Ulster again team to beat

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: After winning the tournament on goal difference from Munster and Connacht in Belfast last year, Ulster will be seeking a remarkable seventh successive under-18 interprovincial title at Grange Road over the weekend, while hosts Leinster will be attempting to triumph for the first time in a decade.

Ulster, with more than 10 under-16 and under-18 internationals in the squad, coached by Stephen Jackson, should again be the team to beat, but Viv Doran's Leinster panel has plenty of quality too, including four of the Ireland under-16 team that took European bronze last July: Aisling Campion, Zara Delaney, Nicola Evans and Elizabeth McInerney.

It was Connacht and Munster, though, who pushed Ulster closest last year, Connacht having a particularly memorable tournament, the highlights their 3-1 defeat of Leinster before they beat Ulster in the final game. Their only defeat came at the hands of Munster, against whom they open their campaign this evening. Leinster and South East meet in the first game of the tournament. Ulster aren't in action until tomorrow, when they play Connacht.

On the club front, Old Alexandra, who went back on top of the Leinster first division table on Monday after beating Trinity 5-2 (Jeamie Deacon scoring yet another hat-trick), are away to Three Rock, while Hermes and Pembroke Wanderers take on Trinity and Corinthian respectively.

In Munster, Cork Harlequins, who play the University of Limerick, and Church of Ireland, who meet intervarsity winners UCC, will attempt to maintain their perfect start to the season, while the game of the weekend in Ulster is the meeting of Pegasus and Randalstown, who beat the champions 4-0 in the Ulster Shield last month.

LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One: UCD v Clontarf, Belfield, 11.15; Trinity v Hermes, Santry, 12.0; Pembroke Wanderers v Corinthian, Ballsbridge, 3.30; Three Rock v Old Alexandra, Grange Road, 5.0. Division Two: Old Alexandra II v Diocesan, Milltown, 1.15; Hermes II v Genesis, Booterstown, 1.15; Glenanne v UCD II, Tallaght, 1.30; Loreto II v Corinthian II, Beaufort, 1.45.

MUNSTER LEAGUE - Division One: UCC v Church of Ireland, Mardyke, 1.15; Ashton v Bandon, Ashton School, 1.0; Univ of Limerick v Cork Harlequins, Univ of Limerick, 1.30; Catholic Institute v Belvedere, Rosbrien, 2.0.

UNDER-18 INTERPROVINCIALS (at Grange Road) - Today: Leinster v South East, 4.30; Munster v Connacht, 6.15. Tomorrow: Ulster v Connacht, 10.0; South East v Munster, 11.45; Leinster v Ulster, 1.30; Connacht v South East, 3.15. Sunday: Ulster v Munster, 9.30; Leinster v Connacht, 11.15; South East v Ulster, 1.0; Leinster v Munster, 2.45.