Rugby League Review: Includes Ulster Finals Week Review

Saturday saw Ballynahinch’s Ballymacaron Park host the 2012 Ulster League Finals day on which three games took place culminating in the league final between the three time champions Ballynahinch Rabbitohs and the Fermanagh Redskins.

The day kicked off with the Portadown Pumas grabbing their first win of the year when they took out the Ballynahinch Bunnies to win the Trophy Final.

Following this the Antrim Eels secured the Bowl with a 66-24 win over the Strangford Sharks to end a whirlwind season for the new club who spent the first half of the season on top of the table.

This left the main event that everyone had been waiting for when for a third time in four years the Fermanagh Redskins took on the Ballynahinch Rabbitohs with not only the League title at stake but a place in the All-Ireland Semi Final also up for grabs.

The Redskins pushed the Rabbitohs close but in the end the three time champions picked up their fourth title in a row and a spot in the All-Ireland final on the 4th of August.
PICTURES OF ALL THE ULSTER GAMES CLICK HERE
In Leinster the Ashbourne Stags secured a place alongside Athboy in the Leinster League Final with a last gasp win over Portarlington Wolverines.

The Wolverines looked certain to be on their way to the final but with just moments left the game the Stags broke Wolverines hearts to hand them their first ever defeat.

Elsewhere the Dublin City Exiles secured fourth place in the league with an emphatic 84-6 over a depleted Ballyfermot Bears in Terenure.

This weekend’s results in Leinster mean that Ashbourne and Athboy will play off for the Leinster Championship with the winner also advancing to take on the Ballynahinch Rabbitohs in the All-Ireland Semi Final.