Preview: Ballynahinch showed again how potent their maul can be with three tries direct from lineouts at UCD. Replacement hooker Kelvin Hamilton helped himself to a hat-trick, and that forward grunt could prove crucial when fifth plays sixth at Ballymacarn Park tomorrow afternoon.
Five points separate these teams in the table, with Lansdowne eager to bounce back from losing to Clontarf despite scoring six tries. The defending champions are unbeaten in seven games, but know they cannot afford to be complacent. After completing with six-month spell with Munster, Bryan Fitzgerald returns to captain Garryowen in the centre alongside Gordon Wood , whose teenage brother Tom features at out-half.
Their top four hopes have taken a hit, with fourth-placed Terenure College now 10 points ahead of them. Preview: The giant marquee is up and a massive crowd is expected for this latest Dublin 6W derby. Terenure College lost the first fixture by 10 points and have been itching for their shot at revenge. Narrowly beaten by Cork Con last time out, St. Eight points separate Old Belvedere and Nenagh Ormond in the race for the Division 1B title and automatic promotion , while ten is the difference between the bottom three teams in an ever-developing relegation battle.
Preview: Friday Night Lights action returns to Forenaughts where Naas have only won three of their six league games there this season.
As things stand, they are only five points above second-from-bottom Highfield, so improving their home form is a must with regards to pushing for the top four. Dublin University have won two of their last four matches, with two-try centre Hugh Goddard helping them to beat Naas in November. Naas head coach Johne Murphy has kept most of the team that brought home two bonus points from Blackrock intact. Namibian-born Poland international Michal Haznar gets the nod on the left wing, and John King and Muiris Cleary are the two fresh inclusions in the pack.
