James Wallace, with Dylan Davis in support, fields a Waterford City tackle during Carrick-on-Suir’s 14-11 win at Tybroughney on Sunday.
As usual, Carrick-on-Suir and Waterford City served up a closely fought encounter at Tybroughney last Sunday as the Munster Junior League Division Three (Section B) got underway.
And it was the hosts who came out the better side of the 14-11 final score, much to the satisfaction and relief of the hosts.
Carrick, who will be anxious to improve on last season’s effort, when a couple of below-par displays in an otherwise positive campaign denied them promotion, needed to get off to a good start.
For their part, Waterford City, who, like Carrick, have made enormous strides in developing their facilities, player base and juvenile structure, at least came away with a losing bonus point.
But this didn’t prove the case for Dungarvan, who went down 20-0 to Fermoy on home soil, while in the Glen of Aherlow, Galbally recorded an 11-3 win over Douglas.
Carrick and City provided the watching support with a nip and tuck battle throughout, with just two points separating the sides at the break.
Dylan Davis, the New Zealand forward who has just begun his second spell in Carrick, touched down for the only try of the first half to give the hosts the edge.
It was of little surprise that the second half proved similarly tight, but when penalty opportunities came Carrick’s way, they were availed of via the boots of James Wallace and Ross Clery.
But City didn’t cave in and rallied with a try and conversion of their own to level matters as the game entered its final moments.
Just when it appeared that the visitors’ resolve had ensured a share of the spoils, a late, late penalty award went the way of the Tybroughney boys.
And Ross Clery stepped up to kick a match-winning three-pointer to the delight of Carrick and the Kilbarry side’s despair.
Next round of fixtures (October 26th, 2.30pm):
Fermoy v Carrick-on-Suir
Waterford City v Galbally
Douglas v Dungarvan
