AIB Cup: First Round Previews

Saturday sees the 2007/08 AIB Cup competition get underway in earnest with fourteen matches down for decision in all four provinces. See below for previews of some of the games.

2007/08 AIB CUP: FIRST ROUND

MATCH B – CORINTHIANS v BARNHALL, Corinthian Park, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 6)
Referee: Mark Hermin (Ulster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Connacht v Leinster) – an AIB League Division Three team at home to Division Two opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 2000/01: Division Three: Barnhall 24 Corinthians 0.

Corinthians:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have had one season in Division Two, one season in Division Four and two seasons in the junior ranks. For 13 seasons, they have been a Division Three club. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 40th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 11th in AIB League Division Three last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Corinthians finished third in the Connacht Senior League after a 25-10 win away to Connemara, a 17-17 draw at home to Buccaneers and a 25-7 loss at home to Galwegians. They were beaten 25-11 at home to Bucaneers in the Connacht Senior Cup.

Comment: They have recruited well and will be more competitive when the GAA club season in the west comes to a finish.

Barnhall:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1999/00 season. They have spent one season in Division Four, one season in Division Three and six seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 30th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 7th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Barnhall have endured, by their own high standards, a pretty poor Leinster Senior League Cup Pool Four campaign – losing 11-0 away to Wanderers and 53-0 away to Clontarf before drawing 9-9 at home to junior club Seapoint. They have failed to score a try over the three games and finished 17 of the 20 clubs in the competition.

Comment: They make their AIB League and Cup debut in Connacht this weekend and are the only Leinster senior club never to have played in an AIB League and Cup fixture in Connacht before.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Corinthians to win.

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MATCH C – COUNTY CARLOW v MIDLETON, Oak Park, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 6)
Referee: David Wilkinson (Ulster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Leinster v Munster) – an AIB League Division Three team at home to Division Three opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1999/00: Division Three: County Carlow 17 Midleton 9; 2000/01: Division Two: Midleton 12 County Carlow 10; 2006/07: Division Two: County Carlow 16 Midleton 9.

County Carlow:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1997/98 season. They have had one season in Division Four, two seasons in Division Three, five seasons in Division One and two seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 22nd.

2006/07 Finish: They were 15th in AIB League Division Two last season and were relegated.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: County Carlow finished with zero points – six less than Navan, one of the junior clubs – in Pool Five of the Leinster Senior League Cup. They lost 39-6 at home to Old Belvedere, 48-16 at home to Navan and 26-3 away to Lansdowne in their pool games, earning them a 19th seeding of 20 clubs.

Comment: They are expecting the Australian Under-16s coach to arrive in a week or two to take over the coaching duties. At the moment, the future does not look rosy for one of Ireland’s oldest clubs. County Carlow are on a hat-trick of wins over Midleton at Oak Park.

Midleton:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1998/99 season. They have spent one season in Division Four, one season in Division Three and seven seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 32nd.

2006/07 Finish: They were 16th in AIB League Division Two last season and were relegated.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Midleton, the holders, got a walkover from Cobh Pirates in the first round of this season’s Cork Charity Cup and then lost 23-10 away to Highfield in the semi-finals. The Cork club hosted Garryowen in a Munster Cup second round tie last Saturday and were beaten 13-7.

Comment: This tie pitches the two clubs relegated from Division Two last season against each other. Midleton have played County Carlow three times in the AIB League, winning at home in December 2000 and losing on both visits to Oak Park. Former Munster 100-capper Jason Holland has arrived back from New Zealand to fill the role of player-coach at Towns Park.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Midleton to win.

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MATCH D – CITY OF DERRY v CLONAKILTY, Judge’s Road, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 6)
Referee: Simon McDowell (Ulster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Ulster v Munster) – an AIB League Division Three team at home to Division Two opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 2002/03: Division Three: Clonakilty 10 City of Derry 6; 2003/04: Division Three: City of Derry 32 Clonakilty 15; 2004/05: Division Three: Clonakilty 24 City of Derry 3; 2005/06: Division Three: City of Derry 27 Clonakilty 35.

City of Derry:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have spent eight seasons in Division Three and six seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 35th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 15th in AIB League Division Three last season and won a relegation play-off 18-12 at home to Armagh.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: City of Derry currently lie in sixth place in the Ulster Senior League. They have played six games and won three and lost three of those. They have scored victories over Ards and Ballymena – they have played three AIB League Division Three clubs already in the Ulster Senior League and won two of these games.

Comment: Have played Clonakilty twice before at Judge’s Road and on each occasion scored four tries. Gerald McCarter has retired as first team coach.

Clonakilty:

AIB League History: First competed in the 2001/02 season. They have spent five seasons in Division Three and one season in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 37th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 3rd in AIB League Division Two last season and lost a play-off semi-final 18-14 away to Old Belvedere.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Won in the first round – 8-0 at home to Greystones; Won in the quarter-finals – 31-22 away to Terenure College; Lost in the semi-finals – 32-13 away to Garryowen.

Current Season: Clonakilty lost 47-0 away to Cork Con in the first round of the Cork Charity Cup on September 4. They entertained Shannon last weekend in round two of the Munster Senior Cup and lost 53-10.

Comment: Must travel the length of the country for this weekend’s AIB Cup first round. They are on a hat-trick of wins at City of Derry. Retirements and transfers have prevented ‘Clon’ from hitting the ground running this season.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Clonakilty to win.

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MATCH E – WATERPARK v BUCCANEERS, Ballinakill, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 6)
Referee: John Carvill (Leinster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Munster v Connacht) – an AIB League Division Three team at home to Division Two opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1994/95: Division Three: Waterpark 30 Buccaneers 32; 1995/96: Division Three: Buccaneers 33 Waterpark 3; 1996/97: Division Three: Buccaneers 26 Waterpark 23.

Waterpark:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have spent four seasons in Division Three, seven seasons in Division Three and three seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 39th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 12th in AIB League Division Three last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Waterpark lost 52-7 away to Highfield in the first round of the Cork Charity Cup. They lost 32-18 in the Munster Senior Cup second round away to Sunday’s Well last weekend. They have shown good form at home so far this season – they won two friendlies 44-19 (v Sunday’s Well) and 22-12 (Midleton).

Comment: Brendan Moran kicked all 30 points in the victory over Buccaneers back in October 1994. Heady days.

Buccaneers:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1991/92 season. They have spent four seasons in Division Three, two seasons in the junior ranks, two seasons in Division Two and nine seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 13th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 16th in AIB League Division One last season and were relegated.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Won in the preliminary round – 28-16 at home to Ballymena; Won in the first round – 50-13 away to De La Salle Palmerston; Won in the quarter-finals – 23-6 away to Galwegians; Lost in the semi-finals – 20-13 away to Cork Constitution; 2006/07: Lost in the first round – 16-13 away to Garryowen.

Current Season: Buccaneers have just won the 2007/08 Connacht Senior League. Away to Galwegians, they won 29-8, they drew 17-17 away to Corinthians and won 33-3 at home to Connemara. They scored 13 tries during the league which was only three less than they scored in all 15 of their AIB League Division One games last season. They recently beat Corinthians 25-11 away in the Connacht Senior Cup semi-finals, but last weekend lost the final 22-7 to Galwegians.

Comment: Are on a hat-trick of victories over Saturday’s opponents.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Buccaneers to win.

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MATCH F – RAINEY OLD BOYS v DE LA SALLE PALMERSTON, Hatrick Park, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 6)
Referee: Trevor Collins (Munster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Ulster v Leinster) – an AIB League Division Three team at home to Division Two opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: The two clubs have never met in the AIB League.

Rainey Old Boys:

AIB League History: First competed in the 2006/07 season. They have spent one season in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 44th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 7th in AIB League Division Three last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Rainey Old Boys currently lie in fifth place in the Ulster Senior League. They have played five matches, won three and lost two. They have scored victories away to Ballymena (35-17) and home to Instonians (32-24), and have sparkled with tries so far this season and collected two bonus points in the process. But they came back down to earth last weekend when they shipped 60 points away to Belfast Harlequins.

Comment: They entertained two Leinster clubs at Hatrick Park last season – they beat Wanderers 16-15 and then lost 20-10 to Old Wesley. New head coach Willie Anderson seem to have the Old Boys in great shape at the start of their competitive season.

De La Salle Palmerston:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have spent three seasons in Division Three, three seasons in Division One and eight seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 19th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 10th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Lost in the first round – 50-13 at home to Buccaneers; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: De La Salle Palmerston topped Pool Two of the Leinster Senior League Cup ahead of Blackrock College and Greystones on points difference. They won 47-17 at home to Greystones, lost 18-10 away to Blackrock and won 26-9 away to Old Wesley. They scored the most tries (12) in their pool and their won quarter-final 27-17 away to Suttonians. They had their semi-final away to St. Mary’s College postponed last weekend.

Comment: They have not won away in Ulster over the past four seasons and have no previous form against Saturday’s opponents. They have recruited extensively and are in rare good form at this stage of the 2007/08 season.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Rainey Old Boys to win.

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MATCH G – BANBRIDGE v BECTIVE RANGERS, Rifle Park, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 6)
Referee: Ken Imbusch (Connacht)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Ulster v Leinster) – an AIB League Division Three team at home to Division Two opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: The two clubs have never met in the AIB League.

Banbridge:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1998/99 season. They have spent two seasons in Division Four and seven seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 47th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 8th in AIB League Division Three last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Banbridge currently lie in ninth place in the Ulster Senior League, having played seven matches, won two and lost five. They have scored victories over Queen’s 19-10 and Ards 36-0 and have played four fixtures against clubs that they will meet later on this season in AIB League Division Three, winning two of these games.

Comment: Former Belfast Harlequins and Rotherham Titans coach Andre Bester has been appointed technical director of the club. Banbridge have lost their last five Ulster Senior League fixtures.

Bective Rangers:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have spent one season in Division Three and thirteen seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 20th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 11th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: They finished third in Pool Three of the Leinster Senior League Cup with a 50-0 win over Skerries at home – Glenamuck Road in Kilternan – and two defeats on the road (21-5 at UCD and 33-6 at St. Mary’s College).

Comment: They travel to Rifle Park this weekend to make their debut at the venue. They have two former Irish International players – scrum half Stephen McIvor and lock Gabriel Fulcher – as their coaches this season.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Bective Rangers to win.

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MATCH H – UCC v OLD WESLEY, The Mardyke, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 6)
Referee: Leo Colgan (Munster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Munster v Leinster) – an AIB League Division Two team at home to Division Three opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1997/98: Division Two: Old Wesley 34 UCC 8; 1998/99: Division Two: UCC 12 Old Wesley 12; 2000/01: Division Two: UCC 19 Old Wesley 12.

UCC:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have spent three seasons in Division Three and eleven seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 28th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 9th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: UCC took the decision not to enter the Cork Charity Cup this year as the competition arrived too early in the season for them – they entertained Highfield last Saturday in the second round of the Munster Senior Cup and lost 27-6.

Comment: Again, UCC have a very young squad this season and will use many of their 2006/07 All-Ireland Under-20 winning side which was coached by Conor Twomey, now the senior coach in the club. Irish international John Kelly is coaching the College backs. They have previously played Old Wesley three times in Division Two of the AIB League and have yet to lose a game against the Dublin 4 club at the Mardyke grounds.

Old Wesley:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have spent six seasons in Division One, four seasons in Division Two and seven seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 25th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 6th in AIB League Division Three last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: In Pool Two of the Leinster Senior League Cup, Old Wesley lost all three games – 43-10 at home to Blackrock College, 39-12 away to Greystones and 26-9 at home to De La Salle Palmerston. They finished the campaign ranked 18th of the 20 competing clubs.

Comment: Unlike Bective (their co-tenants at Donnybrook), Old Wesley have gone ahead and played a few games at Leinster headquarters – even though the ground is basically a large construction site at the moment.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: UCC to win.

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For Match Previews I-P – Click Here

**AIB League and Cup statistics courtesy of Des Daly**