Belfast Harlequins captain Mark Glover looking to finish career off with All-Ireland League promotion
Belfast Harlequins captain Mark Glover is hoping he can lead the Deramore side back to All-Ireland League Division 2B before retiring at the end of the season.
Quins dropped into the bottom-tier of the AIL after last season’s relegation but have made a strong start in Division 2C and are just three points off the top before the trip to mid-table Monkstown.
“I have one more year – this is it, this is the retirement year so I want to enjoy it,” said Glover. “I couldn’t finish on a relegation...we were too good a team to go down last year.
"We were a try from being sixth in the league, but we were unfortunate. We recruited really well and I thought I can’t leave it on a low.
"I have been through a lot of relegations with this club and we need to finish on a high and a better place...which I think we are doing.”
Quins have won four, drew one and lost one of their opening six games in Division 2C, including a bonus point win over the then-league leaders Dolphin.
“We think when we turn up we are the best team,” added Glover. “We think we have the best players and the best coaching – when we bring the right mentality like we did against Dolphin, no one can stay with us.
“The last four or five minutes against Dolphin showed that because that was just constant defence working around the corner...that is all mental attributes, not physical – that is just heart.
“In attack, when we click we go. When we have lost this season we occasionally turn off and give a little too much respect. When we just play our game nobody can stay with us.”
With three wins and three losses, Monkstown are three places and seven points behind Quins.
“We have to go down there, back Dolphin up and keep on a run,” said Glover. “We drew with Midleton and we feel we left that game out there and the Clonmel loss rattled us.
"It was probably a good thing because it showed us we are not invincible and that we have to work. We need to back it up at Monkstown because there is no point in being hot and cold.”
Quins have made two changes to their starting front row with Cameron Hillis coming in at loosehead and Alex Pybus at hooker. Stephen switches to tighthead.
The backline remains unchanged from last week although Thomas Armstrong is available from the bench.
Ballyclare are second ahead of Quins on points difference as Mik Orchin-McKeever’s side travel to Dolphin while Omagh host leaders Midleton.
The big game in Division 2A is second-placed Instonians against fourth-placed Barnhall at Shaw’s Bridge (2pm kick off), where coach Paul Pritchard keeps the same starting pack that were on duty in last week’s bonus point victory over Old Crescent. Matthew Keane returns to the bench.
Banbridge are at Navan while Ballymena visit Old Crescent.
In Division 2B, second-placed Dungannon face struggling Galwegians at Stevenson Park, Malone entertain UL Boh’s, Clogher Valley head to Sligo and Rainey travel to Skerries.