Ulster Bank League: Division 2B Previews
Three victories and two bonus points for City of Derry puts them five points clear at the top of Division 2B. Their chief chasers, Highfield and Dungannon, face each other on Saturday afternoon.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE: DIVISION 2B: Saturday, October 3
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
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City of Derry (1st) v Armagh (7th), Judge’s Road
With Richard McCarter and David Funston starring off the bench, three tries in 15 minutes gave City of Derry the win over Sunday’s Well in a tight affair last weekend.
On Saturday they host Armagh in what promises to be a cracking Ulster derby. The visitors will be sore after their 29-15 loss to Highfield – their second on the trot. All in all, it is set up for a hard-fought contest, with form and home advantage pointing to another Derry success.
Greystones (5th) v Seapoint (9th), Dr. Hickey Park
Two wins and a losing bonus point have Greystones finely poised in fifth place. That loss came last weekend against Dungannon where their indiscipline allowed Paul Armstrong to kick the hosts to victory.
Seapoint are winless after three rounds but they have eked out two losing bonus points. The latest came last weekend when they coughed up a 25-13 lead to lose by two points to MU Barnhall. Proximity adds spice to this encounter but the home side look best placed to prevail.
Highfield (2nd) v Dungannon (3rd), Woodleigh Park
Match of the day in Division 2B as a resurgent Dungannon come calling to Woodleigh Park
The visitors have won their last two games at home, but can Andrew Hughes’ young side back it up on the road?
Highfield are motoring nicely with two victories and a losing bonus point. All set up for a very competitive contest, with place-kickers Paddy O’Toole and Paul Armstrong both in excellent form of late.
MU Barnhall (8th) v Bective Rangers (6th), Parsonstown
A late penalty gave the Blue Bulls a win over Seapoint in the last round – a much-needed boost after two opening losses.
Bective won their second game of the season, coming from behind to beat Rainey Old Boys in Donnybrook but their scrum was under pressure late on. A bell-weather match for both sides this weekend.
Rainey Old Boys (4th) v Sunday’s Well (10th), Hatrick Park
Rainey Old Boys lost for the first time last weekend in a fraught end-game with Bective. Their scrum will exert a lot of pressure again this weekend, and watch out for centre Jody McMurray, who has racked up four tries in two games, and New Zealand recruit Aidan Pittman.
Sunday’s Well picked up a losing bonus point in going down 23-18 to table toppers City of Derry.
More of that fight could earn them their first win this weekend. They need to exert more of a try-scoring threat, with full-back Eoin Geary their only scorer against Derry with six penalties.