Preview | Senior And Junior Rugby
25th November 2021 By Leonard Allen
The Men’s and Women’s All Ireland Leagues continue this weekend with a full series of games while there’s also action in the Munster Junior League and Munster Women’s League.
See a full list of fixtures here.
In Division 1A, Young Munster, who slipped to third following their 33-17 home defeat by Clontarf, which ended their unbeaten run, are in action against Dublin opposition for the second successive weekend. This time they travel to the capital to take on seventh-placed Dublin University at College Park. The Dublin Students go into the tie on the back of a narrow 27-25 away win over Lansdowne.
Fourth-placed Garryowen, who lost their second successive game last time out against Terenure College at Lakelands Park, go head to head with second-placed Lansdowne at Dooradoyle. The Sky Blues returned home from Dublin with a losing bonus point, while Lansdowne also claimed a losing bonus point from their 27-25 defeat by Dublin University.
Cork Constitution are away to bottom side Ballynahinch. The Lilywhites, who are fifth, recorded their third successive win of the campaign as they ran out 38-10 home winners over UCD, which was also their second maximum-point win. The County Down side claimed their third losing bonus point from their narrow 10-6 defeat by UCC at Ballymacarn Park.
UCC, who are second from bottom following their narrow 10-6 away win over Ballynahinch in their basement clash, face a tough assignment as they welcome new leaders Clontarf to the Mardyke. The Dublin side claimed pole position following their 33-17 bonus point win over Young Munster in Limerick.
In the Women’s All Ireland League, second-placed UL Bohemian travel to the capital to take on Blackrock College, who are fourth. The Limerick side have been inactive in recent weeks, while the Dublin side go into the tie on the back of a 19-5 away win over Galwegians.
Ballincollig, who are fifth following their 15-10 away defeat by Wicklow, from which they claimed a losing bonus point, welcome seventh-placed Malone to Tanner Park.
Back to the Men’s All Ireland League, Division 1B leaders Highfield make the long trip to County Down to take on Banbridge, who are propping up the table on three points. Highfield go into the tie on the back of a 20-7 home win over Old Wesley, while Banbridge claimed a losing bonus point from their narrow 22-21 Ulster derby defeat by Malone in Belfast.
Fifth-placed Shannon welcome Naas, who are sixth, to Thomond Park. Shannon claimed a losing bonus point from their last game, which they lost on a 21-17 scoreline against St Mary’s College at the same venue. The County Kildare side also claimed a losing bonus point from their 18-17 defeat by City of Armagh at the Palace Grounds.
Old Crescent, who have climbed up to seventh in Division 2A following successive wins over Dolphin and MU Barnhall, welcome fifth-placed Cashel to Takumi Park. The Tipperary side go into the tie on the back of a 24-14 home win over Ballymena.
Dolphin, who are sixth, entertain fourth-placed MU Barnhall at Musgrave Park, with both sides going into the tie on the back of defeats by Old Crescent in Limerick.
UL Bohemian, who have climbed out of the drop zone following their valuable 32-24 maximum-point home win over Rainey Old Boys, face a tough assignment as they travel to Belfast to take on Queen’s University. The Belfast Students are in pole position following a comprehensive 45-15 away win over Nenagh Ormond.
Nenagh Ormond, who are propping up the table following their heavy 45-15 home defeat by leaders Queens University, travel to County Antrim to take on Ballymena. The Ulster side are fourth following their 24-14 defeat by Cashel in the Premier County.
In Division 2C, Midleton welcome City of Derry to East Cork. Midleton are fifth following their narrow 28-27 home defeat by leaders Skerries from which they claimed a losing bonus point, while the Foylesiders ran out 9-6 home winners over Clonmel.
Bruff, who are hovering above the drop zone following their 17-15 defeat by Omagh Academicals in County Tyrone, entertain fourth-placed Tullamore, who recorded a 34-15 maximum-point home win over Bangor last time out.
Clonmel, who returned from Foyleside with a losing bonus point from their 9-6 defeat by City of Derry are at home to sixth-placed Omagh Academicals. The South Tipperary side are second from bottom, while Omagh Academicals go into the tie on the back of a narrow 17-15 home win over Bruff.
Bottom side Sunday’s Well will have their work cut out as they travel to North Dublin to take on leaders Skerries. Skerries recorded a narrow 28-27 away win over Midleton last time out, while Sunday’s Well were defeated 32-0 by Enniscorthy in County Wexford.
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There are just two rounds left in Conferences A, B, C and D in the first phase of the Munster Junior League with clubs battling to finish in the top half of the table.
Proceedings get under way on Saturday evening in Conference B as unbeaten leaders Bandon lock horns with Rebel County neighbours Crosshaven under lights at Old Chapel. Bandon will be looking to make it six wins from six as they defeated Waterpark 13-10 on Suirside last time out. The South Cork side go into the tie on the back of a 27-9 defeat by Clonakilty at The Vale.
Waterpark, who are joint second with Old Christians following their narrow 13-10 home defeat by Bandon, from which they claimed a losing bonus point, are at home to Mallow. The North Cork side are propping up the table on two points, following their 26-17 defeat by Old Christians at Rathcooney.
In Conference D, second-placed Ballincollig go head to head with fourth-placed Kinsale at Tanner Park. The Mid Cork side are four points behind leaders Kanturk following their 17-8 defeat by the Duhallow side, while the Seasiders recorded a maximum-point 27-21 home win over Cobh Pirates.
Youghal entertain Douglas in Conference E, with both sides coming off the back of defeats by Kerry opposition. The Seasiders were defeated 13-0 by second-placed Killarney in the Kingdom, while Douglas lost their last game against Castleisland on home soil on a 23-5 scoreline.
On Sunday, the game of the day in Conference A is the meeting of joint leaders Kilfeacle and Newcastle West in the Premier County, with both sides locked in a three-way tie for pole position with Richmond.Kilfeacle ran out 19-10 away winners over Galbally, while the West Limerick sided recorded a 16-10 home win over Clanwilliam.
Richmond, who share pole position with Kilfeacle and Newcastle West are at home to bottom side Galbally, who were defeated 19-10 at the County Limerick venue by Kilfeacle. Galbally are still on two points from a 19-19 draw against St Senan’s, while Richmond claimed all points on offer from their 29-19 away win over Abbeyfeale.
Thomond lock horns with Abbeyfeale at Liam Fitzgerald Park. Thomond recorded a bonus point 33-19 away win over St Senan’s, while Abbeyfeale were defeated 29-19 by Richmond in West Limerick.
St Senan’s welcome Clanwilliam to Jimmy Slattery Park. The Clare side were defeated 33-19 by Thomond on home soil last time out, while Clanwilliam picked up a losing bonus point from their 16-10 away defeat by Newcastle West.
There are two Cork derbies in Conference B.
Clonakilty, who claimed a losing bonus point from their narrow 11-10 defeat by Skibbereen at the Carbery Showgrounds, will have their work cut out as they welcome Old Christians, who are joint second with Waterpark, to the Vale. Old Christians go into the tie on the back of a 26-17 home win over Mallow from which they claimed all points on offer.
Third-placed Muskerry entertain Skibbereen at Ballyanly. The Sky Blues go onto the tie on the back of a heavy 47-9 home defeat by Bandon. The West Cork side recorded their second win of the campaign last time out as they ran out 11-10 home winners over West Cork neighbours Clonakilty.
In Conference C, unbeaten leaders Thurles, who have made it five maximum point wins from five, travel to Limerick to meet St Mary’s at Grove Island. The Premier County side ran out 38-5 home winners over Scarriff last time out while St Mary’s claimed a losing bonus point from their 24-19 defeat by Fethard in South Tipperary.
Second-placed Fethard, who recorded a 24-19 bonus point home win over St Mary’s are away to bottom side Mitchelstown, who claimed their second losing bonus point from their 26-17 defeat by Dungarvan in West Waterford.
There are local derbies in this conference in Waterford and Clare.
Third-placed Dungarvan, who claimed maximum points from their 26-17 home win over Mitchelstown, are away to Waterford City, who claimed a losing bonus point from their narrow 13-12 defeat by Ennis in the Banner County.
Ennis are at home to Scarriff in a Clare derby, with both sides tied on eight points apiece in fourth place. Ennis claimed a losing bonus point from their narrow 13-12 home defeat by Waterford City, while the East Clare side were defeated 38-5 by Thurles in Mid Tipperary.
Conference D leaders Kanturk will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run as they welcome bottom side Killorglin to Duhallow. Kanturk ran out 17-3 home winners over Ballincollig last time out, while Killorglin were held to a 15-15 away draw by Kingdom neighbours Tralee.
Cobh Pirates face a tough assignment as they welcome Charleville to the Paddocks. The Pirates claimed a losing bonus point from their 24-21 defeat by Kinsale in South Cork, while Charleville go into the tie on the back of a narrow 15-11 home win over Fermoy.
Third-placed Fermoy, who claimed a losing bonus point from their narrow 15-11 defeat by North Cork neighbours Charleville at Smith’s Road, lock horns with Tralee at the Showgrounds. Tralee were held to a 15-15 draw by Killorglin at O’Dowd Park last time out.
In Conference E, Chorca Dhuibhne, who lost their only game to date 29-17 away to Castleisland, go in search of their first points as they welcome Bantry Bay to the West Kerry Gaeltacht. The West Cork side are on six points and they ran out 26-25 away winners over Youghal last time out.
There is one game in Division 2 of the Munster Women’s League as Ballincollig and Bantry Bay go head to head at Tanner Park with both sides tied on five points apiece in fourth place.
Both sides also go into the tie on the back of defeats by Waterpark in their last games.