Title, promotion and relegation issues aplenty

RUGBY/ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE: GERRY THORNLEYlooks forward to what is a momentous weekend for all four divisions, with 20 of the 24 matches in total having something at stake

DUE TO the Ulster Bank League’s changed format next season, with both Divisions One A and One B being expanded to 10 teams each and “new” Divisions Two A and Two B containing 16 clubs each, there are title, promotion and relegation issues aplenty this weekend. Indeed, of the 24 matches, only four can be considered as dead rubbers.

On the final round of regular season games in Division One A and One B, every match has something at stake. Similarly, with just eight points covering the teams from third to eighth in Division Two, six of the eight games on the penultimate round of matches carry huge significance, as do six of the eight games in the penultimate round in Division Three, not least a virtual title decider.

In the top flights only the One A and One B pacesetters, Cork Constitution and Clontarf, along with Old Belvedere, have secured semi-final play-off places. At Anglesea Road, a slightly faltering Old Belvedere host St Mary’s in a meeting between second and third, where St Mary’s need a bonus-point win by nine points of more to secure the second home semi-final along with Cork Constitution. But, were St Mary’s to lose, they could be edged out of a semi-final place altogether by Young Munster, who must beat Garryowen in a Limerick derby at Tom Clifford Park.

However, Garryowen are fighting with Shannon, who trail them on points difference and are at home to Dolphin, to avoid the relegation promotion play-off with the third-placed side in Division One B. The second automatic promotion spot from Division One B, along with the divisional winners Clontarf, will be decided by a winner-takes-all shoot-out between Lansdowne and a free-falling Buccaneers at the Aviva Stadium. Buccaneers looked sure to accompany Clontarf into next season’s Division One A a month ago but four successive defeats have left them in danger of even missing out on a promotion play-off against Garryowen or Shannon, as the losers at the Aviva Stadium could be overtaken by UL Bohemians, away to improving Galwegians, or even Dungannon, at home to UCC.

Furthermore, neither UCC or Galwegians (whose three successive wins have given them a lifeline) are safe from a relegation/promotion play-off with the fifth-placed side in Division Two, a position currently occupied by Bruff – who entertain Clontarf.

Unbeaten UCD and Ballynahinch have secured two of the four automatic promotion places in Division Two, and the students could clinch the title by beating Malone at home if Ballynahinch slip up at third-placed Bective. The Rangers – Division Two ever presents since the AIL’s formation and thus seeking a first ever promotion to the top tier – head a clutch of half a dozen teams separated by just eight points who are vying for the remaining two promotion places and the fifth-placed play-off spot.

Intriguingly, four of them clash on Saturday, when Belfast Harlequins host Queen’s University and Corinthians entertain Ballymena in what amount to win-or-bust encounters. By the by, there’s also an-all Limerick battle royale between the rival parishes of Old Crescent and Thomond, who are currently separated by a point, as they vie with each other to avoid the relegation play-off with the fifth side in Division Three.

That place is currently occupied by Banbridge, who also have a game in hand (at home to Highfield) over the three clubs who are hot on their heels. Seapoint, who also emerged unbeaten from the Leinster Junior League and provincial round-robin play-offs last season, have already secured promotion to Division Two A – a remarkable achievement in their third year under head coach Nigel Osborne and well-regarded St Andrew’s fitness guru Dave Jones.

Given most of the squad are home-grown and they have not invested in foreign imports, it may also be a template for other clubs. They entertain Reggie Corrigan’s in-form and free-scoring Greystones, who will be supported by three busloads of supporters from Dr Hickey Park, in what is virtually a title decider, although Instonians and City of Derry are not out of the hunt. Either way, those four should be the automatically promoted quartet.

As there will be no relegation from Division Three per se, the four provincial Qualifying League winners will be promoted to Division Two B, and this looks like being Sligo, Armagh, Boyne and Cashel.

DIVISION ONE B

NEXT UP . . . Saturday: (2.30): Cork Constitution v Blackrock College, Temple Hill; Old Belvedere v St Mary’s College, Anglesea Road; Shannon v Dolphin (tbc); Young Munster v Garryowen, Clifford Park.

DIVISION ONE B

NEXT UP . . . Saturday: (2.30): Bruff v Clontarf, Kilballyowen Park; Dungannon v UCC, Stevenson Park; Galwegians v UL Bohs, Crowley Park; Lansdowne v Buccaneers, Aviva stadium.

DIVISION TWO

NEXT UP . . . Friday: Old Wesley v Dublin University, Donnybrook (8.0). Saturday: (2.30): Bective Rangers v Ballynahinch, Donnybrook; Belfast Harlequins v QUB, Deramore Park; Corinthians v Ballymena, Corinthian Park; Midleton v DLSP, Towns Park; Old Crescent v Thomond, Rosbrien; Terenure v Clonakilty, Lakelands; UCD v Malone, Belfield.

DIVISION THREE

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NEXT UP . . . Saturday: (2.30): Ards v Sunday’s Well, Hamilton Park; Highfield v City of Derry, Woodleigh Park; Instonians v Connemara, Shaw’s Bridge; Naas v Banbridge, Forenaughts; Navan v Suttonians, Balreask; Nenagh Ormond v NUIM Barnhall, New Ormond Park; Rainey OB v Wanderers, Hatrick Park; Seapoint v Greystones, Killiney.

PLAY-OFFS: Winners Division One A v Third Division One A; Second Division One A v Winners Division One B.