Trinity face test of form

Hockey: It's a quiet weekend in Dublin with just three first-round Leinster Cup fixtures on. It's quieter still in Munster, where there are no first division games, but there's a full Section One schedule in Ulster, the highlight the meeting of Belfast Harlequins and champions Pegasus at Queens.

Trinity, Leinster's Division Two leaders, will have their form tested by first division Three Rock at Santry in their Leinster Cup tie. Before last Sunday's 2-1 defeat by Old Alexandra II Trinity had won all four of their league games.

Three Rock, though, are a team in good shape after a shaky opening to their season. Last weekend they made Leinster champions Loreto toil for their three points at Grange Road, losing 2-1, and before that they drew with Corinthian and beat UCD 2-1 at Belfield. Roy Horsfield and Gino Barnwell will hope that form is maintained.

Loreto II could do with a cup win over Pembroke Wanderers II at Beaufort to give them a lift - they trail Loreto III by four points in the second division.

Skerries are a point behind fifth-placed Loreto II but have two games in hand. They've won one, drawn one and lost one of their three fixtures so far. They host Genesis at Dardistown tomorrow, with the first division club seeking its first win of the season having taken just a point (against Clontarf) in their opening five games.

Wednesday night's abandoned Leinster Cup game between Hermes and UCD - the umpires called a halt to proceedings because of a flooded pitch - is likely to be rescheduled for the second week in November.

In Ulster Belfast Harlequins will attempt to defend their perfect start to the season - five wins - when they meet Pegasus while Ballymoney, level on points with Harlequins but ahead on goal difference, will look to make it six wins out of six at home to Ards.

LEINSTER CUP - First round: Skerries v Genesis, Dardistown, 12.0; Trinity v Three Rock, Santry, 2.0; Loreto II v Pembroke Wanderers II, Beaufort, 2.0.

ULSTER LEAGUE - Section One: Ballymoney v Ards, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30; Coleraine v Randalstown, UUC, 2.30; Omagh v Knock, Omagh Leisure Centre, 2.30; Pegasus v Belfast Harlequins, Queens, 1.0; Victorians v Ballymena, Olympia Leisure Centre, 2.30.

IRISH JUNIOR CUP - First round draw: Enniscorthy v Belvedere, Aer Lingus v Hermes II, Loreto II v Greenfields, Corinthian II or Three Rock II v Ashton II, Diocesan or Old Alexandra II v Greenisland, Belfast Harlequins II v Muckross v UCD II or Naas, Raphoe v Bandon II or Cork Church of Ireland II, Trinity v Banbridge, Kilkenny v Glenanne, Wexford v Skerries or Railway Union II, University of Limerick v Cork Harlequins II or Waterford II, Our Ladys or Genesis II v Carrickfergus, Kilkeel v Armagh, Coleraine II v Pegasus II, Pembroke Wanderers II or Bray v Fermoy or UCC II. Knock II have received a bye to the second round.

Ties to be played on Saturday, November 13th.