Cork Con
Trinity
Garryowen
Lansdowne
Young Munster
St Marys
Shannon
Highfield
Belvo
Wesley
1A
CLONTARF V CORK CONSTITUTION - Cork Con will be hurting so expecting them to get going with a narrow over Tarf
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY v BALLYNAHINCH - Ballynahinch - No logic for this just a hunch
GARRYOWEN v UCD - Expect them to win well against UCD
UCC v LANSDOWNE - Mardyke has been a tricky place for us to go to in the past - our last game there we won by a whisker 🤞
YOUNG MUNSTER V TERENURE COLLEGE - I think Terenure will surprise most with a win here
1B
BANBRIDGE v ST MARY'S COLLEGE - Going with Marys, they have had 2 tight losses against 2 of the top teams in the league
CITY OF ARMAGH v SHANNON - Home advantage to tell with Armagh to squeeze through
HIGHFIELD v NAAS - There won't be many getting a win away to Highfield this season and I can't see Naas being the exception
OLD BELVEDERE v MALONE - Belvo to win
OLD WESLEY v NAVAN - Wesley to win well
Results
Division 1A
Clontarf 31 Cork Con 24
Dublin University 19 Ballynahinch 13
Garryowen 26 UCD 13
UCC 15 Lansdowne 31
Young Munster 19 Terenure 7
Division 1B
Banbridge 17 St. Mary’s College 29
Armagh 23 Shannon 20
Highfield 38 Naas 3
Old Belvedere 32 Malone 10
Old Wesley 45 Navan 7
Division 2A
UL Bohs 18 Cashel 14
Ballymena 29 Old Crescent 25
Buccaneers 24 Nenagh Ormond 16
Queen’s University 60 Dolphin 0
Rainey Old Boys 0 MU Barnhall 39
Division 2B
Belfast Harlequins 25 Ballina 24
Galwegians 5 Blackrock College 17
Greystones 43 Galway Corinthians 7
Sligo 19 Malahide 7
Wanderers 29 Dungannon 22
Division 2C
Bangor 24 Midleton 14
Bruff 14 Clonmel 14
Enniscorthy 45 Omagh Academicals 17
Skerries 36 Tullamore 5
Sunday‘s Well 14 City of Derry 20
We ended up taking a mini bus to Limerick, 12 of us, was mighty craic.
Two tough losses in a row for us, but v two good teams. Young Munster are very physical. Was a good tough game.
The break is needed to patch up a few injuries.
The talk in the Young Munster bar was because of that Covid case in Nenagh before their game in week 2, it is going to be announced that it will be only 1 up and 1 down. Which seems crazy cause it is only October and would just make piles and piles of dead rubber games post Christmas.
Even in 1B for example, its pretty obvious Navan are going to get relegated and that Wesley and Highfield seem pretty strong at the top, so what happens in the middle like
Yeah that was what was in the regulations for the season. you would hope they don't follow that exactly as would make lot of dead rubbers but to be fair after not having any games for so long. a lot of dead rubbers wouldn't be the worst thing if it meant teams were just playing games. There will likely be another game or two called due to covid before end of season anyway so im not sure id agree with changing promotion/relegation based on one game being called off.
Now i know it wont happen but if that was the case about one up one down i would love to see an all ireland cup reintroduced where any AIL club could be drawn against another. So even a division 2C club could be drawn against a 1A and in those cases especially in 1st and maybe 2nd rounds that the 2C/2B club is always playing at home if playing against the 1A side.
I don't know, sort of games for the sake of games.
Asking lads to give up up their weekends, maybe work to travel etc, with no hope of promotion if you were midtable post Xmas. As opposed to having top four to aim for. Like we all know how physical it is etc, risk getting injured for essentially dead rubbers.
I know it is done, just seems mad with a full season, and loads of breaks to catch up on games called off due to weather etc, that it couldn't have been fitted back in and that say other divisions would be impacted by one game in a different league.
Whilst I know it is your team, and not even my league, they were saying it was all a bit suss and that Cashel were very unhappy how it played out.
Yes its games for sake of games but when you have had 18 months with no real rugby then its better to be playing anything at all. There is always plenty of teams with little to play for post xmas anyway or even sides who realistically/mathematically are still in with a chance but players/club dont actually want to be promoted.
Who are the "they" who were saying it was suspect?
Yes I get that, but as someone still playing myself, and speaking for myself, if someone said even at our Junior Level, that we are changing the way promotion or relegation happens, and that is just playing in Dublin, you are less likely to be as motivated , and I think less likely to maybe go from Cork on an overnight to Belfast, leave work early etc. Just my tuppance on it.
They were the lads from Young Munster who were chatting with, we spent about 4 hours in the bar afterwards with them, just giving us the "Munster" "Limerick" club gossip, as this case could have ramifications on every league and the Round Robin for the Junior Clubs, so they were obviously talking about it.
Very much depends on what way you are set up. Lot of clubs have no real intention of going up either players or club hierarchy are very happy to stay at level theyre at and a change wouldnt affect motivation at all and for some clubs who know theyre going to struggle knowing relegation is less likely then they may play more/be more motivated to prepare themselves better for the following season.
I went to the game myself it was hugely physical, I thought Young Munster looked good value for their win, they played well into the wind and held onto the ball for long stretches. I think both teams will do well this season, Terenure have a very good pack although the lineout misfired somewhat.
The highlights for the 1A and 1B games going up on youtube is an excellent way of promoting the game.
The weeks break will be welcome by most teams. There are some great lineups the following week with Terenure against Tarf and Young Munster against Lansdowne
It shouldn’t make for dead rubbers as whilst 1 up 1 down, there would still be play offs for the top 4 to decide who goes up and at the bottom 9th and 10th would have a two legged play off to decide who goes down.
Not ideal but I guess they had to have a back up plan in place before the season started as nobody knew what way things would pan out.
IRFU Covid committee to meet tomorrow apparently, hopefully confirmation will get out later in the week.
Thanks for clarifying. Thats better. when you said 1 up/1down initially i assumed straight with no playoffs. thats a bit better at least
I'd agree on that, similiar to our game v Lansdowne, just those big moments, the sort of 50/50s on who wins a turnover or not, Young Munsters did that.
Their pack is very well drilled. Lineout imploded, killed our momentum. But think both sides would be in the top 4 come end of season (least I hope so)
The Youngs Munster 15, think he is only a young lad, was excellent.
Ah ok, I assumed it was 1st goes up and last goes down.
Still think the existing format is the best, but least as you said, that is a bit better, albeit bit harsh if you come first or moreso just say its UCC or UCD come last and Ballinahinch 9th and there is a play off and UCC or UCD load up into next week on academy or pro players.
In my head, if you come last in a league, you go down.
This is such nonsense. I don't mean you are talking nonsense, just the way its going to work.
Why not stick to the normal system? If anything the system above actually involves more games being played and just convolutes everything.
I wonder when/if UCD will move some of their top u20 players into the senior side which is struggling..
Will they? I doubt it. Theyve been beaten up a fair bit and i dont see adding a fair few u20s into set up will make things any better from that perspective.
Mangan & Maguire already with the senior squad
Mangan aswell.
Fionn Gibbons, Ben Brownlee, Conor OT all could come in and add to senior squad.
Garryowen Cashel senior cup semi final tonight in Dooradoyle
Dont think any other games on this weekend as most clubs take deserved rest weekend.
Garryowen won 33-21 but made work very hard for that win with a few late scores sealing the win and it was a real missed opportunity for Cashel. Garryowen did rest a few players and it was only late on as Cashel tired that they pulled clear.
BALLYNAHINCH v GARRYOWEN
CORK CONSTITUTION V DUBLIN UNIVERSITY
LANSDOWNE v YOUNG MUNSTER
TERENURE COLLEGE V CLONTARF
UCD V UCC
MALONE V HIGHFIELD
NAAS V OLD WESLEY
NAVAN RFC V BANBRIDGE
SHANNON V OLD BELVEDERE
ST MARY'S COLLEGE V CITY OF ARMAGH
Hinch
con
tarf
close one but I’m taking UCC although I haven’t seen the ucd team there putting out so dunno if they have their academies or not
wes
banbridge
marys
Stainalert any thoughts on division 2? Could you list at least the fixtures if not predictions for some of those games.
Hopefully will be able to get to Nenagh Bohs tonight and depending on work tomorrow may try get in another game either Shannon, Crescent or Cashel games...
Ballynahinch v Garryowen
Cork Con v Trinity
Lansdowne v Young Munster
Terenure v Clontarf
UCD v UCC
Malone v Highfield
Naas v Old Wesley
Navan v Banbridge
Shannon v Old Belvedere
Marys v Armagh
2A
Tonight
Nenagh v UL Bohs
tomorrow
Cashel v Rainey
Dolphin v Ballymena
Barnhall v Queens
Crescent v Buccaneers
2B
Ballina v Greystones
Blackrock v Belfast Harlequins
Dungannon v Galwegians
Corinthians v Sligo
Malahide v Wanderers
2C
City of Derry v Bangor
Clonmel v Skerries
Midleton v Bruff
Omagh v Sundays Well
Tullamore v Enniscorthy
BALLYNAHINCH v GARRYOWEN Garryowen to win well
CORK CONSTITUTION V DUBLIN UNIVERSITY - Think Con will finally get going
LANSDOWNE v YOUNG MUNSTER - Have lost our last 2 league games to Munsters ...
TERENURE COLLEGE V CLONTARF - I think Terenure will sneak this one
UCD V UCC - UCC to win out
MALONE V HIGHFIELD - Highfield
NAAS V OLD WESLEY - Old Wesley
NAVAN RFC V BANBRIDGE - Banbridge
SHANNON V OLD BELVEDERE - Shannon
ST MARY'S COLLEGE V CITY OF ARMAGH - Marys
Peter Dooley and Jack Dunne the only senior contracted players ive seen named to be released so far.
Ulsters Rob lyttle and Dave O’Connor playing for banbridge
Aaron sexton, Lewis Finlay, Angus Curtis and Gareth milasinovich all playing for malone
Went to Nure/Tarf-very good game-Tarf well worth their win and dominated up front throughout especially at scrum time-Nure shipped a few injuries-Jordan Coughlan their standout player-he is very good at this level-Nure didnt offer much behind the scrum-standouts for Tarf were their back row of Tony Ryan Martin Maloney and Max Kearney-Maloney looks a very good prospect - Cormac Daly was very good as were Vak A and Dylan Donnellan who scored 3 tries-behind the scrum Michael Courtney was excellent at 13 as was Angus Lloyd at 9..The games I have seen so far have been high quality and have really been helped by the release of academy and dev players from the provinces..i really hope it continues!
Would have to agree, very annoying loss. I thought Colm De Buitleir was good for us at 15. But Caolan Dooley at 10, he is a 12, killed us.
Tarf rolling maul was excellent.
