Friday Night Club Rugby

Large crowds turn out for Friday night derby games in Limerick and Cork as Young Munster and Garryowen share the spoils at Tom Clifford Park and Highfield overcome Sunday’s Well at Woodleigh Park.

Young Munster 16 Garryowen 16

New Young Munster coach, former Queensland Red and Australia A star, Anthony Mathison witnessed at first hand his first local derby at Clifford Park when his side split the points with arch local rivals Garryowen.

Young Munster celebrated the switching on of their new floodlights and Paul Downes, newly arrived this season from Bruff, kicked two penalties inside nine minutes to give the home side a perfect start in front of a very big crowd before James Frawley was twice on target for Garryowen.

Just on halftime persistent pressure yielded a Young Munster try from Alan Kennedy which Downes converted to make it 13-6 at the interval and straight from the restart he put over a penalty to make it 16-6.

Frawley landed a third Garryowen penalty.

Nine minutes from the end a try by Liam McMahon and converted by Frawley gave Garryowen a precious point.

Two Young Munster players, one in each half, and one from Garryowen were sin-binned in a teak-tough local derby.

Highfield 24 Sunday’s Well 11

Highfield made amends for last season’s league defeat by Sunday’s Well with a deserved win at Woodleigh Park in front of a large crowd.

Paddy O’Toole was man of the match for Highfield kicking four penalties and a conversion.

Highfield led 14-6 at half time with a try from James Daly and three penalties by O’Toole to two penalties from Eoin Geary for the ‘Well.

A try after the interval by Timmy Ryan converted by O’Toole extended the home side’s advantage but despite being reduced to 13 with two players in the sin bin the ‘Well responded with a try from Francis Moynihan.

O’Toole sealed the game for Highfield with a penalty on fifty three minutes but despite a strong finish by the ‘Well to earn a losing bonus point, Highfield held firm.

Fridays Results:

Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Clontarf 20, Old Belvedere 14;
Young Munster 16, Garryowen 16;

Division 2A: Cashel v Nenagh Ormond Off;

Division 2B: Highfield 24, Sunday's Well 11;

Division 2C: Wanderers 31, Boyne 13;