NIFC close in on promotion place

The top game of Division Three on Saturday (2.30) involves NIFC's fight for the last remaining promotion slot, UCD having clinched Division Two status last weekend with their 38-20 win over Bohemians. The expectations are that NIFC (16 points) will reach their goal with a win against Instonians at Shane Park on Saturday.

Instonians, along with Monkstown, are the only sides now with a chance of pressing NIFC. Monkstown sit in third position on 14 points, although a long shadow has now been cast over their chances following last weekend's defeat. The Dublin club must now hope NIFC lose both their remaining games while they beat Bohemians this weekend. That turn of events would give Monkstown 16 points, the same as NIFC, bringing the race down to points difference. North, however, have a much better differential and would need to lose their remaining games by massive margins to concede ground.

Instonians, with two games remaining, have the best chance of out-stripping NIFC, so the weekend's match is crucial. An Instonians win would give them 15 points, making the last weekend of matches decisive. NIFC go into Saturday's match relatively fresh having had last weekend off, while Instonians will hope to continue the momentum that saw them devastate Monkstown 45-3 at Shane Park. Full back Gareth McCullough, with a 25 point haul in that game, will be anxious to retain his kicking form for a side that started the season indifferently.

Instonians, however, report no serious injury worries following the Monkstown game. Hooker Paul Shields, who has been a concern, is confident of shaking off a niggling hamstring problem.

The final relegation slot in Division Three is still open, with Highfield having definitely plunged into Division Four. This means that Trinity, in stark contrast to their successful UCD colleagues, are sitting in a precarious position at second to bottom with eight points. The students must beat Highfield in their final game and hope that Carlow and Richmond gain no further ground. In Division Four, a number of things could happen, although the final round of matches do not take place until April 17th. Banbridge (14 points) are the leaders but have completed their schedule of 10 games.

Both Midleton and Ballina, a point behind, each have a match remaining. A win for either club would allow them to jump over Banbridge for promotion. At the bottom, CIYMS are relegated. Omagh, Ards, Collegians and Bangor are all attempting to avoid the second bottom place, which would throw them into a play-off with one of the clubs hoping to qualify from the provincial leagues.

An international festival of youth rugby is taking place in Dublin this weekend involving 30 teams. Sides from Britain and Ireland will contribute 750 players to the event which is aimed to promote youth rugby and develop relationships between rugby playing nations.

Two sets of Pool games will take place at the Suttonians RFC (Under 12s and 13s) and Old Belvedere (Under 14s and 15s) between 10.10 a.m. and 6.0 p.m. The finals take place at Blackrock College RFC on Friday between 10.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m.