There are eight matches down for decision in Division Three this weekend, including the first ever league meetings of Bruff and leaders Ballynahinch, and newcomers Rainey Old Boys and Nenagh Ormond.

AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION THREE: Saturday, December 9

BANBRIDGE (5th) v PORTADOWN (16th), Rifle Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Peter Dennehy (Leinster)

Previous League Meetings: 3 (Banbridge W3, Portadown W0); At Rifle Park 1 (Banbridge W1, Portadown W0)

Last Season: January 28, 2006 - Portadown 23 Banbridge 28, Chambers Park

Form: Banbridge (most recent games on left hand side): WLWLW
Portadown: LLLLL

Banbridge - Notes: *This is their second of four home games against Ulster clubs this season
*They are gunning for their 21st success in 36 AIB League games against other Ulster clubs
*They first played Portadown in league fare during the 2004/05 season
*They have won all three of their previous league encounters with Portadown, and have won three of their last six league games at home to Ulster opposition
*Their top points scorer is Neville Farr (29 points). Their top try scorer is Gareth Martin (5)

Portadown - Notes: *This is their first of three away games in Ulster this season
*This is their 55th AIB League fixture with an Ulster club and they are seeking their 30th success
*They lost 23-0 on their only previous visit to Rifle Park (October 2004)
*Stephen Ferris, the recent Ireland cap, played for the Ireland Youths and Under-19s whilst being a Portadown clubman
*Their top points scorer is Adam Gowing (27 points)

BRUFF (7th) v BALLYNAHINCH (1st), Kilballyowen Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Gareth Dunlop (Ulster)

Previous League Meetings: 0

Last Season: No match (Ballynahinch were in Division Two)

Form: Bruff (most recent games on left hand side): LWWWL
Ballynahinch: WWWWW

Bruff - Notes: *This is their second of four home games to Ulster clubs this season
*They are playing Ballynahinch for the first time in the AIB League
*They have won two and lost two of their last four Division Three games at home to clubs from Ulster
*They are the top Munster club in Division Three at the moment, but they dropped three places in the table after losing at Wanderers last week
*Their top points scorer is Brian Cahill (43 points)

Ballynahinch - Notes: *Their first of two trips to Munster this season
*They are in their eleventh season in the AIB League and their third campaign in Division Three
*They have won their opening five league games, and are the only unbeaten in all three divisions
*They have collected a bonus point for tries in their last three outings
*Their top points scorer is Daniel Soper (58 points). Their top try scorer is Stewart Megaw (4)

CITY OF DERRY (15th) v ARDS (10th), Judge's Road, 2.30pm
Referee: David O'Flynn (Munster)

Previous League Meetings: 3 (City of Derry W1, D1, Ards W1); At Judge's Road 1 (City of Derry W1, Ards W0)

Last Season: January 28, 2006 - Ards 27 City of Derry 27, Hamilton Park

Form: City of Derry (most recent games on left hand side): LLLLL
Ards: DWWLL

City of Derry - Notes: *This is their first of three home games against Ulster clubs this season
*They entertained Ards back in September in the Ulster Senior League and won 33-10
*This is their second of four consecutive Division Three games against Ulster clubs
*They have conceded the least penalty goals (5) so far in Division Three, but they have conceded the most points (156) and most tries (21)
*Their top points scorer is Gavin Peoples (15 points)

Ards - Notes: *This is their second of four away games in Ulster this season
*This is their 50th AIB League game against a fellow Ulster club and they are seeking their 22nd victory
*They lost 9-3 on their only previous visit to Judge's Road in the AIB League (April 2004)
*They have won four of their last five league games on the road in Ulster, and are awaiting their 60th victory in the AIB League
*Their top points scorer is Mark Banford (38 points). Their top try scorer is Jordan Millar (3)

CONNEMARA (9th) v WANDERERS (3rd), Monastery Field, 2.30pm
Referee: Declan Browne (Leinster)

Previous League Meetings: 4 (Connemara W2, Wanderers W2); At Monastery Field 2 (Connemara W2, Wanderers W0)

Last Season: February 18, 2006 - Wanderers 23 Connemara 11, Lansdowne Road

Form: Connemara (most recent games on left hand side): LWLWW
Wanderers: WWWLW

Connemara - Notes: *This is their only home game against a Leinster club this season
*This is their 15th AIB League fixture at home to a Leinster club and they are seeking their eighth success
*They are on a hat-trick of victories over Wanderers - the previous four matches between these sides have resulted in home wins
*They are the only Division Three club not to have collected a bonus point since October
*Their top points scorer is David Newman (19 points). Their top try scorers are Michael Aspell and Rob Burke (2 each)

Wanderers - Notes: *This is their first of two away games in Connacht this season
*This is their 15th AIB League game against Connacht opposition and they are seeking their tenth win
*They lost 24-17 on their most recent visit to Clifden (October 2004)
*The top Leinster club in Division Three at the moment, they first played Connemara during the 2002/02 season
*Their top points scorer is Billy Treacy (48 points). Their top try scorers are Pom Simone and Kolo Kiripati (4 each)

INSTONIANS (2nd) v CORINTHIANS (11th), Shaw's Bridge, 2.30pm
Referee: Brian Montayne (Leinster)

Previous League Meetings: 8 (Instonians W2, D1, Corinthians W5); At Shaw's Bridge 3 (Instonians W1, Corinthians W2)

Last Season: January 28, 2006 - Corinthians 33 Instonians 18, Monastery Field

Form: Instonians (most recent games on left hand side): WWWLW
Corinthians: WLWLW

Instonians - Notes: *This is their only home game against a Connacht club this season
*They first played Corinthians in the AIB League during the 1998/99 season
*They have lost their last five Division Three matches against Corinthians, and are on a hat-trick of home defeats to the Galway club
*They have collected a bonus point for tries in their last three league games, and have collected the least points (58) in Division Three since October
*Their top points scorer is Owen McMurray (33 points). Their top try scorer is Adam Telford (5)

Corinthians - Notes: *This is their first of four trips to Ulster this season
*They have played Instonians more frequently in the AIB League than any other club
*They won 17-15 on their most recent AIB League visit to Shaw's Bridge in January 2004
*They have entertained Instonians in Galway during the past two Division Three seasons - they have kicked the least penalty goals (3) and conceded the most penalty goals (11) so far in Division Three
*Their top points scorer is Wayne Williams (19 points). Their top try scorer is Ray Murphy (3)

OLD WESLEY (6th) v WATERPARK (13th), Donnybrook, 2.30pm
Referee: Jude Quinn (Munster)

Previous League Meetings: 2 (Old Wesley W1, Waterpark W1); At Donnybrook 1 (Old Wesley W0, Waterpark W1)

Last Season: No match (Waterpark were in Division Two)

Form: Old Wesley (most recent games on left hand side): WLLWW
Waterpark: LLLWL

Old Wesley - Notes: *This is their first of two home games against Munster clubs this season
*They have the worst Leinster clubs record against Munster clubs in the AIB League, having lost 36 of their previous 57 matches against Munster opposition
*They first played in the AIB league against Waterpark during the 2001/02 season
*This is their 205th AIB League fixture - they moved up five places in the table after last week's win at Queen's
*Their top points scorer is David Smith (45 points). Their top try scorer is Brian Doherty (4)

Waterpark - Notes: *This is the first of their two visits to Leinster this season
*This is their 25th AIB League fixture away in Leinster and they are seeking their seventh success
*They won 21-13 on their only previous league visit to Donnybrook to face Old Wesley (December 2002)
*The two previous league matches between theses two sides have resulted in away wins
*Their top points scorer is Gary Jones (27 points). Their top try scorer is Mike McCahill (2)

RAINEY OLD BOYS (4th) v NENAGH ORMOND (8th), Hatrick Park, 2.30pm
Referee: David Connolly (Connacht)

Previous League Meetings: 0

Last Season: No match (Rainey were in the Junior ranks)

Form: Rainey (most recent games on left hand side): WWLWW
Nenagh: DWWLL

Rainey Old Boys - Notes: *This is their first of two home games against Munster clubs this season
*They have won their first two Division Three games at home this season
*They meet Munster opposition for the second time in as many weeks - they have kicked the most penalty goals (12) so far in Division Three
*They collected their first ever bonus points in the league away to Waterpark last week
*Their top points scorer is Michael Glancy (48 points). Their top try scorer is Damian Campbell (3)

Nenagh Ormond - Notes: *This is their third of four away games in Ulster this season
*They are hoping for their fifth success in seven AIB League trips to Ulster, and are playing the last of three consecutive games against Ulster clubs
*Their leading scorer John Lillis is a dual status player from Thurles
*They visit Hatrick Park for the first time this weekend, and their draw last week at home to Ards was a first for them in the league
*Their top points scorer is John Lillis (35 points). Their top try scorers are Damien Gavin and Trevor Powell (2 each)

SUNDAY'S WELL (14th) v QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY (12th), Musgrave Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Peter Roche (Munster)

Previous League Meetings: 2 (Sunday's Well W1, Queen's Uni W1); At Musgrave Park 1 (Sunday's Well W0, Queen's Uni W1)

Last Season: January 28, 2006 - Queen's University 6 Sunday's Well 8, Dub Lane

Form: Sunday's Well (most recent games on left hand side): LLLWL
Queen's Uni: LLLWW

Sunday's Well - Notes: *This is their second of four home games against Ulster clubs this season
*They are looking for their 30th success in 61 AIB League matches against Ulster clubs - this is their 200th league fixture
*They first played in the league against Queen's during the 2004/05 season
*They have won seven of their last eight Division Three games at home to Ulster clubs
*Their top points scorer is Mark Purcell (20 points). Their top try scorer is Jason Rose (3)

Queen's University - Notes: *This is the last of their two away games in Munster this season
*They won 25-19 on their only previous AIB League visit to face the Well at Musgrave Park (October 2004)
*The two previous Division Three matches between theses sides have resulted in away wins
*They dropped three places in the table after their loss at home to Old Wesley last week
*Their top points scorer is Gareth Fisher (16 points). Their top try scorer is Michael Barker (4)

- AIB League statistics courtesy of Des Daly -