Fresh from their Colours triumph, UCD will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run in Ulster Bank League to three matches when they entertain Galwegians on Saturday. Elsewhere, UL Bohemians and Ballymena will meet in a top four clash at Annacotty.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE: DIVISION 1B: Saturday, November 26
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
BALLYNAHINCH (1st) v BRUFF (8th), Ballymacarn Park
Ulster Bank League Season’s Form – Ballynahinch: WWWWL; Bruff: LWLLL
Ulster Bank League Top Scorers – Ballynahinch: Points: James Lash 46; Tries: Aaron Ferris, James Thompson 3 each; Bruff: Points: Brian Cahill 39; Tries: John Shine 3
Preview: Hard to see beyond a Ballynahinch victory against a Bruff outfit which continues to disappoint.
The Limerick side should be capable of more but they have only won one out of five to date.
Ballynahinch by comparision are top of the pile following Buccaneers’ points deduction, with their only defeat coming against the Pirates in the league’s last round.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, April 21, 2007: Ballynahinch 3 Bruff 29, Ballymacarn Park; Saturday, March 28, 2009: Bruff 20 Ballynahinch 22, Kilballyowen Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Ballynahinch to win by 6-10 points
BELFAST HARLEQUINS (6th) v BUCCANEERS (2nd), Deramore Park
Ulster Bank League Season’s Form – Belfast Harlequins: WLWLW; Buccaneers: WWWWW
Ulster Bank League Top Scorers – Belfast Harlequins: Points: Michael Heaney 42; Tries: Neil McComb 2; Buccaneers: Points: Jack Carty 35; Tries: Paul Harte, Denis Buckley, Martin Staunton, John O’Brien 2 each
Preview: Another good test for Buccaneers who are now the only unbeaten side in the division following their excellent 24-17 victory over Ballynahinch.
Once again, they displayed their ability to dig deep, coming from behind to win.
They will need to show the same resolve against Ulster opposition on Saturday afternoon, and will be keen to produce a big performance after being docked two league points for fielding an ineligible player.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 24, 2007: Belfast Harlequins 14 Buccaneers 12, Deramore Park; Saturday, December 15, 2007: Buccaneers 18 Belfast Harlequins 16, Dubarry Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Belfast Harlequins to win by 1-5 points
DUNGANNON (5th) v UCC (10th), Stevenson Park
Ulster Bank League Season’s Form – Dungannon: WLLWL; UCC: LLLLL
Ulster Bank League Top Scorers – Dungannon: Points: Peter Nelson 29; Tries: Chris Cochrane, Peter Nelson 3 each; UCC: Points: Brian Kingston 36; Tries: Brian O’Callaghan, Brian Slater, Luke Duffy, Brian Quill 1 each
Preview: Dungannon will be hoping to bounce back after losing 28-24 to the then bottom side Galwegians last time out.
UCC now occupy the bottom rung but the students did show signs of an improvement when running Belfast Harlequins to three points.
That said, home advantage should give Dungannon the edge here.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, October 2, 2010: UCC 33 Dungannon 29, the Mardyke; Saturday, April 2, 2011: Dungannon 11 UCC 32, Stevenson Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Dungannon to win by 6-10 points
UL BOHEMIANS (4th) v BALLYMENA (3rd), Annacotty
Ulster Bank League Season’s Form – UL Bohemians: LWWLW; Ballymena: WLWWD
Ulster Bank League Top Scorers – UL Bohemians: Points: JJ Hanrahan 61; Tries: Darren Moroney 2; Ballymena: Points: John Semple 33; Tries: Richard Aingworth 3
Preview: Fourth against third in what promises to be a hard-fought encounter. UL Bohemians, inspired by their talented young out-hald JJ Hanrahan, gave one of their best performances to date to see off Bruff 28-12.
Ballymena, for their part, have also won three games, and were only deprived of a fourth success when a late UCD try saw the students snatch a draw.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 1, 2008: UL Bohemians 11 Ballymena 15, Annacotty; Saturday, October 25, 2008: Ballymena 14 UL Bohemians 9, Eaton Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Ballymena to win by 1-5 points
UCD (7th) v GALWEGIANS (9th), Belfield
Ulster Bank League Season’s Form – UCD: LWLWD; Galwegians: LLLLW
Ulster Bank League Top Scorers – UCD: Points: Niall Earls 42; Tries: Sam Coghlan Murray, Tom Fletcher 2 each; Galwegians: Points: Tadhg Leader 51; Tries: Tadhg Leader, David Moore 2 each
Preview: Galwegians have at last got their season going with that victory over Dungannon. But they will need to produce another big performance if they are to make it two in-a-row.
UCD are getting better as the season progresses, as evidenced by last week’s Colours victory over Trinity College.
Their 11-11 away draw with Ballymena was also a very good result and they are entitled to fancy their chances at home.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, January 19, 2008: UCD 10 Galwegians 0, Belfield; Saturday, March 21, 2009: Galwegians 28 UCD 3, Crowley Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: UCD to win by 6-10 points
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