ONE way to prepare for a crunch match with Young Munster is to get a win over Garryowen under your belt first. That is precisely what Old Wesley did on Saturday and, although some of their more fragile supporters were in danger of being carted off to the coronary unit towards the end, they were convincing winners nonetheless.

For Garryowen it was a day of frustration. Their forwards won plentiful supply of the ball but their midfield attack could never really break though the solid Wesley cover.

Dave Bursey, Chris Pim and Greg Duffy were causing Garryowen serious problems in all facets of the game but Garryowen's pride surfaced later in the game when their back row began to function properly.

Garryowen started well and after Mitchell had pushed a Wesley penalty wide, they took the lead in the fourth minute when they ran the ball wide and Pierre McNamara dashed over for the try after good work by Paul Spain and Jack Clarke.

Wesley were soon back on terms, however, when they set up a similar move and Rob Casey got the touch down. Mitchell hit the post with the kick. However, he was successful with a penalty kick five minutes later and Wesley now really got into their stride when John Kennefick, Michael Higginson, Adrian Hawe combined to feed Colin Younger to go over. Hawe pushed the kick wide.

Just on the half hour Garryowen exerted considerable forward pressure and Wesley conceded a penalty. Everett was wide of the posts with a reasonably easy kick. Garryowen came back for more but again Everett was wide again.

Garryowen now swarmed toward the Wesley line and forced a series of scrums but poor handling allowed Wesley to hack the ball clear and launched their own attack at the other end and Kennefick dashed over and Mitchell converted to leave Wesley ahead by 20-5 at the break.

Garryowen's hopes were not helped by the fact they lost Leahy to injury at half-time but their hopes were raised when Killian Keane kicked a penalty and Cronin began to win a plentiful supply of the ball in the lineout. Wesley might have got a try when a huge relieving kick by Conor Hoey had Garryowen in trouble but they scrambled the ball away.

Hoey then broke up another Garryowen attack and chipped ahead but Garrowen counter-attacked for Crotty to stretch the Wesley cover as Garrowen raised the temperature of the game. After fierce pressure Garryowen finally broke through but it was not by the orthodox method as it was the hooker Pat Humphreys who got over. Keane failed with the conversion.

Garryowen now had their tails up and a move involving Everett, Keane and Clarke, saw McNamara going over for his second try to narrow the gap to a mere two points at 20-18.

Wesley hearts were being stretched now but the players responded well and a dropped goal by Hawe, who had broken up numerous Garryowen efforts throughout the day, partly relieved the tension before Greg Duffy wrapped it up with a try just before the end.