Ulster Bank League: Division 2C Previews
Midleton, Rainey Old Boys and Boyne all secured try-scoring bonus wins last Saturday. Two of them face off this weekend at Hatrick Park.
ULSTER BANK LEAGUE: DIVISION 2c: Saturday, September 24
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
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Bruff (8th) v Midleton (1st), Kilballyowen Park
Bruff’s 19 points were not enough to claim victory last Saturday in a cracking game against Boyne, but they did claim a well-merited losing bonus point.
Midleton kicked off their league season with tries from Sean White, Aidan McCarthy, Luke Morrissey and Paul Daly ensuring a five-point return against Kanturk and a winning league debut for their new head coach John O’Neill, the former Munster winger. This time it is Cork against Limerick. ‘Nuff said.
Kanturk (10th) v Seapoint (5th), Knocknacolan
Kanturk were on the wrong end of those Midleton scores and find themselves bottom of the league for now.
Seapoint secured a four-point win in a pulsating encounter with Tullamore at Kilbogget Park. The hosts came from 18-8 down, five minutes into the second half, to eventually prevail 22-18.
More of the same from the Dublin club would be a very positive start to the season for them.
Navan (4th) v Bangor (9th), Balreask Old
Colm O’Reilly scored 16 points to guide Navan to a four-point win in Sligo on the opening day. At home to Bangor on Saturday, they have a chance to secure their second success on the trot.
Bangor had a losing bonus point to show for their efforts in a 24-18 loss to Rainey Old Boys at Upritchard Park. In the club’s first All-Ireland League match in 14 years, player-coach Jason Morgan was admittedly ‘happy to take the point’ after a strong finish from his charges. One better this weekend?
Rainey Old Boys (2nd) v Boyne (3rd), Hatrick Park
Two teams with a try-scoring bonus from their opening day go head to head at Hatrick Park this Saturday. Rainey, who have Ricky Andrew as a midfield threat, will need to work on their discipline – they picked up three yellow cards against Bangor.
With Cookstown man and former Rainey player Graeme Eastwood now at the coaching helm, Boyne enjoyed a very encouraging victory over Bruff and will travel north on the back of it.
Tullamore (7th) v Sligo (6th), Spollanstown
Both clubs lost by four points in their opening games. Tullamore may feel last week got away from them. On the plus side, full-back Sean McCabe was the pick of their five league debutants and former Connacht back Aidan Wynne had a big game at inside centre.
Sligo will be determined to bounce back from last Saturday’s 26-22 reversal to Navan, and Ross Mannion’s youngsters are more than capable of upsetting the odds in Offaly.