Senior Rugby Preview

By Leonard Allen The three Munster sides in Division 1A are in action against Dublin opposition for the second successive weekend. Cork Constitution, who are third travel to the Capital to take on leaders Lansdowne at the Aviva Stadium. The Leesiders are looking to make it two wins out of two as they defeated Lansdowne 31-13 when these sides met at Temple Hill in October. The two Limerick sides have home ties. Third-placed Young Munster welcome Dublin University  to Tom Clifford Park and the home side will be looking to avenge October’s 32-27 defeat when these sides met at College Park. Garryowen host defending champions Clontarf at Dooradoyle. The Sky Blues have slipped to eighth following their 19-3 away defeat by Dublin University and they will have their work cut out if they are to avenge October’s narrow 16-14 defeat at Castle Avenue. In Division 1B, Dolphin, who are propping up the table, will be looking to make the most of home advantage count in their battle against the drop as they welcome sixth-placed Ballymena to Irish Independent Park. Dolphin were defeated by leaders Buccaneers in Athlone last time out and they were defeated 24-16 when they met the County Antrim side at Eaton Park. Shannon, who are hovering above the drop zone travel to County Kildare to take on promotion chasing Naas and they were defeated 14-10 when these sides met in Limerick UCC, who were defeated by Shannon last time out, will have their work cut out as they host leaders Buccaneers by whom they were defeated in a high scoring game in Athlone in October. Second-placed UL Bohemian will be expected to claim all points on offer from their game against struggling Galwegians at Thomond Park and also make it two wins from two over the Galway side. Cashel and Sunday’s Well lock horns in a basement clash at the Spafield in Division 2A with both sides hovering above the drop zone. Sunday’s Well ran out 22-13 winners when these sides met at Irish Independent Park. Second-placed Highfield will be looking to continue their quest for a second successive promotion as they host struggling Corinthians who they defeated 29-9 in Galway. Nenagh Ormond, who have slipped to third, travel to Belfast to take on fifth-placed Queen’s University. The North Tipperary side ran out 18-8 winners at New Ormond Park in October. Thomond, who are rooted to the foot of Division 2B are away to sixth-placed Dungannon and they were defeated 36-30 when these sides met at Liam Fitzgerald Park. Fourth-placed Old Crescent welcome Skerries, who are hovering above the relegation zone, to Rosbrien. The Limerick side will be expected to make it two wins out of two as they recorded a narrow 30-27 win when these sides met in North Dublin. Midleton who are without a win since they defeated Navan 9-7 at Towns Park in November will be looking to claim all points on offer as they host Boyne, who are propping up the table. These sides played out a 22-22 draw in Drogheda in October Kanturk, who are second form bottom, face a tough assignment as they travel to the Royal County to take on leaders Navan by whom they were defeated 47-37 in Duhallow. Bruff, who are fifth, travel to Strandhill to take on second-placed Sligo against whom they recorded a narrow 26-25 home win in October.