Ballymena have the real edge

Lansdowne v Ballymena Lansdowne are the form team of the four semi-finalists, having won nine on the spin and helped themselves to a bonus point in all but one game to earn home advantage this afternoon.

Not that the back pitch at headquarters - a stake for one of the international "marquees" was recently unearthed there and the pitch itself is apparently a rock-hard dustbowl - constitutes a salubrious environment for such an auspicious occasion. To make matters more incongruous, the Division Three final will kick-off on the main pitch half an hour into this game.

Though not in the Leinster reckoning the free-scoring Matt Leek (six shy of a double hundred) has led the way and leads the scoring charts in the top flight by almost 50 points.

They have been scoring freely under Harry Williams, who is one game away from another final at Lansdowne Road - scene of his finest hour four years ago when Ulster won the European Cup.

Ironically, therefore, an Ulster club stand in his way with one or two of his erstwhile charges. Whereas Williams had understandably declined to upset team cohesion by parachuting in their Leinster players, Ballymena do have a host of contracted players to stiffen their resolve, even without Gary Longwell. A well-balanced side with a good pack, the presence of Jimmy Topping, Paddy Wallace and Scott Young gives them a real cutting edge.

Furthermore, although Ballymena's strong league showing was backboned by a 100 per cent home record, whereas on the road they won only three of seven matches, on closer scrutiny their record against today's opponents rather disproves the theory that Ulster clubs suffer from AIL travel sickness.

Ballymena have actually won on four of their previous six visits to Lansdowne Road, including a gritty 12-8 victory against Lansdowne last November thanks to a couple of late penalties. A cursory glance at the team's respective try tallies for and against (Lansdowne are 51-33 while Ballymena are 53-29) also points to a close game.

LANSDOWNE: B O'Mahony; K Becker, A Magro, K Kennedy, F Baynes; M Leek, S Whelan; E Bohan, R Fallon, A McKeen, S O'Connor, B Cusack, J O'Donovan, S Rooney, L Toland.

BALLYMENA: P Wallace; J Topping, M Waterhouse, H Jones, S Young; A Larkin, P Spence, N McKernan, P Shields, B Young, M Blair, M McCullough, A Graham, R Nelson, N McMillen.

Previous meetings: Played 10, Lansdowne 4 wins, 0 Draws, Ballymena 6 wins.

Leading try scorers: Lansdowne - Karl Becker 7, Matt Leek 6. Ballymena - Jimmy Topping, Andy Maxwell 7 each. Matt McCullough 6.

Leading ponts scorers: Lansdowne - Matt Leek 194. Ballymena - Adam Larkin 73, Dirk Strydom 63.

Referee: Dave McHugh (IRFU).

Betting (Paddy Powers): 10/11 Lansdowne, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Ballymena.

Forecast: Ballymena to win.