See below for previews of this weekend's Division Three matches - perhaps Saturday's plum tie is at Merrion Road where fourth-placed Bruff visit the third-ranked Wanderers.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION THREE: Saturday, December 2
BALLYNAHINCH (1st) v SUNDAY'S WELL (13th), Ballymacarn Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Des Woods (Leinster)
Previous League Meetings: 5 (Ballynahinch W3, Sunday's Well W2); At Ballymacarn Park: 2 (Ballynahinch W2, Sunday's Well W0)
Last Season: No match (Ballynahinch were in Division Two)
Form: Ballynahinch (most recent games on left hand side): WWWWL
Sunday's Well: LLWLW
Ballynahinch - Notes: *This is the last of two home games against Munster clubs for them this season
*They have played more AIB League fixtures against Sunday's Well than any other club - they are on a hat-trick of home league wins over the Well
*They are the only club, across the three divisions in the league, to have secured four wins out of four so far
*The table-toppers have run up 81 points (including nine tries) in their last two Division Three outings
*Their top points scorer is Daniel Soper (45 points). Their top try scorer is Stuart Megaw (3)
Sunday's Well - Notes: *This is their second of four trips to Ulster this season
*This is their 60th AIB League fixture against an Ulster club and they are seeking their 30th win
*They first played league rugby against Ballynahinch during the 1998/99 season - on their last visit to Ballymacarn Park in April 2003, they lost 28-25
*They have lost their last four away games in the league, and are seeking their 80th AIB League win of all-time this weekend
*Their top points scorer is Jason Rose (15 points). Their top try scorer is also Rose (3)
BANBRIDGE (10th) v CITY OF DERRY (15th), Rifle Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Munster)
Previous League Meetings: 4 (Banbridge W2, City of Derry W2); At Rifle Park: 1 (Banbridge W1, City of Derry W0)
Last Season: January 21, 2006 - City of Derry 29 Banbridge 17, Judge's Road
Form: Banbridge (most recent games on left hand side): LWLWL
City of Derry: LLLLL
Banbridge - Notes: *This is their first of four home games against Ulster sides this season
*They are on the lookout for their 20th win in their 35th AIB League game at home to an Ulster club
*During the international break, they beat Division One outfit Dungannon 19-5 in the Ulster Senior League - this game is their second of a three-match run in the league against Ulster opposition
*They lost 36-22 to Instonians last time out in Division Three
*Their top points scorer is Neville Farr (20 points). Their top try scorer is Gareth Martin (3)
City of Derry - Notes: *This is their second of four away games in Ulster this season
*They first played league rugby against Banbridge during the 2002/03 season - they lost 26-14 on their only previous league visit to Rifle Park back in April 2004
*They went to Rifle Park and beat Banbridge 25-22 in the Ulster Senior League earlier this season
*They are coached this season by Gerald McCarter and Peter Gault, both of whom are teachers at Foyle and Londonderry College
*Their top points scorer is Gavin Peoples (15 points)
CORINTHIANS (12th) v CONNEMARA (5th), Corinthian Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Peter Dennehy (Leinster)
Previous League Meetings: 5 (Corinthians W1, D1, Connemara W3); At Corinthian Park: 2 (Corinthians W1, Connemara W1)
Last Season: January 21, 2006 - Connemara 14 Corinthians 6, Monastery Field
Form: Corinthians (most recent games on left hand side): LWLLL
Connemara: WLWWD
Corinthians - Notes: *This is their one and only home game in the league against Connacht opposition this season
*They have played more AIB League games against Connemara than any other club - they first played them in the 2001/02 season
*They drew 12-12 with their Galway rivals in the Connacht Senior League earlier this season
*They have collected a bonus point in two of their three league defeats since October
*Their top points scorer is Wayne Williams (17 points). Their top try scorer is Ray Murphy (2)
Connemara - Notes: *This is their only away league game in Connacht this season
*They are looking for their sixth win in ten AIB League games against a Connacht club
*They have won their last three Division Three clashes with Connacht opposition, and are on a hat-trick of league wins over their city rivals Corinthians
*They won 14-12 back in January 2005, on their last visit to Corinthian Park in the league
*Their top points scorer is David Newman (16 points). Their top try scorers are Michael Aspell and Rob Burke (2 each)
NENAGH ORMOND (7th) v ARDS (8th), Ormond Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Robert Doyle (Leinster)
Previous League Meetings: 1 (Nenagh W0, Ards W1); At Ormond Park: 0
Last Season: January 21, 2006 - Ards 26 Nenagh Ormond 22, Hamilton Park
Form: Nenagh Ormond (most recent games on left hand side): WWLLW
Ards: WWLLD
Nenagh Ormond - Notes: *This is their second of four home games against Ulster clubs this season
*They are seeking their seventh win in what is their tenth AIB League clash with an Ulster club
*Two weekends ago, they lost 44-12 to Garryowen in the semi-finals of the Munster Senior Cup
*They have yet to win at home in Division Three this season
*Their top points scorer is John Lillis (25 points). Their top try scorers are Damian Gavin and Trevor Powell (2 each)
Ards - Notes: *This is their first of two visits to Munster this season
*They are hoping this weekend for their fifth victory in 12 AIB League road trips to Munster
*This is their first league visit to Nenagh Ormond - they moved up five places in the table after their 36-6 home win over Waterpark last time out
*They have failed to secure a league win in their last eight ventures outside of Ulster
*Their top points scorer is Mark Bamford (28 points). Their top try scorer is Jordan Millar (2)
...Instonians prop Gary Mitchell...
PORTADOWN (16th) v INSTONIANS (2nd), Chambers Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Ray Menown (Ulster)
Previous League Meetings: 5 (Portadown W1, D1, Instonians W3); At Chambers Park: 2 (Portadown W1, Instonians W1)
Last Season: January 21, 2006 - Instonians 45 Portadown 10, Shaw's Bridge
Form: Portadown (most recent games on left hand side): LLLLW
Instonians: WWLWL
Portadown - Notes: *This is their first of four home matches in the league this season against Ulster opposition
*They are hoping to gain their 20th win in what is their 29th AIB League game at home to an Ulster club
*They are on a hat-trick of league defeats to Instonians, and have scored the least points (32) and the least tries (one) in Division Three to date
*They first played league rugby against Instonians in the play-offs at the end of the 1999/2000 season, and remained in Division for one more season
*Their top points scorer is Adam Gowing (27 points)
Instonians - Notes: *This is their first of three away league games in Ulster this season
*This is their 20th AIB League fixture on the road in Ulster and they are seeking their 14th win
*They won 41-0 on their most recent visit to Chambers Park in the league, back in April 2005 - they beat Portadown 47-12 in the Ulster Senior League last week
*After four rounds of league action, they have scored the most points (124) and the most tries (16) across all three divisions
*Their top points scorer is Niall Malone (25 points). Their top try scorer is Adam Telford (4)
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY (9th) v OLD WESLEY (11th), Dub Lane, 2.30pm
Referee: Ken Imbusch (Munster)
Previous League Meetings: 4 (Queen's W1, Old Wesley W3); At Dub Lane: 1 (Queen's W1, Old Wesley W0)
Last Season: January 21, 2006 - Old Wesley 20 Queen's Uni 6, Donnybrook
Form: Queen's (most recent games on left hand side): LLWWL
Old Wesley: LLWWL
Queen's - Notes: *This is their first of two home games against Leinster clubs this season
*They are hoping to gain their tenth victory this weekend in their 20th AIB League game at home to a Leinster club
*They are on a hat-trick of league defeats to Old Wesley - they have won just one of their last four league games at home to Leinster opposition
*They dropped six places in the table after their 24-12 loss to Rainey (away) last time out
*Their top points scorer is Gareth Fisher (16 points). Their top try scorer is Michael Barker (4)
Old Wesley - Notes: *This is their second of five visits to Ulster this season
*They first played league rugby against Queen's during the 2002/03 season - they lost 61-3 on their only previous league visit to Queen's in April 2004
*They have conceded 81 points (including eleven tries) in their last two Division Three outings - they led the table after the first two rounds
*Brian Doherty, in the Wesley backs division, is a son of Alan who was capped by Ireland in 1974
*Their top points scorer is David Smith (40 points). Their top try scorer is Brian Doherty (3)
WANDERERS (3rd) v BRUFF (4th), Merrion Road, 2.30pm
Referee: David Connolly (Connacht)
Previous League Meetings: 2 (Wanderers W1, Bruff W1); At Merrion Road: 1 (Wanderers W0, Bruff W1)
Last Season: January 21, 2006 - Bruff 3 Wanderers 9, Kilballyowen Park
Form: Wanderers (most recent games on left hand side): WWLWL
Bruff: WWWLL
Wanderers - Notes: *This is their first of two home games against Munster clubs this season
*There has been no home win in the previous two AIB League fixtures between the clubs
*They are the top Leinster club in Division Three at the moment
*They have won 23 of their previous 56 league games against Munster opposition - they have won both of their home matches in the league so far this season
*Their top points scorer is Billy Treacy (39 points). Their top try scorer is Pom Simone (4)
Bruff - Notes: *This is their only trip to a Leinster club this season
*This weekend they are hoping to gain their seventh win in what is their tenth AIB League fixture away to a Leinster side
*They have already travelled four times to Leinster in the league and been victorious on each occasion
*They beat Wanderers 35-22 in April 2005 on their last visit to Merrion Road - so far this season, they have conceded the least point (43) and the least tries (3) in Division Three
*Their top points scorer is Brian Cahill (38 points)
...Rainey's pack powerhouse Peter Boyle...
WATERPARK (14th) v RAINEY OLD BOYS (6th), Ballinakill, 2.30pm
Referee: Kevin Beggs (Leinster)
Previous League Meetings: 0
Last Season: No match (Rainey were in the Junior ranks)
Form: Waterpark (most recent games on left hand side): LLWLL
Rainey Old Boys: WLWW
Waterpark - Notes: *This is their first of three home games against Ulster clubs this season
*After three long trips to Ulster already this season, they are finally at home to a northern team - they have lost 15 of their last 16 AIB League matches
*They have won 22 of their previous 48 league encounters with Ulster sides
*They have yet to win at home in the league this term
*Their top points scorer is Gary Jones (22 points). Their top try scorer is Mike McCahill (2)
Rainey Old Boys - Notes: *This is their first of two visits to Munster this season
*It will be an historic occasion at Ballinakill as this is Rainey's first ever league trip to a Munster club
*They have won one and lost one of their two games on the road in Division Three so far this season
*They have lost five of their nine Ulster Senior League games so far this season - pack stalwart Peter Boyle wishes it to be known that he is not this season's IRFU President!
*Their top points scorer is Michael Glancy (40 points). Their top try scorer is Gavin Martin (2)
- AIB League statistics courtesy of Des Daly -
