Ulster Bank League: Division 2A Previews
De La Salle Palmerston, Queen’s University and Corinthians are the early pacesetters in Division 2A of the Ulster Bank League. Can they extend their winning starts this weekend?
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE: DIVISION 2A: Saturday, October 15
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
City Of Derry (12th) v Old Crescent (4th), Judge’s Road
City of Derry went down heavily to Corinthians last Saturday – a real ‘welcome to Division 2A’ result. They are back on home soil this weekend at Judge’s Road.
Visitors Old Crescent scored a hard-fought derby win over Midleton last weekend to add to their opening round draw with Old Wesley.
This Saturday represents a big opportunity for both sides then as newly-promoted Derry will want to establish themselves, while the Limerick club are eager to lay the ghost of last season.
De La Salle Palmerston (1st) v Clonakilty (16th), Kirwan Park
A top versus bottom tussle at Kirwan Park on Saturday with home side De La Salle Palmerston on a roll after routing Instonians last weekend.
Clonakilty are struggling to get off the mark this season and may have a difficult campaign ahead of them if they cannot turn the tide of results.
A home win is likely then as ‘Salmo look to cement their early season lead and remain at the Division 2A summit.
Dublin University (7th) v Terenure College (5th), College Park
Dublin University enjoyed a good opening day win over newly-promoted Greystones and followed this up with a losing bonus point under the floodlights against Bective Rangers last Friday.
Terenure handed new boys Seapoint a ‘welcome’ last Saturday with a 25-8 win to follow up on their losing bonus point against City of Derry first up.
This is Trinity’s third all-Leinster tie in as many games and both sides will be familiar with each other hard to call but ‘Nure might just shade it.
Malone (6th) v Bective Rangers (8th), Gibson Park
Bective Rangers kicked off the season with a narrow loss to a fired-up Seapoint team. They followed it up last Friday with a narrow win over Dublin University to leave them on five points.
Malone beat Clonakilty first up and lost by a point to Greystones last Saturday but Bective’s big pack will present a challenge this weekend.
Early days for both clubs but Bective should be ambitious this season and with a set of forwards to back it up they may not score many try-scoring bonuses, but they should win games.
Old Wesley (9th) v Midleton (13th), Donnybrook
Two games and two draws – difficult to know what to make of Old Wesley so far. Both those results came against Limerick sides and now they face another Munster outfit in Midleton.
Midleton have a played two, lost two record but have picked up an all important losing bonus point in both matches so far.
Expect a low scoring affair on Saturday with the result likely to come down to a kick either way.
Queen’s University (2nd) v Greystones (10th), Dub Lane
Queen’s University seem to have rediscovered a bit of their mojo from two seasons ago with 58 points and a try-scoring bonus point to date.
Greystones got an early warning of what life can be like in Division 2A when they went down to Dublin University in their opener. Last weekend’s single point win over Malone brought them to four points.
This Saturday’s encounter will be a real test of character for ‘Stones and a home win seems likely on current form.
Seapoint (11th) v Corinthians (3rd), Kilbogget Park
A dramatic victory over Bective Rangers seemed to set out the Seapoint stall but last weekend’s heavy defeat to Terenure at Lakelands has given the new boys a realistic view.
The sole Connacht side in Division 2A, Corinthians have started strongly with a hard-fought win over Midleton and a bonus point success at home to City of Derry.
They will be hoping to continue last Saturday’s form when they travel to Kilbogget Park. The ability to win tight away games could see them in the mix come the season’s end. This weekend is another marker in that context.
Thomond (14th) v Instonians (15th), Liam Fitzgerald Park
A dogfight of a game this early in the season does not augur well for either side. Thomond’s draw with Old Wesley last weekend separates them by a point from Saturday’s visitors Instonians.
Instonians have faced the top two sides so far and come off badly, shipping over 70 points in their opening games.
That said the Belfast men should be better-placed to push up the table. They badly need a result on Saturday afternoon if they are to start that process.