Ulster Rugby Annual Report 2016-17

Despite the presence of four UBL Second Fifteens in the Provincial League, the Division One champions and winners of the Harden Cup were Omagh Seconds who turned the tables on Ballynahinch Thirds, who had claimed the title ahead of Omagh last season. The winners of the other Provincial Divisions were Portadown Seconds, who were promoted last season, Grosvenor Seconds, who made a last minute charge to win a very competitive division, Armagh Thirds and Ballyclare Fourths. Bangor Thirds, who had played Minor league rugby the previous season, won all fourteen of their league games to win the Provincial Division Six title. In the Regional League, two different league structures were trialled, before and after Christmas, as a way of recognising the different playing profile of those playing at the lowest tier of adult rugby. Before Christmas, Enniskillen Thirds, BHSFP Seconds and Ballynahinch Sevenths won their respective Regional League sections. After Christmas, the top two teams in each of the three Regional League sections played against each other in the Regional Premier League section. Following a nip and tuck battle at the top of this league, Enniskillen Thirds eventually overhauled Ballymoney Fourths to win the title and the Ravenhill Cup. Finn Valley made history by becoming the first team from that club to win an Ulster Branch competition, coming out on top of Regional West. Ballymena Fourths were unbeaten in winning Regional North West. A fine overall season for the PSNI club saw their Thirds, a new team entry for 2016/17, winning Regional East 1. While both Holywood Seconds and Ards Thirds finished on the same number of points at the top of Regional East 2, it was the latter who claimed the title because of the results between both teams.

As the season end approached the Rugby Committee and the CMC was seeking club views on the Regional League trial to inform planning for the lower tier rugby structure for the 2017/18 season. A complete listing of all league tables has been

reproduced later in the report. Domestic Cup Competitions

In what was to be a successful week for the club in December Ballynahinch won the First Trust Senior Cup for the second year running, comfortably beating Dungannon 27-10 in the final at the Kingspan Stadium. In the other Kingspan final played pre-Christmas, Ballynahinch Seconds beat Omagh by 17-3 to win the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup. The River Rock Towns Cup was won by Ballynahinch Seconds for the second time in their history in a dramatic final at headquarters on Easter Monday. With Enniskillen leading into the second period of extra time, it took a last minute try from Ballynahinch to win the Towns Cup with a 17-13 scoreline. Earlier on the same day, the final of the McCrea Cup was contested by Malone Seconds and Cooke for the second successive year. On this occasion, last season’s losing finalists Malone had to withstand a fight back from Cooke, holding on to win 26-20. As has been the case on a number of occasions in the recent past, the Gordon West Cup Final was won by the underdogs. Cavan secured a 16-13 victory over PSNI, who had finished eight places and fifty points above them in the league. On the same day two other finals were played at the Kingspan stadium. Malone Fourths won the Forster Cup by beating Portadown Seconds and in the McCambley Cup, Ballymena Fourths overcame Ballymoney Fourths in a derby thriller.

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