Match Preview

SONI ULSTER PREMIERSHIP DIV 2

Bangor v Malone

There is a real buzz at Upritchard Park with the club officials and players looking forward to the visit of Malone for this Premiership game this weekend. The 1st xv squad has been strengthened in all positions with the players putting in a lot of hard work in the off season. On Tuesday night there were 39 players from the 1st and 2nd xv at training such is the competition for places with 24 - 3rd xv players training with coaches Jason Rainey and Richard Lacey. Such are the numbers that the club is looking at fielding a 4th xv this season. The club is looking volunteers to take charge of this team.

Selection on Tuesday night was difficult with several difficult calls having to be made. Injury rules out Andrew Shaw, Adam McCusker, Chris Morgan, Dave Charles, Freddie Black and Ryan Latimer. The club are looking forward to the return of James Henley from Australia in November.

Both Lewis Sampson and James Boyle are away with the Ulster under 19's this weekend with Gareth Wright on holiday.

For the match against Malone, Philip Whyte captains the side from loose head with former Ballynahinch player Conor Pyper starting at hooker with James Leary at tight head. Craig Burton is joined in the second row by Curtis Stewart with Mike Aspley, Mike Weir and David Bradford at 8 in the back row. Former Donaghadee and Ulster Junior scrum half Alastair Lockhart starts his first game for Bangor where he will partner Gareth Millar. Head coach Jason Morgan starts in the centre alongside Desi Fusco with Mark Widdowson and Phil Broderick on the wings and Ross McCloskey at full back. Bench cover will be provided by Conor and Orran McIlmurray along with last year's captain Jamie Clegg, David Moody and former Methody player Lewis Loane.

Other players to lose out from a starting place this Sat are Andrew Jackson, Rob Gamble, Neil Cuthbertson, James McMullan, Glen Burton and Dave Caughey who start for the seconds against Ballynahinch thirds along with new signings Taylor Ferguson and Charlie Clegg.

1st xv Manager Ricky Armstrong has witnessed at first hand the progress made by the seaside club in recent seasons. The players have trained hard all summer and now want to pit themselves against the top club sides in Ulster. They are hoping for a good start to their AIL campaigh when they host fellow Ulster side Rainey OB next Sat. The Gibson Park visitors will face a team determined to get their season off to a winning start.

Malone put in an impressive 29 - 5 win in their opening premiership game against Belfast Harlequins two weeks ago. Head coach Paddy Armstrong has selected a strong squad as he looks for a confidence building win before his team make the long trip to County Tipperary to play Cashel in their opening AIL match next Sat. He has been pleased with the work put in by the players with their attitude the most pleasing aspect.

The squad for this weekend is 1 - 20. Dane Fitzpatrick, Dan Kerr, Philip Eadie, James McAllister, Michael Shiels, Ben McDonnell, Neil Alcorn (Captain), Phil Lucas, Jack McMurtry, Nathan Brown, Michael Cartmill, Josh Pentland, Mark McCrea, Michael Barker, Mark O'Connor, Dave Cave, Richard Greenwood, Josh Ferguson, A N Other, Rory Campbell.

Preview courtesy of George Millar