Division One Previews: Bohs In Sight Of Play-Off Spot

BLACKROCK COLLEGE v UL BOHEMIANS, Stradbrook, 2.30pm
Referee: Marshall Kilgore (Ulster)

Previous AIB League Meetings: Played 2, Blackrock College Won 1, UL Bohemians Won 0, Drawn 1; At Stradbrook: Played 1, Blackrock College Won 1, UL Bohemians Won 0

Last Match: AIB League Division One – October 29, 2005 – UL Bohemians 20 Blackrock College 20, Thomond Park

2006/07 AIB League Form (most recent match on the left): Blackrock College: LLWWL; UL Bohemians: WWWLW

Blackrock College – Notes: * They are currently eighth in the Division One table. This is the last of their three home games against Munster opposition this season
* So far this season, they have won two of their seven home matches in the league. They have played 33 AIB League fixtures at home to clubs from Munster and won 14 of those games
* They have conceded the most tries (56) in Division One since October. They have collected the most bonus points in defeat (12) in Division One since the start of the season
* They have yet to lose to UL Bohemians in the AIB League
* They have been beaten by the four other Munster clubs already in this season’s league
* They have conceded the least penalty goals (11) so far in this season’s league
* This weekend’s game is their 201st in AIB League history

Top Points Scorer in the AIB League: Fionn Carr 164
Top Try Scorer in the AIB League: Fionn Carr 11

UL Bohemians – Notes: * They are currently second in the Division One table. This is their last of four trips to Leinster clubs this season
* They have won four and lost two of their six league games on the road this term. They have played 29 AIB League matches away in Leinster and won ten of those games
* They have conceded the least points (163) and tries (17) in Division One since the start of the season. They are the top Limerick club in the AIB League at the moment
* They lost 51-9 on their only previous league visit to Stradbrook in February 2003, but they have won seven of their last eight Division One games
* They have also won eleven of their last twelve AIB League games on the road in Leinster
* They just missed out on the play-offs last season but should have enough firepower to make the last-four this time around
* Mark them down for a home semi-final, even if they lose with a bonus point

Top Points Scorer in the AIB League: Ben Martin 98
Top Try Scorer in the AIB League: Martin McPhail 10

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CLONTARF v DUNGANNON, Castle Avenue, 2.30pm
Referee: Ger English (Munster)

Previous AIB League Meetings: Played 9, Clontarf Won 4, Dungannon Won 5; At Castle Avenue: Played 4, Clontarf Won 3, Dungannon Won 1

Last Match: AIB League Division One – October 29, 2005 – Dungannon 6 Clontarf 3, Stevenson Park

2006/07 AIB League Form (most recent match on the left): Clontarf: LWWWL; Dungannon: DLLLW

Clontarf – Notes: * They are currently third in the Division One table. This is their only home game against an Ulster club this season
* So far this season, they have won four of their six home games in the league. This game is their 40th AIB League fixture against Ulster opposition and they are seeking their 16th win. They are the top Leinster club in the AIB League at the moment
* They are on a hat-trick of Division One victories over Dungannon at Castle Avenue. The last four league meetings between the clubs have produced home wins
* This is their 200th AIB League fixture
* They have won their last three Division One games at home to clubs from Ulster
* They should be strong enough to win this weekend and make the play-offs for the fifth time in the past six seasons
* The smart money suggest they will be travelling to Annacotty to take on UL Bohemians in the semi-finals

Top Points Scorer in the AIB League: Matt Nethery 45
Top Try Scorer in the AIB League: Fiach O’Loughlin 4

Dungannon – Notes: * They are currently sixth in the Division One table. This is their last of two trips to Leinster this season
* So far this season, they have won two and lost four of their league matches on the road
* They are hoping this weekend for their 15th victory in 44 AIB League games away in Leinster. They are the top Ulster club in the AIB League at the moment
* They lost 32-19 on the most recent AIB League visit to Castle Avenue in November 2004
* They lost 30-12 at Castle Avenue in the AIB Cup’s first round in December 2005
* They first played AIB League rugby against Clontarf during the 1995/96 season in Division Two
* They have won only once on their last ten AIB league visits to Leinster

Top Points Scorer in the AIB League: Richard McCarter 109
Top Try Scorer in the AIB League: Richard McCarter 8

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CORK CONSTITUTION v BALLYMENA, Temple Hill, 2.30pm
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Leinster)

Previous AIB League Meetings: Played 14, Cork Constitution Won 9, Ballymena Won 5; At Temple Hill: Played 7, Cork Constitution Won 4, Ballymena Won 3

Last Match: AIB League Division One – October 29, 2005 – Ballymena 12 Cork Constitution 22, Eaton Park

2006/07 AIB League Form (most recent match on the left): Cork Constitution: WWWWW; Ballymena: LLLLL

Cork Constitution – Notes: * They are currently first in the Division One table. This is their last of two home games against Ulster clubs this season
* So far this season, they have won five and drawn one of their six league games at home
* They have played 20 AIB League fixtures at home to clubs from Ulster and have won 13 of those games. They are the only Division One club unbeaten at home in the league this season
* They have won their last three Division One games with Ballymena
* They played Ballymena in their first ever away game in the AIB League in October 1990, with Donal Lenihan crashing over for a try that afternoon
* They have won their last seven Division One games
* They should win this weekend and play at home to a Limerick club, most probably Shannon, in the semi-finals

Top Points Scorer in the AIB League: Richie Lane 136
Top Try Scorer in the AIB League: Richie Lane 10

Ballymena – Notes: * They are currently twelfth in the Division One table. This is their last of two trips to Munster this season
* So far this season, they have won just one of their six away games in the AIB League
* They have played 31 AIB League fixtures on the road in Munster and won ten of those games. They have collected the most bonus points in defeat (6) in Division One since October
* They lost 30-20 on their most recent league visit to Temple Hill in October 2004
* They have lost their last six Division One matches
* They have lost their last five Division One fixtures on the road in Munster
* They may feel that they need the security of a bonus point in Cork but it is a long shot that they will drop down into the relegation zone

Top Points Scorer in the AIB League: Dirkie Strydom 67
Top Try Scorer in the AIB League: Chris Henry, Andy Graham 4 each

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GARRYOWEN v GALWEGIANS, Dooradoyle, 2.30pm
Referee: Colin Stanley (Ulster)

Previous AIB League Meetings: Played 7, Garryowen Won 5, Galwegians Won 2; At Dooradoyle: Played 4, Garryowen Won 3, Galwegians Won 1

Last Match: AIB League Division One – October 29, 2005 – Galwegians 3 Garryowen 8, Crowley Park

2006/07 AIB League Form (most recent match on the left): Garryowen: WWWWL; Galwegians: LWLLL

Garryowen – Notes: * They are currently fifth in the Division One table. This is their only home game against a Connacht club this season
* So far this season, they have won five of their home games in the AIB League
* They have played nine AIB League fixtures at home to Connacht opposition and won five of those games. They have conceded the least tries (17) in Division one since October
* They have won their last three Division One games with Galwegians
* They have also won their last four Division One fixtures
* They beat Belfast Harlequins 20-7 in the AIB Cup final at Dubarry Park last weekend, adding to the Limerick club’s Munster Senior and Junior Cup triumphs
* They will require a big favour from Dolphin this weekend if they are going to squeeze into the play-offs ahead of defending champions Shannon

Top Points Scorer in the AIB League: Conor Kilroy 79
Top Try Scorer in the AIB League: Ciaran O’Boyle 6

Galwegians – Notes: * They are currently eleventh in the Division One table. This is their last of three trips to Munster this season
* So far this season, they have won just one of their six away matches in the AIB League
* They have played 26 AIB league matches away in Munster and won ten of those games
* They are the top Connacht club in Division One at the moment. They lost 33-11 on their most recent league visit to Dooradoyle in October 2004
* They first played AIB League rugby against Garryowen during the 1998/99 season
* They have won only one of their last six Division One games
* They have been beaten on their previous two visits to Munster this season

Top Points Scorer in the AIB League: Nick Wakley 58
Top Try Scorer in the AIB League: Anthony Barrett 7

– AIB League statistics supplied by Des Daly –