This Sunday, July 29, at 2pm in Limavady Rugby Club the Donegal-Derry Vipers host their second successive IAFL1 semi-final as the host the West Dublin Rhinos.
Last year, after a 6-2 season the Vipers welcomed the Louth Mavericks to The Viper Pit in Drumahoe.
The day ended with a victory for the Louth men and ended the Vipers season. It was an impressive first season in IAFL1 for The Red and Gold and one in which they would have surprised a few people having been promoted from IAFL2 as Champions the previous year.
This season is different, with a record of 7-1, the Vipers have improved again and won the IAFL1 North Conference, their only defeat coming early in the season to the impressive Wexford Eagles.
In The Rhinos they meet a team on form.
The Dubliners come to Limavady having disposed of the 2nd placed team in IAFL1 South, The Westmeath Minotaurs and boast a 6-2 record in 2018.
The Vipers and Rhinos have played before, twice in fact, in 2017. The opening game of the season saw the Vipers travel to Castleknock in Dublin to face off against Sundays opponents.
It was a close fought game and one that the Rhinos won by 1 point finishing 9 – 8.
It was the Vipers first game in IAFL1 and despite the loss they would have taken great heart from being able to mix it with the big boys. In the reverse fixture the Rhinos traveled north only to return home empty handed after a 21 – 8 defeat at the hands of the Vipers.
This year both teams have showed that they have some great talent in their squad and on paper appear to be evenly matched.
The Rhinos on average had scored 24 points per game, allowing 12 points, while the Vipers have scored 27 points on average allowing only 9.
Both teams boast tough tackling defences and strong creative offences and there doesn’t seem to a clear favourite going into the match.
This speaks volumes for how competitive The IAFL1 division has been. The 2 teams are evenly matched and there is no doubt this fixture could come right down to the wire.
At the opposite end of the draw The Southern Champions The Wexford Eagles (7-1) will host The Craigavon Cowboys (5-3) in what promises to be another close fought game and a repeat of the 2017 IAFL1 semi-final in which the Cowboy were victorious.
With just four teams left in the hunt for the IAFL1 crown you can bet there will be more twists and turns in this tale before it comes to an end.
Come along to Limavady Rugby Club on 29th July at 2pm and watch the story unfold.
