Munster fightback downs Dragons
MATCH REPORT: Flyhalf Tony Butler kicked Munster to a 22-20 victory over the Dragons as they fought back from a 13-point deficit to climb into third place in the United Rugby Championship table.
Fullback Angus O’Brien put the visitors ahead with an 11th-minute penalty, and they were 10-0 in front when hooker Brodie Coghlan touched down and O’Brien duly obliged with the conversion.
Their charge might have been dented by Harry Beddall’s yellow card, but the Dragons were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage, and the flanker was back on the pitch by the time O’Brien landed a second penalty to make it 13-0.
However, No.8 Brian Gleeson’s try and a Butler conversion meant the Irish side trailed by just six points at the break.
Winger Dai Richards’ try and an O’Brien conversion eased the visitors 20-7 ahead, but replacement loose forward Gavin Coombes’ quickfire double, the second of which was converted by Butler, dragged the hosts back to within a point.
Butler’s penalty edged his side 22-20 in front with five minutes remaining, and they managed to defend their lead to the whistle.
Scorers
For Munster:
Tries: Gleeson, Coombes 2
Cons: Butler 2
Pen: Butler
For Dragons:
Tries: Coghlan, Richards,
Cons: O’Brien 2
Pens: O’Brien 2
Yellow card: Harry Beddall (Dragons, 18′)
Teams:
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Shane Daly, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Ethan Coughlan, 8 Brian Gleeson, 7 Ruadhán Quinn, 6 Seán Edogbo, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron (captain), 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Evan O’Connell, 20 Gavin Coombes, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Diarmuid Kilgallen
Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien, 14 David Richards, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Che Hope, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Harry Beddall, 6 Harri Keddie, 5 Ben Carter, 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Oli Burrows, 17 Jordan Morris, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Harri Ackerman, 23 Cai Evans
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Dan Carson (Ireland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
