Farrell to miss early season

Leinster and Blackrock's Emmet Farrell will be out of the game for a number of months but should play again before the end of the season. Farrell sustained a serious knee ligament injury in Leinster's warm up match against English side Saracens on Friday night at Vicarage Road.

The outhalf made a tackle, then got up to make another but fell awkwardly. In the process his kneecap popped out and went back in but in the event ligaments were damaged. He will undergo an MRI scan today to find out the extent of the injury.

Full back Peter McKenna was another casualty in the 29-16 defeat when he strained ligaments in his right knee. The St Mary's player will miss Leinster's two remaining warm up games this week against Brigend and Swansea and will be sidelined for a couple of weeks.

The match was lost in the first 30 minute spell when Saracens, who begin their season next Saturday, took a 26-3 lead. The runout was played over three sessions with Leinster finally pulling back to 29-16.

Munster also lost their first run out of the season to Gloucester at Thomond Park. Not expecting a lot form the match because of a number of unavailable players, Munster went down 15-31, having at one stage trailed 26-3.

In contrast Ulster had a handy 64-0 win over Coventry as winger James Topping cruised in for a hat trick of tries. Ulster scored ten tries in total as they swamped the English side. A delighted coach Harry Williams was also relieved that his side sustained no serious injuries.

Tyrone Howe scored two tries with other scores coming from Sheldon Coulter, Shane Stewart, Tony McWhirter and captain David Humphries. Humphries also kicked six conversions.

Connacht hopes were killed off by two tries midway through the second half of their match against Bedford at Goldington Road. In a close match the normally reliable kicking from Eric Elwood was out of sorts while his opposite number James Shanaghan took most of what came his way.

Number eight Michael Swift forced the first significant score of the game with an unconverted try in the 17th minute before Bedford replied with a try and drop goal for a 13-5 lead at the break.

Elwood closed the scores with a kick before the two mid half tries saw Bedford steam ahead. Consolation scores came late in the match from flanker Johnny O'Connor and Jimmy Screene.

Weekend Friendlies: Munster 15, Gloucester 31; Saracens 29, Leinster 16; Coventry 0, Ulster 64; Bedford 30, Connacht 20.