THE annual Intervarsities tournament, hosted this year by the University of Ulster, Jordanstown, gets under way today with Trinity aiming for their fourth successive Chilean Cup (women) and UCD defending the Mauritius Cup (men) they won in Dublin last November.

Trinity beat UCC on strokes in last year's final and after an impressive start to their Senior A season they will be favourites to retain the cup. UCD should prove to be their toughest rivals in Pool A but Queen's and UCG will also have designs on a semi-final place.

In the men's competition last year's beaten finalists Queen's have an early opportunity to avenge their defeat by Trinity on penalty strokes in Saturday's first-round Irish Senior Cup match in Dublin - they have been drawn in a formidable Pool B, along with Trinity, the University of Ulster and UCC.