Leinster gets revenge on Munster
MATCH REPORT: Leinster got one back over arch rivals Munster in the return United Rugby Championship fixture to emerge victorious by 13-8 at Thomond Park.
Both sides scored a try each, but two Harry Byrne penalties and a missed conversion by Jack Crowley proved to be the difference.
The hosts were outmuscled in the scrums but were tenacious on defence despite Leinster’s continuous onslaughts.
*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!
Munster conceded a sequence of penalties in the opening five minutes, which led to the opening try in the sixth minute by Josh van der Flier, converted by Harry Byrne.
The match went back and forth with both teams having opportunities to put points on the scoreboard, being inside the opposition’s 22, but couldn’t convert.
Munster had one final opportunity at the end of the first half with an attacking line-out, but the pass that led to the linebreak out wide was ruled to be forward, which brought an end to the opening stanza.
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Byrne slotted the first points of the second half with a penalty in the 53rd minute after a maul indiscretion by Jean Kleyn.
Munster hit back almost immediately after the restart with a penalty by Jack Crowley to get their first points of the match and back within a converted try.
Leinster restored their 10-point advantage through a Byrne penalty in the 58th minute after Munster were penalised for offside.
Munster finally broke Leinster’s line in the 69th minute through a Dan Kelly try after Leinster defended like Trojans to keep their arch rivals at bay.
The hosts had ample opportunities to clinch the match until deep into the referee’s time, but their own errors plus Leinster’s defence ensured a hard-fought victory in Limerick for the defending champions.
Scorers
For Munster:
Tries: Kelly
Pens: Crowley
For Leinster:
Tries: Van der Flier
Cons: Byrne
Pens: Byrne 2
Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Jack O’Donoghue, 6 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 5 Tom Ahern, 4 Edwin Edogbo, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Lee Barron, 1 Michael Milne.
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 John Ryan, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Fineen Wycherley, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Dan Kelly, 23 John Hodnett.
Leinster: 15 Ciarán Frawley, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Max Deegan, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Charlie Tector, 23 Andrew Osborne.
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Keane Davison (Ireland); Andrew Fogarty (Ireland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)
