First Division

Ballymena v Garryowen

HAVE Ballymena again shot their bolt, as they did last season? This game will go some way toward solving the riddle. It's probably a double edged sword that so many of Andre Bester's team contributed to Ulster's Euro success and thus could be suffering a mental fall-off.

However, their pack is back to full-strength, even if their backs aren't, and Garryowen's season has also been derailed slightly of late. A big four-pointer, with home advantage tipping the scales Ballymena's way.

Last season: Garryowen 66 Ballymena 29. Last five games: Ballymena - W W W L L. Garryowen - W W L W L.

Leading points scorers: Ballymena - Simon Mason 57pts. Garryowen - Killian Keane - 87pts.

Leading try scorers: Ballymena - Cunningham, Mckernan, Irwin, Blair, Graham, Matchett, Stewart 1 each. Garryowen - Wallace, Varley, McNamara, Ronan 2 each.

Referee: G Black (Leinster).

Odds (Paddy Power): 5/4 Ballymena, 16/1 Draw, 4/6 Garryowen. (Handicap betting: 5/6 both teams, 16/1 draw, Ballymena +3.

Forecast: Ballymena to win.

Young Munster v Lansdowne

THIS is not the game Michael Cosgrave would have chosen to be without four of his main players (and Shane Horgan has flu). Although the pack is resolute looking, the backs have been completely rejigged - which suggests a balanced contest given Young Munster's backs have unveiled precious little so far.

Lansdowne have the more reliable place-kicker in Rory Kearns, but Young Munster will cling to the hope that three wins and 13 points might yet squeeze them into the play-offs, and the pack may have sufficient firepower to take them onethird of the way.

Last season: Lansdowne 9 Young Munster 16.

Last five games: Young Munster - L L W D L. Lansdowne - L W L W W.

Leading points scorers: Y Munster - Michael Lynch 26pts. Lansdowne - 84pts.

Leading try scorers: Y Munster - P Clohessy, Earls, O'Dowd, Tobin 2 each. Lansdowne - Gordon D'Arcy 3.

Referee: De Tyndall (Leinster).

Odds: 5/4 Young Munster, 16/1 Draw, 4/6 Lansdowne. (Handicap betting: Young Munster +3pts.)

Forecast: Young Munster to win.

Blackrock College v Buccaneers

IF there is to be a surprise today, then this may be it. Blackrock have arrested their alarming slide down the table after their early optimism. They have stuck by the side which

accounted for Young Munster (save for Alan McGowan's return), and have the type of wide, expansive game which could trouble Buccaneers by moving the visitors' pack around the paddock.

Buccaneers, though, are on a roll and are a better side than given credit for.

Last season: Didn't meet. Last five games: Blackrock - L L L L W. Buccaneers - W W L W W.

Leading points scorers: Blackrock - Alan McGowan 44pts. Buccaneers - Simon Allnutt 74 pts.

Leading try scorers: Blackrock - Aidan Guinan 4. Buccaneers - Brian Rigney 4.

Referee: R McDowell (Munster).

Odds: 2/1 Blackrock, 16/1 Draw, 4/11 Buccaneers. (Handicap odds - Blackrock +8).

Forecast: Buccaneers to win.

Terenure College v Galwegians

Terenure's unpredictability has gone beyond a joke. Their two wins have been against Lansdowne and Shannon. Go figure. They find themselves only one place above Galwegians. They lack an imposing general between Hogan at scrum-half and Clarke at full-back, as well as a reliable kicker.

Terenure have only broken 20 points once and only Galwegians have scored fewer. But if their pack could win some

ball the visitors look to have more firepower, what with the prolific Elwood and their pacy Connacht three-quarters.

Last season: Didn't meet.

Last five games: Terenure - W L W D L. Galwegians - L L L L W.

Leading points scorers: Terenure - 37pts. Galwegians - Eric Elwood 58 pts.

Leading try scorers: Terenure - James Blaney 2. Galwegians - Elwood - 4.

Referee: B Smith (Munster).

Odds: 1/4 Terenure, 16/1 Draw, 11/4 Galwegians. (Handicap odds: Galwegians +10).

Clontarf v Shannon

DO Shannon need a servicing, or is it merely a puncture? Some of the big hitters up front look a bit worn, and so badly hit has the midfield been that Pat Murray is considering playing their open side game-breaker, Colm McMahon, at centre. It could be a rewarding gamble.

The Shannon coach also awaits morning checks on Marcus Horan (flu) and Eddie Halvey. His counterpart, Brent Pope, has rung the changes and the early return of Declan O'Brien must be a decided boon.

Last season: Shannon 31 Clontarf 6. Last five league games: Clontarf - L W W L L. Shannon - W W L L L. Leading points scorers: Clontarf - Richie Murphy 64 pts. Shannon - Andrew Thompson 45 pts.

Leading try scorers: Clontarf - Winchester, Moore, Vorster 2 each. Shannon - John Lacey 4.

Referee: A Watson (Ulster).

Odds: 100/30 Clontarf, 16/1 Draw, 1/5 Shannon. (Handicap odds: Clontarf +12).

Forecast: Shannon to win.

Cork Constitution v St Mary's College

OVERSEEN by a good referee, this has the makings of match of the day. Two in-form sides with near identikit winning form guides who also boast the two highest points scoring averages in the division - witness their 61 points feast last season.

The pity is that St Mary's have been so heavily hit by injuries.

Constitution are particularly strong where St Mary's have been hit hardest, i.e., the back row, and with the visitors also deprived of their main points kicker and try scorers, look to be for the taking.

Last season: St Mary's 38 Cork Con 23. Last five games: Cork Con - W L W W W. St Mary's - W L W W W. Leading points scorers: Cork Con - Ronan O'Gara 68 pts. St Mary's - Fergal Campion 47 pts. Leading try scorers: Cork Con - David O'Brien 4. St Mary's - Victor Costello, John McWeeney 3 each.

Referee: A Lewis (Leinster).

Odds: 5/4 Cork Con, 16/1 Draw, 4/6 St Mary's. (Handicap odds: Cork Con +3).

Division Two

Bective Rangers v Dolphin

THERE have only been three points or less between the teams in five of Bective's games to date and this could be another close affair. Dolphin themselves failed to hit double figures for five games in row, whereupon they thrashed Sunday's Well last time out. Could be the turning point in their campaign.

Forecast: Dolphin to win.

Dungannon v Old Belvedere

DUNGANNON can always fall back on their scrum. It should again provide the platform for a significant success.

Forecast: Dungannon to win.

City Of Derry v Greystones

THREE successive wins have propelled Derry to the fringe of the promotion race and with home advantage, their big, hard pack ought to subdue the young Wicklow outfit.

Forecast: City of Derry to win.

DLSP v Malone

Another promotion four-pointer and a huge game for DLSP if they are to get into the shake-up. Unbeaten Malone have been the surprise packets so far but they still have a hard run-in. Moving young Kiwi centre Shane Stephens to full-back could be the answer to DLSP's prayers.

Forecast: DLSP to win.

Portadown v Old Crescent

A HARD, abrasive forward collision seems assured here with so much at stake. Though Portadown have home advantage, Crescent are scoring more freely.

Forecast: Crescent to win.

Sunday's Well v Old Wesley

THIS young Wesley side have rolled up their sleeves, winning well at DLSP and then extending City of Derry. Although this is a long hard trip for them, they look to be a side with more to play for whereas the home side have completely lost the plot.

Forecast: Wesley to win.

Skerries v Wanderers

Typical of an injury hit season, no sooner do Skerries welcome back centre Dermot O'Sullivan than they lose flanker David O'Sullivan for five weeks. Wanderers, with only one league game since mid-January, are harder to guage.

Forecast: Skerries to win.

UCC v Ballynahinch

FINALLY free to focus on their league campaign, the European students' champions find themselves relatively well-placed if they can sustain their run of five league games without defeat. Although Ballynahinch may have the rare luxury of welcoming back Andy Ward, more and more they look like a club that just came a little too far too quickly.

Forecast: UCC to win.