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men into the promotion play-offs, which would be a
deserved way to finish their season.
Dungannon and Rainey Old Boys slipped further
down the Division 2A table to the dangerzone,
although ninth placed Rainey are 14 points ahead
of winless Seapoint. The key for both Rainey and
Dungannon to avoid ninth place, which would
see them dragged into a relegation play-off with
the second to fourth placed teams in Division 2C.
Ulster can ill afford to have any clubs relegated.
With the European Champions Cup and British and
Irish Cup the main focus for the provinces over this
and last weekend, the Division 1A and 1B clubs
have had some down time. However, Ballynahinch,
who won the First Trust Ulster Senior Cup before
Christmas when they defeated Ballymena at
Kingspan Stadium, did compete in the All Ireland
Senior Bateman Cup semi-final - losing agonisingly
to Galwegians in Galway, 35-31.
The Senior Cup success coincided with the Co
Down club kick-starting their All Ireland League
campaign, registering their first win of the season
against Lansdowne and they also went on to defeat
Galwegians. They still remain bottom of the table,
but are only five points behind Terenure College
and seven adrift of Galwegians, so all is not lost in
spite of the poor first half to the season.
Derek Suffern and the squad will be putting their
full focus into hauling themselves off bottom spot
at least and if they were unable to pull off a great
escape at least a ninth place finish would give them
a lifeline in the relegation/promotion play-offs.
Ballymena continues to battle head-to-head with
Division 1B leaders, St. Mary’s College - two
points separate them - for automatic promotion
back to Division 1A. All roads will obviously lead to
Eaton Park on Saturday 6th February, when Andy
Graham’s side face the Dubliners.
Belfast Harlequins position at the bottom of
Division 1B remains perilous, although they finally
broke their duck and won against Blackrock
College, which will be a serious confidence
booster as they bid to improve their chances of
survival. They have games to come against the
two sides directly above them in the relegation
zone, but they are relying on not only a change in
fortune for themselves, but for a lot of other results
to go in their favour. For now the clubs turn their
attentions to the SONI Ulster Senior League over
the weekend.
Moving to the Kukri Qualifying League, get ready
for a dramatic conclusion as the teams in Section
One battle it out, not only for the title but the top
four places to secure a spot in next season’s All
Ireland Junior Cup. Bangor secured the first major
honours of the season by winning the Millar McCall
Wylie Junior Cup with a win over Instonians at
Kingspan Stadium. The Belfast men responded by
defeating the Kukri One leaders at Shaw’s Bridge
and close the Seasiders’ lead at the top of the table
to five points - and they have a game in hand. It
also ensured Clogher Valley and Portadown, who
are a further five points behind, were able to close
in as well. With only 10 points separating fourth to
eighth places, Ballyclare, Omagh, Dromore and
Cooke are also able to mount serious challenges
to be among the top four finishers - with fifth
becoming an option if the overall winners were to
achieve promotion to the All Ireland League - but
those already in those spots will not be giving them
up too easily.
This weekend the top flight junior clubs turn their
attentions to the second round of the Powerade
Towns Cup. And good luck to Instonians in the final
of the All Ireland Junior Cup against Enniscorthy on
Saturday 6th February at Ashbourne RFC.
Meanwhile, in Sections Two and Three,
Carrickfergus and Limavady respectively remain
unbeaten this season in the league. Carrick have
close pressure from Coleraine, who are four points
behind and probably the only side who can mount
a serious challenge for the Section Two honours,
with third placed Enniskillen a further 10 points
adrift.
Limavady are a remarkable 20 points clear of their
nearest challengers University of Ulster, Coleraine,
in Section Three. The title is as good as bagged,
but the North West men, who are 15 from 15
currently, will want to go all the way and finish with
a ‘perfect 22’. Plenty happening all across Ulster in
club land, so why not visit your local club!
Keep up to date with all the latest on the domestic
and All Ireland League fronts in News Letter’s Total
Rugby every Tuesday.
DOMESTIC RUGBY UPDATE