It may be a big weekend in European rugby but there is still plenty of domestic action on offer in the Ulster Bank League. Match of the Day billing goes to the meeting of Division 2A front runners Dublin University and De La Salle Palmerston at College Park.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE: DIVISION 2A: Saturday, December 10
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
Midleton (15th) v Clonakilty (16th), Towns Park, 2pm
East meets West in this Cork derby which unfortunately for both sides also has the words, ‘relegation battle’, attached to it this early in the season.
Midleton have managed one win and three losing bonus points including one on the road last weekend against Malone.
Clon have lost all seven games to date and have only two losing bonuses to their name.
City of Derry (14th) v Instonians (13th), Judge’s Road
Another bottom four clash as these two Ulster sides go head to head at the Judge’s Road venue. There is not much to choose between them with Instonians garnering one extra losing bonus point.
The hosts leaked over 30 points to Dublin University last Saturday and are finding life in Division 2B tough going.
‘Inst may shade it on form having picked up a useful win over Bective last Saturday.
Dublin University (2nd) v De La Salle Palmerston (1st), College Park, 2.15pm
A top of the table Dublin derby at College Park, this promises to be a really interesting tie.
Trinity have the meanest defence in the division having conceded only 72 points, while ‘Salmo have notched up three try-scoring bonuses.
Only a point separates them at the top of the table and the winners will spend Christmas proudly atop Division 2A. A game well worth catching in Dublin on Saturday.
Malone (6th) v Queen’s University (4th), Gibson Park
Malone picked up a valuable home win last weekend to keep them in touch at the business end of the table.
Queen’s University also won at home to Old Crescent and maintained their fourth place position in the table.
This is another big test for Malone but form favours the visitors who could move up to second depending on results elsewhere.
Old Crescent (9th) v Greystones (5th), Rosbrien
Old Crescent were unlucky to miss out on a losing bonus point at Dub Lane last weekend, but are still in the middle of the table.
Greystones continued their good form with a 50-point haul in Clonakilty pushing them up to fifth.
An away win could see the Wicklow side break into the top four if results elsewhere go their way.
Old Wesley (3rd) v Terenure College (12th), Donnybrook
A classic ‘old boys’ derby at Donnybrook holds the prospect of the hosts moving into second place in the division.
Their tight victory over Seapoint last weekend pushed them over the 200 ‘points for’ mark and with four try-scoring bonuses already, they look a potent side.
‘Nure picked up a losing bonus away to Thomond last Saturday but they are still precariously placed in the bottom half of the table.
Seapoint (8th) v Thomond (10th), Kilbogget Park
Seapoint are mid-table and adjusting to life in Division 2A reasonably well. Their points difference of +2 is reflective of their tight games to date.
Thomond are just three points below them in the table and while last weekend’s single point win over Terenure was valuable they face a tougher test on Saturday.
A victory either way will make one team feel that bit more comfortable going into the Christmas break.
Corinthians (7th) v Bective Rangers (11th), Corinthian Park, 6.30pm
This game will be played under floodlights at 6.30pm allowing rugby fans in Galway to catch the Connacht game as well as some Ulster Bank League action this weekend.
Corinthians’ losing bonus point last time out against De La Salle was small consolation but it keeps them within shouting distance of the top four.
Bective were beaten by a team below them in the division and are just not showing the form of last season.
Both sides then are in need of a morale boost before the festivities of the season. Home form and advantage suggest the Galway side will be the happier come full-time.
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