AIL Energia Leage Rugby/Ulster League

[Bigfacthunt]

Watched the queens game at the weekend. Without whole first team AIL squad. Ballyclare played Queens 2s
See clogher well beaten by Armagh at clogher although score not reported on Clogher Facebook. Armagh fielded 35 players in the game. They look to have recruited well this off season.

[The_Nose_Knows]

Did queens not involve several ulster contracted players? judging by the photos available online I thought I could see McFarlane and Kenny at least

The junior sides have certainly narrowed the gap over the last three years. Who have armagh brought in? normally they develop their own. It has gotten them this far and didn't expect it to change. Normally you'd expect the top 1A sides to supplement with a quality import or two. Strengthing areas where they feel they are lacking

Could see Clogher have a NIQ for the season as well. I expect it was the depth of the squds in the matches that was the telling factor as with most preseason games as I doubt cloghercould match Armagh's depth.

But the Ballyclare scorline was completey unexpected I expected it much much tighter

[chunky]

the Ballyclare - Queens match was nothing more than a contested training session - wouldn't read too much into it.

They didn't have live scrums or lineouts for the most part and Queens were missing the majority of their main squad and they've lost a fair few players to Dromore, Portadown etc so their 2nds are well weakened.

Would fear for them in the Senior League, but come AIL they will be fine.

Ballymena in a few weeks will be a proper test for Ballyclare to see where they are at - WJ McBride attending The Cloughan for the first ever senior meeting between Ballyclare and Ballymena - Pre Match Lunch is sold out already!

[shamalicious]

Queens unable to field a team against Malone on Saturday...

[Bigfacthunt]

Quite a few clubs across the board have lots of players away on holidays, weddings, stag dos and all that. Wouldn’t be reading anything much into scores in next few weeks.

What was the score last week when clogher were at home to Armagh? Clogher didn’t post the result on their socials.

[armalig]

What was the score last week when clogher were at home to Armagh? Clogher didn’t post the result on their socials
7-48

[armalig]

What was the score last week when clogher were at home to Armagh? Clogher didn’t post the result on their socials

7-48

[armalig]

Yes Lot of upsets on paper taking leagues into account but granted these early games first chance to trial players etc ahead of AIL which is priority for most I’d guess … Gannon turning over Hinch & Quine beating CV & Omagh beating Braidmen etc. Going 2b another interesting season !

[UlsterNo9]

Few more interesting results today

Quins beaten at home to Accies, Dungannon with another big win.

Though the talking point has to be the hammering Mena took to oh er Ballyclare.

[robrfc15]

Both Rainey 1s and 2s beating both Banbridge sides today comfortably, few good scores on show. Will be alot of selection issues/heaches come AIL time


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[ljsulster]

Interesting start to proceedings this season
Ulster league been a mixed bag with Dungannon the surprise package. Worry for Ballymena whose young squad might not cope this season. Ballyclare will go up from 2c comfortably imo. In Q1 despite losing some big players Ballymoney continue to impress with back to back away wins over Bangor and Portadown earning two bonus points in the process. Dromores spending showing already and they are surely favourites to go up. City of Derry struggling big time

[The_Nose_Knows]

Interesting start to proceedings this season
Ulster league been a mixed bag with Dungannon the surprise package. Worry for Ballymena whose young squad might not cope this season. Ballyclare will go up from 2c comfortably imo. In Q1 despite losing some big players Ballymoney continue to impress with back to back away wins over Bangor and Portadown earning two bonus points in the process. Dromores spending showing already and they are surely favourites to go up. City of Derry struggling big time

Not sure whats going on with QUB and Ballynahinch, but early season signs look to be that they are going to be reliant on their Ulster contingent, great news about George Pringle being on trial with Ulster. Hopefully a sign of more to come with players earning trials. Enniskillen I think will push Dromore hard. Alot of homegrown talent in the skins side. Hoepfully they follow each into AIL over the next couple of years. Ballymena willl need a couple of months to settle with Nicholl back in charge but I recon they'll come good before the end of the season.

Not sure how I see Harlequins fairing, alot of imports for this season and publicily chasing every Irish player in the facebook groups doesn't bode well for team moral, if they are in a relegation battle at the end of the year could prove very costly.

[remould]

Dromore did spend big on a new scrum machine and some new match balls over the summer Despite all the talk the fact remains that 13 out of the starting 15 on Saturday played mini or youth rugby at Barban Hill. Enniskillen will be the team to beat in Q1 as last years young side develops and will only get stronger. Ballymoney, Cooke and Portadown will all be hoping for a top 4 finish and will be hard to beat.

[Bigfacthunt]

This Week's matches are,
Sat 21st September

Energia A. I. L.
Bhinch 7 C of A 0
Queens 19 Shannon 13
Bmena 10 G. Corinthians 26
Bbridge 26 MU Barnhall 31
Buccaneers 24 Instonians 52
Dungannon 45 Malahide 15
Malone 20 CV 24
Wanderers 38 Rainey 10
Enniscorthy 20 Quins 29
Omagh 28 Clonmel 25 latest
Tullamore 14 Bclare 27

Very early, of course, great result for Queens, Dungannon and Ballyclare this weekend.

[armalig]

Great AIL start for Omagh lads as the Accies carried thru their pre-season form with superb 31-28 win vs Clonmel