The Ulster Clubs in AIL 1B hit back with some vengeance this week with the only side not recording a win was, previously unbeaten, Malone RFC who were mugged in some style by a rampant City of Armagh at the Palace Grounds on Saturday afternoon.
I’d predicted wins for St Mary’s College, Malone, Nass and Ballynahinch in the matches involving the Ulster sides and I’m pleased to say that I only got one right in a weekend where the AIL 1B was turned on its head. Lush!
The results from Saturday were as follows.
| Ballymena | 40 – 22 | St Mary’s College | Eaton Park |
| Buccaneers | 41 – 14 | Old Wesley | Dubarry Park |
| City of Armagh | 32 – 3 | Malone | Palace Grounds |
| Naas | 16 – 20 | Banbridge | Forenaughts |
| Old Belvedere | 17 – 32 | Ballynahinch | Anglesea Road |
The match at the Palace Grounds was definitely the surprise result, for me anyway. Armagh had shown plenty of resilience but little ambition in the two matches we’d covered previously and Malone were sitting in second place with 2 from 2 in the bank.
Armagh’s points, and the bonus point win, came from tries by Andrew Smyth, Josh McKinley, Nigel Simpson and Peter Lamb with Cormac Fox converting three an adding three penalties.
Malone returned home to lick their wounds, their sole response coming from a Jack Milligan penalty.
While the Armagh result may have been the biggest surprise the win by Banbridge away to Nass was perhaps the biggest result as the Bann men turned over the previously untroubled league leaders.
The Ulster A returnees made their mark in this match with Peter Crombie bagging a brace and Caleb Montgomery also crossed as they outscored their hosts by three tries to 1. Adam Doherty added a penalty and a conversion.
The return of Zac McCall was enough to inspire Ballynahinch to also record an impressive result with an way win at Old Belvedere. Belvo were perviously unbeaten with a win and a draw in the previous two rounds so Hinch’s performance shouldn’t be underestimated.
The bonus point win came courtesy of tries from Rory Butler, Campbell Classon, James Simpson and Bradley Luney with Hilton Gibbons converting three on top of two penalties.
Ballymena’s bonus point win against St Mary’s at Eaton Park is also worthy of note. Report and pictures here.
All this leaves the league as follows.
| Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | TB | LB | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naas | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 80 | 36 | 44 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Banbridge | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 72 | 58 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| City of Armagh | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 52 | 28 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Malone | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 48 | 42 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Ballynahinch | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 62 | 57 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Old Belvedere | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 68 | 69 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Old Wesley | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 45 | 67 | -22 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| St Mary’s College | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 69 | 85 | -16 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Buccaneers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 54 | 74 | -20 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Ballymena | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 77 | -34 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
