The two teams who scored the most points across all three divisions in the AIB League’s regulation phase go head-to-head at Shaw’s Bridge on Saturday. In an intriguing Belfast derby, Instonians will be protecting their unbeaten home record against Queen’s University.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION THREE SEMI-FINAL: Saturday, April 12
INSTONIANS v QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY, Shaw’s Bridge, 2.30pm
Referee: Michael Black (Ulster)
Previous League Meetings: 6 (Instonians won 6, Queen’s University won 0); At Shaw’s Bridge: 1 (Instonians won 3, Queen’s University won 0)
This Season: Saturday, November 17, 2007 – Instonians 22 Queen’s University 21, Shaw’s Bridge
Recent League Form: Instonians (most recent games on left hand side): WWWLL
Queen’s University: WWWLW
Instonians – Notes: * Instonians finished second in the Division Three table and were promoted. They played 15 matches in the regulation phase, won 12 and lost 3 (points difference +218)
* At home so far this season in Division Three, they have played seven matches and won all seven
* They have previously played 28 AIB League games at home to Ulster clubs and have won 17 of these games
* They first played AIB League rugby against Queen’s University in February 2003, when they won 26-0 at Dub Lane
* They have won their last nine AIB League games at Shaw’s Bridge and won their opening seven fixtures in the league this season
* They established a new club record when they crushed Midleton 78-3 at Shaw’s Bridge on December 15. They won their two home games against Ulster clubs this season in Division Three
* They collected the most bonus points for tries (10) and the most bonus points overall (12) during the 15 rounds of matches in Division Three this season
* During the league’s regulation phase, they kicked the least penalty goals (7) and also conceded the most penalty goals (27). They scored the most points (425) and the most tries (64) in all three divisions this season
Top Points Scorers In 2007/08 AIB League: Owen McMurray 85 points, Niall Malone 47 points
Top Try Scorers In 2007/08 AIB League: Adam Telford 12 tries, Michael McKeever 6 tries
Queen’s University – Notes: * Queen’s University finished third in the Division Three table. They played 15 matches in the regulation phase, won 12 and lost 3 (points difference +221)
* This is the club’s third AIB League game at an away venue in Ulster this season
* The story on the road in Division Three this season is played 7 matches, won 4 and lost 3
* They have previously played 31 AIB League fixtures on the road in Ulster and have won 10 of these games. They have just enjoyed their best AIB League season to date – they finished fifth in Division Three in 2003/04
* They won 27-21 at Shaw’s Bridge earlier on this season in the Ulster Senior League. Like Instonians, they won four and lost one of their five games against Ulster opposition in Division Three this season
* They have lost all six of their previous meetings with Instonians in the AIB League
* They won four league games on the trot midway through this season, but have lost on all three previous league visits to Shaw’s Bridge
* They spent two seasons – 2000/01 and 2001/02 – competing in the junior ranks
* They have quite a poor record in AIB League games away in Ulster. Like Banbridge in the other semi-final, Queen’s have not appeared in the play-offs before
Top Points Scorers In 2007/08 AIB League: Ian Porter 100 points, Ian Whitten 50 points, Neil Doak 27 points
Top Try Scorers In 2007/08 AIB League: Chris Cochrane 13 tries, Mike Barker 12 tries
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Instonians to win by less than 7 points
– AIB League statistics supplied by Des Daly
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