RONAN O’MAHONY’S 84TH minute try gave Munster a 16 – 10 victory over Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park.
Scarlets were reduced to 13 men for the final four minutes as Mike Poole’s dangerous tackle earned him a seat in the sin-bin alongside Rob Evans who walked for taking out Billy Holland in the air at a 74th minute line-out.
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With the clock gone red, and the gain-line only offering a long-range drop-goal chance the victory seemed unlikely, but a quick-thinking break from Duncan Williams brought Munster to the five-metre line.
From there, JJ Hanrahan – who also kicked 11 points for his side – showed excellent grace under pressure to step back and kick wide to the right wing where O’Mahony was able to take his time and touch the ball down after a bounce.
In a first half in which neither side could build much in the way of continuity both hooker Duncan Casey and tight-head BJ Botha were forced off after Hanrahan traded penalties with Aled Thomas to leave the scoreboard reading three points apiece.
Thomas lit up an otherwise drab game with a brilliant break moments into the second half to set up John Barclay who cruised under the posts.
Munster’s down-tempo Musgrave Park form continued for much of the second half, yet Hanrahan’s penalties brought them back to withing a single point of the Welsh province.
And when ill discipline got the better of Simon Easterby’s side and Nigel Owens’ Christmas cards came out, it was Munster’s for the taking.
Munster leave it late to overcome 13-man Scarlets
RONAN O’MAHONY’S 84TH minute try gave Munster a 16 – 10 victory over Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park.
Scarlets were reduced to 13 men for the final four minutes as Mike Poole’s dangerous tackle earned him a seat in the sin-bin alongside Rob Evans who walked for taking out Billy Holland in the air at a 74th minute line-out.
With the clock gone red, and the gain-line only offering a long-range drop-goal chance the victory seemed unlikely, but a quick-thinking break from Duncan Williams brought Munster to the five-metre line.
From there, JJ Hanrahan – who also kicked 11 points for his side – showed excellent grace under pressure to step back and kick wide to the right wing where O’Mahony was able to take his time and touch the ball down after a bounce.
In a first half in which neither side could build much in the way of continuity both hooker Duncan Casey and tight-head BJ Botha were forced off after Hanrahan traded penalties with Aled Thomas to leave the scoreboard reading three points apiece.
Thomas lit up an otherwise drab game with a brilliant break moments into the second half to set up John Barclay who cruised under the posts.
Munster’s down-tempo Musgrave Park form continued for much of the second half, yet Hanrahan’s penalties brought them back to withing a single point of the Welsh province.
And when ill discipline got the better of Simon Easterby’s side and Nigel Owens’ Christmas cards came out, it was Munster’s for the taking.
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