Ulster Bank League 2013-2014 talk/gossip/rumours

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

Ballynahinch retained their Ulster Bank League Division 1A status as they proved too strong and resourceful for Buccaneers when winning Saturday's promotion/relegation play-off 35-13 in front of a bumper attendance at Ballymacarn Park.

It was nip and tuck in the opening half hour but a brace of tries before half-time gave Ballynahinch a 25-10 interval lead and thereafter the Pirates were unable to mount a successful comeback.

A mainly diagonal but changeable breeze did not hamper place-kickers David McIlwaine (two) and Jack Carty (one) as the teams traded penalties early on in the otherwise good conditions.

The opening try arrived on 18 minutes after Rodger McBurney made a strong break and offloaded to McIlwaine who should have scored in the right corner.

Buccs somehow held up this attack but the County Down club recycled possession right to left and winger Robin Harte finished off the move with McIlwaine's conversion giving the hosts a 13-3 advantage.

Buccs responded positively with a splendid Carty break and his inviting grubber kick was fastened onto by Shane Layden for a 28th minute try which Carty, who passed a late fitness test to play, converted.

However, Daniel Qualter was injured in the build-up to this score and the lock's absence was a significant blow for the midlanders.

It took 'Hinch just four minutes to reply and again McBurney made ground much too easily through the visitors' defence and the full-back was on hand to finish off this swift counter attack for a try converted by McIlwaine.

With Buccs prop Diarmuid Higgins in the sin-bin, the hosts capitalised and McIlwaine powered forward for a 38th minute try that gave Ballynahinch a solid 25-10 lead at half-time.

Within a minute of the restart, McIlwaine added a penalty but Carty landed a place-kick five minutes later to keep the Athlone side in contention.

The visitors piled on the pressure in the third quarter but without reward, lacking the composure and sheer physical strength to unlock a highly committed and organised 'Hinch defensive effort that was occasionally stretched.

But the nearest the home side came to being breached was when Aaron Cairns was yellow carded on 56 minutes for deliberately handling the ball out of play behind the right corner flag.

'Hinch then took the wind out of the Pirates' sails six minutes later with a little bit of good fortune. A Buccs pass went forward and straight into touch but although referee Sean Gallagher seemed to indicate a scrum, the northerners caught Buccs off guard with a quickly popped ball to McIlwaine on his own 22 and he romped in unchallenged to complete his brace of tries.

His conversion completed the scoring and this touchdown really deflated the visitors whose missed tackles and spurned opportunities proved costly.

Ballynahinch were the sharper, better drilled and hungrier outfit on the day with a superior cutting edge, and they were full value for their win that ensures an Ulster team will again compete next season in the highest division of club rugby in Ireland.

Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)

Hinch: Rodger McBurney; David McIlwaine, Stuart Morrow (capt), Matthew Arneill, Robin Harte; Harry McAleese, Aaron Cairns; Kyle McCall, Jonny Murphy, Christopher Taylor, Kenny Morton, James Simpson, Neil Faloon, David McGuigan, Michael Graham.

Replacements used: Jonny Madden for McGuigan (24-34 mins), Madden for Simpson (50), Stuart Orr for Taylor (56), James McBriar for Faloon (62-67), Aaron Ferris for Morrow, Matthew Nelson for Murphy (both 70 mins), McBriar for Cairns (73).

Bucs: Callum Boland; Billy Henshaw, Conor Finn, Alex Hayman (capt), Shane Layden; Jack Carty, Mark Dolan; Martin Staunton, Garreth Halligan, Diarmuid Higgins, James Tormey, Daniel Qualter, Conor Kindregan, Evan Galvin, Kolo Kiripati.

Replacements used: Ruairi Byrne for Qualter (28 mins), Jacob Walshe for Kindregan (34-44), Walshe for Staunton (50), Eoghan O'Reilly for Henshaw (64), Ben Carty for Hayman (65), Henshaw for Boland (67), Brian Teape for Higgins (75).

Taken from IRFU website.

Stainalert

IRFU have finally sent out new regulations re player transfers / payments etc to clubs this afternoon. Nice of them to finally get around to it considering transfer deadline is June 1st.

Not 100% but looks like there is no cap on player expenses as long as they are vouched (Can anyone confirm?)

If a club wishes to make a complaint about a dodgy transfer they must lodge €500 with the union!!

If there are any accountants out there can you confirm if accomodation qualifies under tax as benefit in kind? If so clubs can't provide accomodation for players

No problem with scholarships as long as they awarded by the academic institution (rather than the sports club) - what scholarships aren't??

Obviously someone in the IRFU thinks this is all a good idea but cannot see how it will actually improve the league. Most depressing fact about all of this is that there has been no energy or thought expended on how to help clubs increase club revenue, build better media exposure, improve standards of playing / refereeing (some of which was awful in the season just gone - sorry lost sheep!)

Really think the clubs should seriously consider a break away league where they can run things as they see fit rather then constantly playing 2nd fiddle to professional rugby agendas (That is all the IRFU care about in reality)

Has anyone ever seen Scott Walker at an AIL game?

The Lost Sheep

Stainalert wrote: »

IRFU have finally sent out new regulations re player transfers / payments etc to clubs this afternoon. Nice of them to finally get around to it considering transfer deadline is June 1st.

Not 100% but looks like there is no cap on player expenses as long as they are vouched (Can anyone confirm?)

If a club wishes to make a complaint about a dodgy transfer they must lodge €500 with the union!!

If there are any accountants out there can you confirm if accomodation qualifies under tax as benefit in kind? If so clubs can't provide accomodation for players

No problem with scholarships as long as they awarded by the academic institution (rather than the sports club) - what scholarships aren't??

Obviously someone in the IRFU thinks this is all a good idea but cannot see how it will actually improve the league. Most depressing fact about all of this is that there has been no energy or thought expended on how to help clubs increase club revenue, build better media exposure, improve standards of playing / refereeing (some of which was awful in the season just gone - sorry lost sheep!)

Really think the clubs should seriously consider a break away league where they can run things as they see fit rather then constantly playing 2nd fiddle to professional rugby agendas (That is all the IRFU care about in reality)

Has anyone ever seen Scott Walker at an AIL game?

There is more than one transfer window and while the announcement of this is close to that window its not that much of an issue. Clubs knew this was coming in.
The €500 cost for appeals/queries is fair as it stops clubs messing by sending in complaints for malicious reasons
Several clubs offer scholorships which are not offered by academic institution. UL Bohemians as opposed to University of Limerick offer a scholarship as do many other clubs..
I haven't seen all the proposals yet so cant fully comment but I think they primarily are ok and good for the game.
Clubs have to look to their own resources and better improving their own abilities to increase revenue etc. IRFU can aid them but its primarily themselves that have to do the work in those areas. On improving standards of coaching and refereeing we need better education and more assessors. This has to come from a top down approach and start with coaches in clubs at senior level working with all coaches on teams below them
Personally I think clubs would be idiotic to think about breaking away. When the sport went pro it was always going to happen that the club game was going to be second fiddle especially with the rise of the provinces. I love the club game and probably I prefer it to the pro game but we would be much worse off by breaking away.
The IRFU do care about the league and don't care just about the pro game. If that was the case then the league would be nothing on what it is.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

Bit of movement down south. YM signing Rob Guerin, Gearoid Lyons, and young 15 going into the Academy. Jack Cullen to Shannon, Jamie Glynn being linked to YM as well. Nevillie Melbourne returning after a year with Clonmel.

Rumours of Bohs having signed 6 ex-academy lads (recently released/left) including Niall Kenneally

The Lost Sheep

TG4 have a round up of this seasons AIL at 2pm Saturday.

RobbieRuns

Are there any places that you can get the seasons stats for the AIL ? top scorer in each league, tries scored, kicking percentages etc?

The Lost Sheep

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Are there any places that you can get the seasons stats for the AIL ? top scorer in each league, tries scored, kicking percentages etc?

Nowhere where you will get anything like kicking percentages.
Top try scorer and points scorer in 1A are easily known as the person with most in each category won an award at AIL awards. Top Try Scorer was Mick McGrath, Clontarf and Top Points Scorer was David Joyce, Clontarf.

Will guess top try scorer in 2B is one of the Nenagh players Rory O Brien or Derek Corcoran and their kicker Donal Fogarty as top points scorer.
1B most points and most trys will be Terenure players I imagine. Not sure on 2A.

CatFromHue

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

TG4 have a round up of this seasons AIL at 2pm Saturday.

Bugger I meant to watch that. Hopefully they'll put it up in the Player.