Instonians travel to Dolphin for a long awaited showdown between the two as bottom play top, the bottom half of the table however has plenty of competition, Malahide, Skerries, Belfast Harlequins and Dungannon all search for valuable points this weekend.
Belfast Harlequins v Wanderers, Saturday December 9th, Deramore Park, 2:30pm
Sitting just outside the dreaded drop zone, can home advantage give Belfast Harlequins a much needed win against high flyers Wanderers.
Losing their last three games Harlequins are a side out of form and certainly need results to go their way sooner than later. You could say it has been a double edged sword for the Belfast men this season, both or their wins have come by narrow wins, 30-27 to Malahide and 27-26 to Dungannon. While on the other hand, they lost 21-19 to Dolphin and most recently 21-20 to Sligo. Two results were however one sided and from their perspective they want to be competitive against a side like Wanderers.
The Chaps certainly will be confident ahead of this one. Searching for a third successive win, scoring for fun also, they look a hot prospect to fight for promotion or even the title depending on how the season develops. On their last two trips to Deramore Park they have failed to take the win however on paper it is hard to look past them taking one this weekend.
Dolphin v Instonians, Saturday December 9th, Musgrave Park, 2:30pm
Top meets Bottom at Musgrave Park with Instonians looking to continue their strong start to the campaign and remain unbeaten since last year.
The last recorded result of a fixture between these two comes from “In the beginning”, A Celebration of One Hundred Years of Dolphin R.F.C, that was in the 1993-94 season with the Belfast side taking a 11-17 win, that win arrived on Leeside and for their first meeting in 30 years, can Dolphin turn the tide on their season outlook. Five points from safety and a large score difference deficit, they needed a strong second half to the season but could lay the groundwork early.
I always say Instonians had an inaugural campaign last year as they look like a team reborn. They had been a mainstay prior to relegation in the 2013-14 season and since last year a breath of fresh air has taken the team to be an absolute force. Packed with power and pzazz what heights can we see them reach. 25 games unbeaten following last week’s result, 25 bonus points also from those games, serious work it has to be said by them.
Dungannon v Malahide, Saturday December 9th, Stevenson Park, 2:30pm
Having slipped into the drop zone last weekend, Malahide needed a result on the road this weekend to try to jump straight out.
Dungannon have not recorded a win since the opening day and certainly need results if they are to contest the promotion places once again. Losing four of their last five they are now just three points clear of Malahide in the standings, with a 71 point difference between the two also being a factor. Dungannon came within a whisker of promotion last season but need a surge in the second half of this year’s campaign to catch Sligo in fourth, it can also start here with a result.
Malahide on the other hand also are on a losing streak and a heavy 56-10 loss to Instonians last time out certainly did confidence no good coming into this tie. While they won their last three meetings with Dungannon, they like the hosts are out of form of late. Gannon have had some bitter defeats this year by narrow margins, could Malahide score an important result for their season this weekend and give Dungannon another tough loss on their record we will have to see.
Galway Corinthians v Rainey Old Boys, Saturday December 9th, Corinthian Park, 2:30pm
Galway Corinthians hope to remain in second place or even top the pile at the weekend depending on results elsewhere as they return to action in Corinthian Park.
A first home outing for the Tribesmen in almost a month and they are in red hot form hoping to pick up a sixth win in succession in 2B this weekend. Since that term’s failure to contest a promotion final or take the title, they are a team on a mission and only Instonains have pierced their armour this season, Wanderers and recently Dungannon came close but Corinthians came out on top, on paper they look the favourites this weekend.
Rainey were resurgent in recent weeks but after last weekend’s defeat in a classic to Skerries, they returned to losing ways. Losing four in a row they fought to cut the gap to Sligo in fourth spot but now needed to go again or slip further down the order. They almost left the win last October in a 34-33 classic, could they better that this weekend, you never know in the AIL what we will have in store!
Skerries v Sligo, Saturday December 9th, Holmpatrick, 2:30pm
After playing in a match of the year contender last weekend, Skerries return to Holmpatrick this weekend hoping they can move further away from the relegation places.
They are still catching their breaths in Skerries after a sensational 47-28 win in Hatrick Park on Saturday, the result a first win for The Goats since the 21st of October was much needed for their campaign. Now the question will be can they use that game to fuel them going forward and notch more results under their belts to remain in 2B come April. They have had some one sided defeats this season but can be a tricky customer at the same time.
Sligo will remain fourth regardless of results not going their way this weekend. Should they win and Wanderers are defeated they would need a cricket score to move third. More momentum than anything for Sligo to get some more wins on the board, it was hard fought last weekend on home soil against Harlequins winning by a single point. With four from seven resulting in wins, they are out to add to that win percentage this weekend.
More Info on Division 2B here.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.