AIB All-Ireland League previews

League previews for the weekend

League previews for the weekend

DIVISION TWO FINAL

Lansdowne v Bruff,

Anglesea Road (2.30).

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THE NEWLY-promoted duo, who will be opposing each other in Division One B next season, seek to add some gloss to their season by winning the play-offs.

Lansdowne fairly cut a swathe through the division from pillar to post, finishing 14 points clear of Bruff and 24 clear of third-placed Terenure.

They only lost their penultimate match with promotion already assured, and nine of their 14 wins came with bonus points.

This included a 54-13 October win in round two at Bruff, who had six one-score wins and two draws, although Bruff have only lost once since and have won eight league games in a row.

DIVISION THREE FINAL

Queen’s University v

Nenagh Ormond

Anglesea Road (12.00).

HAVING MISSED out by two and four points in the last two seasons, Queen’s University finally ended their eight-year stay in Division Three in some style.

Coached by Brian Robinson and player-coach Jonathan Bell, having lost to fellow promoted club Midleton in round two last October, a dozen of their subsequent 13 wins came with bonus points.

Admittedly, the one exception was the hard-earned 18-13 win in January at home to Nenagh, who will be seeking to atone for missing out on promotion with their first senior trophy.

But they finished 20 points behind Queen’s, who averaged over 38 points per game.

Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley is Rugby Correspondent of The Irish Times