Men's HockeyJust one match in Munster on Saturday and you can see why it has been left in the schedule all on its own. You have to pay to get in. It's the only game, apart from the reverse fixture, where this happens.
Church of Ireland A against Harlequins A has a resonance about it that most other matches in Munster, Leinster or Ulster lack. A win for either side should put them in the driving seat for the first leg of the league race because this league championship, as Munster keep pointing out, is a two-horse race.
Weekends like these and you understand why the branch has been pushing for something more competitive.
Sure they've angered many people with their refusal to become involved in costly preliminary interprovincial championships. But who could blame them? How is the spread of international players (seven seniors) on both sides of this tie possibly going to improve when they have competitive games like this only twice in each seasonal league campaign?
So far Harlequins top the table after seven matches. From those games they have a maximum 21 points, three more than C of I, who have played six matches and have also won all of them.
Harlequins have scored 36 goals, or an average of over five a game. They have conceded jut two goals, or an average of one every three and a half matches.
C of I are not far off that record with 33 goals from six games. The Garyduff side have also a fine defensive record of only two goals against.
Bandon are in third place with nine points from five matches before the Harlequin and C of I kick in again, their club B teams in fourth and fifth positions respectively.
Hardly anyone would claim that this is a healthy, robust and educational environment in which one-third of the international panel are asked to play their weekly hockey. But unfortunately that is the case.
In the Irish Hockey Strategic Plan, it is goal "Number 4" to review and develop competitive structures at every level.
The time frame for this is during the season of 2004/2005, or after next season. Hopefully, they will stick to that. In the interests of better hockey, an even shorter time frame would be preferable.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
SATURDAY - Leinster Senior League - Division One: Corinthian v Monkstown, tba; Dublin University v Glenanne, tba; Pembroke Wanderers v UCD, Serpentine Avenue, 12.15; Three Rock Rovers v Railway Union, Grange Road, 1.15; YMCA v Aer Lingus, Wesley, 2.00. Munster Senior League - Church of Ireland A v Harlequins A, Garryduff, 2.30.
