Sunday’s Well and Highfield get the show on the road in Division 2A at Irish Independent Park on Friday evening. These sides played out a 6-6 draw at Woodleigh Park on the Friday of the October Bank Holiday Weekend. Highfield are currently in pole position, while Sunday’s Well are hovering above the drop zone, two points adrift of Corinthians.
The three Munster sides in Division 1A are in action against Dublin opposition. Cork Constitution, who are third, will have little difficulty in seeing off the challenge of bottom side Old Belvedere at Temple Hill, as the Lilywhites ran out 20-14 winners when these sides met at Anglesea Road.
The two Limerick sides travel to the Capital as Garryowen take on Dublin University at College Park and Young Munster meet UCD at Belfield.
Garryowen have climbed up to fifth following their narrow 17-16 home win over UCD and they will be looking to avenge October’s 27-14 defeat by Trinity when these sides met at Dooradoyle.
Young Munster remain in second place behind leaders Lansdowne following their 20-18 home win over St Mary’s College and they will have their work cut out against a UCD side who claimed a losing bonus point against Garryowen last time out.
In Division 1B, UL Bohemian make the long trip to County Antrim to take on Ballymena at Eaton Park with both sides coming off the back of defeats last time out.
UL Bohemian recorded a 25-15 when these sides met at Thomond Park and they will be looking to get back to winning ways to get their challenge for promotion back on track.
Dolphin, who are propping up the table, travel to Athlone to take on table toppers Buccaneers. The Leesiders face a tough assignment if they are to build on their maximum point win over Shannon last time out as they were defeated 31-22 when they met Buccaneers at Irish Independent Park.
Shannon and UCC, who are both hovering above the relegation zone, lock horns at Thomond Park. This will be a tough assignment for the Limerick side if they are to avenge October’s 17-9 defeat at the Mardyke following their recent defeat by Dolphin as the Students are coming off the back of a narrow 16-23 home win over Naas.
Nenagh Ormond, who are locked in a three-way tie four points behind leaders Highfield in Division 2A with Malone and Banbridge, will be looking to make the most of home advantage count in a bid to keep up their challenge for promotion as they welcome Malone to North Tipperary. The Premier County side were defeated 33-25 by Banbridge in County Down last time out and they will also be looking to avenge last October’s 35-31 defeat by Malone in Belfast.
Tipperary neighbours Cashel travel to Dublin to take on Blackrock College in a mid-table clash. Cashel are up to seventh following their 36-3 maximum point home win over fellow struggler Belfast Harlequins. The Tipperary side put up 18 points without reply when they met Blackrock at the Spafield and they face tricky task as the Stradbrook side are coming off the back of a 13-8 home win over Queen’s University.
Fourth-placed Old Crescent are away to Bective Rangers in Division 2B. The Limerick side will be looking to get back to winning ways following their recent 30-19 home defeat by leaders Armagh. They were also defeated 22-14 when they met Bective at Rosbrien in October.
Bottom side Thomond, who are battling against a second successive relegation host MU Barnhall, who have slipped to sixth following their recent 20-3 home defeated by promotion chasing Greystones. MU Barnhall put up 41 points without reply when they met Thomond in County Kildare.
In Division 2C, fifth-placed Bruff host leaders Navan by whom they were defeated 32-22 when these sides met in the Royal County.
Kanturk, who drew 7-7 with Bangor in County Down have slipped into the drop zone following Seapoint’s 32-26 home win over Midleton, host fourth-placed Tullamore. The Duhallow side will be looking to make the most of home advantage count in a bid to preserve their AIL status as they recorded a narrow 17-15 victory when these sides met in County Offaly.
Midleton, who are without a win since they defeated Navan 9-7 at Towns Park in November, host Bangor, by whom they were defeated 32-22 in County Down.