Highfield,Temple Hill,11.30; Ennis v Young Munster,Ennis,12.00; Garryowen v Newport,Dooradoyle,12.00; Newcastle West v Shannon,Newcastle West,12.00; Richmond v Thomond,Garryowen Green,12.00;

Under 16 League: Bruff v Ennis,Bruff,12.00; Garryowen v Thomond,Dooradoyle,11.30; Young Munster v Richmond,Derryknockane,11.30;

Under 14 League: Newcastle West v Shannon,Newcastle West 11.30; Old Crescent v Ennis,Rosbrien,11.30; Richmond v Thomond,Garryowen Green,11.00; St. Senan’s v Bruff,Shannon,11.30; U.L. Bohemian v St. Mary’s,Annacotty,11.30; Young Munster v Scariff,Derryknockane,12.00;

Under 13 League: St. Mary’s v Shannon,Corbally,11.30;

IWRFU Division 1: Highfield v Shannon,Woodleigh Park,1.00;

IWRFU Tipperary Cup: Clanwilliam v Clonmel,Tipperary,2.30;

WEDNESDAY 21st JANUARY

Schools Senior Cup: St. Nessan’s Newtown Bandon Grammar v Abbey/ St. Joseph’s

Barry Cup; P.B.C. v C.B.C.,Wilton,2.45;

Schools Junior Cup: Glenstal v St. Nessan’s,Glenstal,2.30; St. Clement’s v Bandon,St. Clement’s,2.30;

O’Brien Cup: Waterpark v High School,Ballinakill,2.30; Tarbert Comp v St. Mary’s, St. Enda’s v St. Clement’s

Junior “B” Cup; P.B.C. v C.B.C.,Wilton,2.45;

Schools Senior Friendly : Rockwell v St. Mary’s College,Rockwell,2.30;

Schools Junior Friendly: Rockwell v St. Mary’s College,Rockwell,2.30;

THURSDAY 22nd JANUARY