Munster overcome the elements for bonus point win

Munster 25, Ospreys 0
Virgin Media Park, Cork

THE southern headquarters of Munster Rugby defied the elements as the home side achieved the required five pointer in Virgin Media Pafk tonight. Their performance was admirable and light years from last week’s defeat in Italy. Munster kicked off and within 14 seconds were in the lead, Shane McCarthy availing of the spill to record the quickest score in the URC so far. Crowley missed the difficult conversion but he made amends after eight minutes after that when he landed a penalty. On a night of many njuries the home side lost Oli Jager 13 minutes into the game and was replaced by Archer who picked up a yellow card late in the game. Next to rertire early was Peter O’Mahony but Munster finished off a good move with 27 minutes played that saw Tom Farrell touch down with Crowley missing the kick. Aided by the wind in the first half the home side went 18-0 to the good, Calvin Nash crashing over and Crowley once again failing with the kick,

It was alwas going to be difficult for Munster in the second half against the wind but they rose to the challenge, depriving the Ospreys with possible touch downs thanks to some heroic turnovers from captain Tadhg Beirne with the support of the pack. On 64 minutes the Reds put the game to bed when a well-worked attack resulted with Shane McCarthy sending Jack O’Donoghue charging to seal the bonus point. To their credit Ospreys fought to the end but it could have been a serious battle for Munster who piled up injuries that will hopefully overcome before the visit to Croke Park next Saturday.

Munster: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Bryan Fitzgerald, Shay McCarthy, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (CAPT), Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Jack O’Donoghue

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, Jack Daly

Ospreys: Max Nagy, Iestyn Hopkins, Owen Watkin, Phil Cokanasiga, Ryan Conbeer, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Steffan Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, Huw Sutton, Adam Beard, James Ratti, Jac Morgan (CAPT) Morgan Morris

Replacements: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Lewis Jones, Harri Deaves, Luke Davies, Jack Walsh, Keiran Williams

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