C of I have chance to close the gap

WOMEN'S HOCKEY WEEKEND PREVIEWS: THE CANCELLATION of this weekend's under-21 interprovincial tournament, which was scheduled to be played at Grange Road, has left the women's fixture list looking sparse, with just five top-flight club games taking place, four of them in Ulster.

The weather has, of course, played havoc with league and cup fixtures in recent weeks, leaving the Irish Hockey Association and provincial branches with the task of rescheduling so many postponed games. The six outstanding Irish Senior Cup ties will be played on February 21st, with the quarter-finals scheduled for March 21st and the semi-finals now switched to March 28th.

Church of Ireland have the chance tomorrow to close the gap on league leaders Cork Harlequins, who are six points clear, when they play the first of two games in hand. Ashton are C of I’s opponents in the province’s only Division One fixture this weekend.

In Ulster, Ards will attempt to keep in touch with Pegasus, a point ahead but with two games in hand, with a win over Victorians, while Ballymoney and Armagh meet in the league a fortnight after their Irish Hockey League fixture, which Ballymoney won 5-0.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Today: Leinster Junior League final: St Andrews v Alexandra College, Belfield, 2.30.

Tomorrow: Munster League: Division One: Church of Ireland v Ashton, Garryduff, 2.30.

Ulster League: Premier Division: Ballymoney v Armagh, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30; Knock v Belfast Harlequins, Balmoral, 1.0; Lisnagarvey v Lurgan, Hillsborough, 2.30; Victorians v Ards, UUJ, 4.0.