Rory Scannell of Dolphin RFC has been announced as the Ulster Bank League Division 1A Rising Star of the Month for January. He will now be shortlisted for the overall Ulster Bank Rising Star of the Year honour at the Ulster Bank League Awards, taking place in May.

With Clontarf slipping up at St. Mary's on Friday night, Terenure College closed in on a home semi-final in Ulster Bank League Division 1A with a well-judged 20-8 win away to Cork Constitution this afternoon.

Belfast Harlequins were the big winners in Ulster Bank League Division 1B this weekend as they ran in seven tries to beat hosts Buccaneers 43-6 at Dubarry Park.

As Terenure College strengthened their hold on second spot, Ballynahinch made a significant move into Division 1A's top four as they edged out fellow play-off hopefuls UCD by a single point. Meanwhile, in Division 1B, the top four clubs all won as the race for promotion enters its final weeks.

Division 1A leaders Lansdowne will try to get back to winning ways when they visit Old Belvedere tonight, while the other Friday Night Lights tussle sees St. Mary's College entertaining title holders Clontarf at Templeville Road.

Two mouth-watering local derbies kick off the action in Ulster Bank League Division 1B this weekend, as Corinthians make the short trip to Galwegians and Dooradoyle is UL Bohemians' destination for their all-Limerick clash with Garryowen.

A top four finish is the requirement to maintain Division 2B status at the end of this season. Highfield and Tullamore occupy the top two slots but only seven points separate Armagh in third from Old Crescent in 8th.

League leaders Old Wesley sit out the action this weekend having giving the chasing pack a chance to jockey for position and a shot at 2nd place.

Banbridge claimed their fourth successive win in Ulster Bank League Division 2A on Saturday, defeating Seapoint 34-12 at Rifle Park to continue their rise up the table.

Highfield and Tullamore remain the teams to beat in Ulster Bank League Division 2B, with Tim Ryan's unbeaten Corkmen a full 10 points clear at the top of the table and Tullamore holding a five-pointer buffer in second place.

With four rounds to go in Ulster Bank League Division 1A, leaders Lansdowne remain in pole position for a home semi-final despite losing a cracking game at Belfield this afternoon.

Galwegians and Garryowen both gained significant ground in the race for promotion from Ulster Bank League Division 1B, as they won today's top four clashes at Eaton Park and College Park respectively.

There were some very significant results in the Ulster Bank League today as Division 1A leaders Lansdowne lost at UCD, Galwegians and Garryowen won the top four clashes in Division 1B and Old Wesley and Highfield, the respective Division 2A and 2B table toppers, both remain unbeaten.

There are some cracking Division 1A fixtures to whet appetites for the resumption of the Ulster Bank League on Saturday - none bigger than the meeting of defending champions Clontarf and early season leaders Terenure College.

The top four clubs in Division 1B meet in two much-anticipated clashes in Ballymena and Dublin on Saturday as we hit a vital stage in this season's Ulster Bank League.

Old Wesley's winning run continued unchecked last weekend. The chasing pack from 2nd to 6th are only separated by a few points. Things are hotting up in Division 2A.

Highfield lead the way at the top of Division 2B with Tullamore nine points behind and a chasing pack a further five points back. The race is on for promotion and survival.

The Ireland Club team to play France Clubs in the historic Ulster Bank Club International at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night (kick-off 8pm) has been named.