Club Men: AIL 1B Week 3 Wrap.

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.

Ballymena40 – 22St Mary’s CollegeEaton Park
Buccaneers41 – 14Old WesleyDubarry Park
City of Armagh32 – 3MalonePalace Grounds
Naas16 – 20BanbridgeForenaughts
Old Belvedere17 – 32BallynahinchAnglesea 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 , , and with converting three an adding three penalties.

Malone returned home to lick their wounds, their sole response coming from a 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 bagging a brace and also crossed as they outscored their hosts by three tries to 1. added a penalty and a conversion.

The return of 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 , , and with 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.

TeamPlWDLFADiffTBLBPts
Naas32018036442111
Banbridge3201725814109
City of Armagh3111522824118
Malone320148426008
Ballynahinch311162575107
Old Belvedere31116869-1107
Old Wesley31114567-22006
St Mary’s College31026985-16105
Buccaneers31025474-20105
Ballymena31024377-34105

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