Ulster Bank League Preview

All games scheduled this weekend in the Ulster Bank League are to go ahead despite a request from Munster clubs for games to be called off because of Munster’s game with Bristol next Tuesday in the B&I Cup.

Several Munster sides will now have to field depleted sides as the competition enters the closing stages.

Division 1A leaders Cork Constitution make the short journey across the city to face Dolphin at Musgrave Park. Having regained top spot last week and lost to Dolphin 19-9 earlier in the season, this is a game that the Lilywhites cannot afford to lose but with so many players on provincial duty they will have their work cut out to hold on to top spot.

Young Munster still in with a shout of a semi final place are away to Blackrock College. The Dublin side eased their relegation worries with that narrow one point away win over Garryowen last week and “The Cookies” will have their work cut out to get something from this tie.
Shannon are at home to second place Old Belvedere and must win to avoid getting involved in the relegation battle with just four games remaining.

Bottom side Garryowen entertain St. Mary’s College and have to get something from this encounter as they cannot afford to let the gap at the foot of the table widen.

In Division 1B U.L. Bohemian are another side severely depleted because of the Munster call up and their promotion hopes could be dealt a major blow should they fail to pick up points from their trip to Buccaneers.

Bruff are at home to bottom side Galwegians and must pick up maximum points if they are to stay in the hunt for promotion.

U.C.C. entertain leaders Clontarf at the Mardyke and after their great 19-13 win over Buccaneers last week they will be anxious to continue their winning ways.

Midleton face a big test of their promotion challenge when they travel to play Bective Rangers at Donnybrook. Midleton moved ahead of their opponents after their narrow one point win over Terenure, while Bective lost by the same margin at home to Belfast Harlequins. A win for the East Cork side would see them widen the gap for the last automatic promotion place.

Old Crescent boosted by their win over Corinthians last week will travel with confidence when they face Terenure College at Lakelands.

The two bottom sides have home games. Clonakilty three points ahead of Thomond entertain joint leaders U.C.D. and will have their work cut out to get some thing from this encounter.

Thomond will go all out for a win at home to Malone. The Belfast side are not good travelers and the home side could move off the foot of the table with a victory.

Nenagh Ormond must win their game away to Banbridge in Division 3 if they are to have any chance of promotion. Currently they are ten points behind their opponents with a game in hand and anything other than a win would end their promotion hopes.

The same applies to Sunday’s Well who travel to Suttonians and they must last the eighty minutes and win to keep their faint hopes alive.

The other game sees Highfield travel to Navan and with a disciplined performance should pick up the points against the struggling Leinster side.

FIXTURES:
SATURDAY 19th FEBRUARY
All Ireland League Division 1A:Blackrock College v Young Munster,Stradbrook,2.30;
Dolphin v Cork Constitution,Musgrave Park,2.30;
Garryowen v St. Mary's College,Dooradoyle,2.30;
Shannon v Old Belvedere,Coonagh,2.30;

Division 1B:Bruff v Galwegians,Bruff,2.30;
Buccaneers v U.L. Bohemian,Dubarry Park,2.30;
Lansdowne v Dungannon,Aviva Stadium,2.30;
U.C.C. v Clontarf,Mardyke,2.30;

Division 2:Ballymena v Dublin University,Eaton Park,2.30;
Ballynahinch v Belfast Harlequins,Ballymacarn Park,2.30;
Bective Rangers v Midleton,Donnybrook,2.30;
Clonakilty v U.C.D.,The Vale,2.30;
Corinthians v Old Wesley,Corinthian Park,2.30;
D.L.S.P. v Queens University,Kirwan Park,2.30;
Terenure College v Old Crescent,Lakelands Park,2.30;
Thomond v Malone,Fitzgerald Park,2.30;

Division 3:Banbridge v Nenagh Ormond,Rifle Park,2.30;
NUIM Barnhall v Wanderers,Parsonstown,2.30;
City of Derry v Ards,Judges Road,,2.30;
Connemara v Rainey Old Boys,Monastery Field,2.30;
Greystones v Instonians,Dr. Hickey Park,2.30;
Navan v Highfield,Balreask,2.30;
Seapoint v Naas,Kilbogget Park,2.30;
Suttonians v Sunday's Well,Station Road,2.30;