Crucial games for title hopefuls

While Pegasus will be presented with the league trophy tomorrow afternoon, after guaranteeing the retention of the Ulster Section One title over a week ago, the contest for the Munster and Leinster senior titles is still very much alive, with crucial games taking place in Cork and Dublin over the weekend.

And, refreshingly for the neutrals, both contests are very much three-horse affairs with Church of Ireland challenging Harlequins and UCC in Munster and Leinster leaders Old Alexandra hotly pursued by both Hermes and Loreto.

Church of Ireland's league ambitions were boosted on Tuesday night when Harlequins and UCC drew 0-0, leaving the students, who have played two more games, three points clear of the defending champions and four ahead of Church of Ireland, who also have two games in hand. Harlequins remain favourites to retain their title but this weekend should prove a testing one for the team, with games against Catholic Institute tomorrow and Belvedere on Sunday.

Belvedere, in particular, could prove to be tricky opponents.

Beaufort hosts the game of the weekend in Leinster with second placed Loreto playing Hermes, a point behind with a game in hand. When the teams met at Belfield earlier in the season Hermes ran out 4-1 winners - a repeat of that result tomorrow would effectively end Loreto's title challenge.

Old Alexandra have three games to go, starting with Genesis at home on Wednesday, followed by Glenanne (home) and Hermes (away).

Meanwhile, in Cork, Pegasus II will hope to move one step closer to adding yet more silverware to the Belfast club's collection when they meet Church of Ireland II in the semi-finals of the Irish Junior Cup. The second semi-final pairs Diocesan and Our Lady's Terenure, who meet at High School in Rathgar.

On the international front Germany has been confirmed as the fourth team in the line-up of June's Under-21 Four Nations' tournament in Belfield, when Ireland will also play Scotland and Wales. The senior squad's buildup to August's European Nations' Cup finals now includes a friendly against Belgium in Holland at the end of July, their fourth match in five days after two games against the Czech Republic in Prague and one against the Dutch in Holland.