RUGBY: Cunningham ready to soar with Ravens
BRYN Cunningham is in line for a return to playing after a long lay-off through injury with the Ulster Ravens.
The Ravens face Aberavon in the final pool C match in the British and Irish Cup at Ravenhill on Friday night.
Cunningham who suffered a elbow injury early in the season had a further set back with a complicated hamstring problem, but he has recently returned to the pitch and has made good progress.
It is hard to believe Cunningham has basically had 20 minutes of competitive rugby this season, playing in Ulster's opening Magners League match away to the Dragons.
He suffered a hyper-extension injury to his elbow and once he had recovered from that he suffered a further blow with a serious hamstring problem.
Cunningham is one of a number of senior players included in the Ravens squad for what is a win or bust game against the Welsh Principality League side.
London Welsh, who Ulster beat a fortnight ago in the penultimate group game, were 20-10 winners in their last match against Llanelli last weekend.
It put them four points clear of the Ravens, which means the Irish Provincial side have simply to win the game as they will go through as group winners to the semi-finals by virtue of having won the head-to-head match against Welsh.
A bonus point - scoring four tries or more - win would leave Ravens clear at the top of the group.
Already qualified to the semi-finals are English Championship sides, Doncaster and Cornish Pirates, and if results go as expected this weekend, Ulster and Munster should also join them.
The British and Irish Cup is in its debut season and has been well received by the clubs taking part from Wales, Scotland, England and Ireland, particularly with the Celtic Nations, giving valuable game time to senior players as well as developing Academy and domestic club players during down time because of the Six Nations Championship.
However, just over 730 people turned out to watch Ravens defeat London Welsh in the last game at Ravenhill, which was disappointing, given the importance of the game in the context of the competition.
However, there was a live Six Nations Championship game on television that evening and the weather, as usual in Belfast for Friday night rugby, was exceptionally foul.
Ravens manager, Gary Longwell, said: "This is a cup final in itself against Aberavon. We do not know much about them, but we do not have to worry about that.
"This is a great opportunity for an Ulster side to qualify for the knockout stages of a competitive competition and we hope the fans will get behind the team on Friday night."
Longwell and coach, Neil Doak, will announce their match 22 tomorrow with Cunningham certain to be involved and the exciting Mark Robinson another likely contender for a starting place.
RAVENS SQUAD -
Forwards: Bryan Young, Declan Fitzpatrick, Robbie Diack, Dan Tuohy, Chris Henry, Andy Kyriacou, Neil McComb, Ryan Caldwell, TJ Anderson, Scott Lavella, Nigel Brady, Paul Karayannis, M ark Robinson, Ed O'Donoghue.
Backs: Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall, Bryn Cunningham, Cillian Willis, Ian Whitten, Micha el Allen, Mark McCrea, Craig Gilroy, Darren Cave, Jonny Shiels, Jamie Smith, Niall O'Connor, Tommy Seymour, Chris Cochrane.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
