Genesis off to fresh start

With the Irish players still resting their weary bones after the World Cup Qualifier there is another reduced programme of matches in the Leinster and Ulster leagues this weekend.

The internationals should, though, spare a thought for India whose seventh-place finish at the Qualifier put them through to a three-match play-off series against the US, which will be played in Delhi - they return to training in preparation for the games next Monday.

In Leinster's Computershare League Genesis and Trinity open their campaigns against Old Alexandra and Glenanne respectively, in tomorrow's only Division One fixtures. Genesis are coached this season by Siobhan Keogh, the former Irish under-16 coach, and are again represented by a young squad, one that includes two schoolgirls, Caroline Maguire and Nikki Keogh, but are without Viv Doran who has moved to Pembroke Wanderers.

New Genesis manager Edel Hallissey says the club is "building from within and for the future" but admits that confusion in the ranks might well blight their season - the first team features three Eimears, of the O'Byrne, O'Brien and Ryan variety.

Trinity, too, have had to rebuild after losing two of their most influential players - Linda Caulfield (to Hermes) and Anya Bowers (to Alexandra) - during the summer. Bowers will come up against her former team-mates at Santry tomorrow with Alexandra, now coached by Keith Lemon, looking to maintain their impressive start to the season, one that saw them put 10 past Glenanne last weekend.

In Munster the all-new University of Limerick team, which is virtually unrecognisable from last season's line-up (it features eight new players), travel to newly-promoted Waterford who had the misfortune to come up against defending champions Harlequins last week on their first division debut (1-6).