THE leadership of the first division in the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League will be at stake when front runners St Mary's College meet second placed Lansdowne at Templeville Road this afternoon. The match will surely draw the biggest crowd to attend a league match in Dublin this season. Among the attendance will be Ireland manager Pat Whelan.
That is one of three league matches that will be watched by Ireland selectors. Frank Sowman will be at Thomond Park to see Shannon play Garryowen, and Joe Miles will be at Temple Hill to see Ballymena play Cork Constitution.
It is extremely unlikely that the Ireland side to meet England at Lansdowne Road next Saturday will undergo much alteration; a wing berth will come under review, and of course there is the doubt about flanker David Corkery, who has a broken bone in the third finger of his right hand.
The selectors, when they meet tomorrow, must also choose the A side to meet England at Donnybrook next Friday. Both teams will be announced around 5.30 tomorrow evening.
Whelan said a decision on Corkery's fitness will be made after consultation with team doctor Mick Molloy. "We should be able to clarify the situation in relation to David Corkery when we announce the team," said Whelan.
Donal Lenihan, Ireland's representative on the Lions selection committee, will be attending a meeting of that body today, but he will also be at the Stoop Memorial Ground this afternoon to see Harlequins play Sale; Ireland captain Jim Staples and Sale flanker Dylan O'Grady will be on show. O'Grady, of course, has played regularly for the Exiles.
Whelan will see several contenders at Templeville Road, including Eric Elwood and Denis Hickie. Their places are scarcely in doubt, but A team recognition could be enhanced by some other players in this encounter.
The performance of James Topping, named on the left wing for Ballymena, will be important. Dominic Crotty, who holds that berth for Ireland, will be seen by Sowman playing for Garryowen.
Several members of the Ireland side will be having a rest this weekend. Flanker Denis McBride is resting a slight injury, Paddy Johns will not be playing for Saracens and, as London Irish do not have a match, Jeremy Davidson also nets a welcome rest.
As the league moves towards the half way point, no fewer than four teams are in immediate pursuit of St Mary's College: Lansdowne, the defending champions Shannon, Garryowen and Terenure College. Blackrock College, on six points, are two adrift of that quartet. The top six clubs are now the only real title contenders.
Cork Constitution (five points), and Dungannon, Ballymena and Old Belvedere (four) will be seeking mid table comfort. Moving away from the lower regions is the task facing Old Wesley, Old Crescent, Young Munster (all on two points) and Instonians, who area still seeking their first point.
Second division leaders Bective Rangers have points difference to spare over Clontarf and Skerries, who share the eight point mark. Wanderers and Dolphin are both on seven points.
Bective will be at home to Greystones, who stand just two points behind. Skerries travel to NIFC and face a team still seeking their initial win in the competition, and Clontarf play DLSP at Kilternan.
Wanderers visit City of Derry, like NIFC still in pursuit of their first win. Dolphin will meet UCC, while Sunday's Well, among the three clubs on six points, will be at home to Malone, also on the six points mark. Monkstown, in midtable, travel to Highfield, who are down in the relegation zone on two points.
Two Connacht clubs top the third division: Galwegians lead on 10 points from Buccaneers, who stand on eight but with a match in hand. Galwegians will be at home to Bohemians, who have lost one match from the four played, and Buccaneers meet UCD, who are in third place on seven points, but have played six matches.
Bangor with just two points, travel to Portadown, who still entertain very concrete promotion hope having lost just one match from the four played. Dublin University and Corinthians, just a point apart on two and three points respectively, meet at College Park, and Queen's University, in mid table, take on Collegians, who are similarly placed.
Suttonians and Ballynahinch, two newcomers to the league, lead the way in division four, along with Ards, all on full points. Something has to give when Ards meet Ballynahinch in the top match. Suttonians will certainly fancy their chances of maintaining their 100 per cent record when they are at home to pointless Armagh.
Four teams on four points meet Creggs visit Ballina, while Richmond meet CIYMS at Richmond Park.
UCG and Sligo, neither of whom has yet gained a point, meet in Dangan.
. Two sides steeped in the best tradition of Ulster Schools rugby clash in the second round of the Schools Cup today. Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Methodist College both boast impressive records in the competition, with Methody having been the dominant force over the course of the past decade.
Campbell College face a hazardous task at Limavaddy GS while Grosvenor GS meet Carrick GS.
