Divisions One And Two

Today

Division One

Shannon v St Mary's

Despite St Mary's College's Jekyll and Hyde tendencies this season, this match should lose none of the intensity that one expects from a clash between the best club side in the country for the past three seasons and a major aspirant. The Dublin club will point to the fact that they have beaten Shannon in the last two meetings, albeit both of which were in Dublin. The absence of Trevor Brennan and Conor McGuinness will preclude an away victory.

Terenure v Dolphin

Any delusions of grandeur harboured by Terenure College should have evaporated after the Ballymena game. The priority today will be victory against a durable Cork side whose tenacity helps to compensate for limited talent. The home side will look to impose themselves physically, establishing a platform up front to exploit their superiority behind the scrum: they should do so.

Blackrock v Old Belvedere

Blackrock College coach George Hook described this as a six-point game, slightly overstating the numerics of the situation but correctly encapsulating the importance of the tie. Belvedere have to start winning games while Blackrock need a couple of wins to ensure their first division status, the priority at the moment. It will be interesting to note how Brian Carey fares on his return to outside centre, a problem position for the national side. Blackrock to win.

Old Crescent v Ballymena

A heavy surface may be the only saving grace for Old Crescent who face a second successive hiding. Soundly thrashed by Lansdowne they seem destined to share a similar fate against the league leaders. Ballymena's powerful pack should ensure the requisite foundation for a convincing victory with the performance of James Topping especially topical in national terms.

Dungannon v Garryowen

The Ulster side's obduacy in the local derby ensured plenty of sweaty palms at Eaton Park but one suspects that they may not be similarly mentally charged for today's game. They do enjoy a peerless record at home against Garryowen, having never lost, but Philip Danaher has moulded a side capable of making the play-offs: they should take another step at Stevenson Park.

Clontarf v Lansdowne

The North Dublin club's surprisingly facile victory over Mary's should ensure a suitably confident approach. Clontarf flanker Pat Ward suffered an eye injury the last time these teams met but one assumes that the protagonists are mature enough to realise that renewing hostilities would be foolish in the extreme. Arguably the most competitive game of the day with the visitors to atone for their Kitty O'Shea final defeat.

Constitution v Young Munster

Cork Constitution have a habit of losing big games in which they should have prevailed over the past few years and last week's defeat by Shannon was another example. They managed to inconvenience Shannon in the scrums and will need an even more committed forward effort today. While Young Munster are unbeaten, this is really only their second tough assignment and one which might prove a stumbling block.

Division Two

DLSP v Greystones

The visitors will be keen to atone for last week's blemish against Wanderers but face a tough trip to Kilternan where few teams profit. If Greystones are to be considered genuine promotion contenders, then these are the matches that they must win.

Wanderers v Malone

The Ulster side are notoriously brittle away from home and despite containing several quality individuals, rarely muster a worthwhile performance away from Gibson Park. Wanderers to build upon last week's success.

Sunday's Well v Monkstown

The Sunday's Well have stuttered somewhat, yet to discover their best form but they should not need to hit the heights against a Monkstown team finding life at this level a little difficult with which to cope. The Cork team to prevail.

City Of Derry v Old Wesley

Wesley have offered suggestions in recent weeks that they are beginning to find their feet after an horrendous opening to the season and may find their long journey north a fruitful exercise.

Bective Rangers v Skerries

Rooted to the foot of the table, rugby appears a grim exercise for Bective at present. If they are to begin the long climb clear of the relegation scramble they have got to start winning matches. Sadly they may have to wait for another week.

Tomorrow

UCC v Galwegians

The Students superb midweek performance against Toulouse in the European Universities Championship semi-final will obviously have drained them physically and therefore leave them vulnerable against one of the top two teams in the division. Galwegians could reasonably have expected a far tougher assignment on any other Saturday in the season.

The Division Three match between NIFC and Highfield has been switched to Ravenhill as Ormeau is unplayable.

Postponed - Division Two: Buccaneers v Instonians.