Ospreys played all the rugby but Munster took the points

(Back-row John Hodnett had a fine game tonight for Munster)

Ospreys 17, Munster 27

MUNSTER skipper Alex Kendellen got it right at the end of tonight’s URC game when he said that the most important thing was to come away with the five points. It was hard-earned and one had to hand it up to the Ospreys for the manner in which they never stopped trying to penetrate a rock hard Munster defence. The key score came after 54 minutes when RG Snyman used his bulk and arm length to touch down six minutes after the Welsh side had cut the lead to seven points. Carbery’s conversions rebounded off the upright but he nailed a penalty nine mintes later that put the game beyond the home side.

Luck was on Munster’s side in the opening half. They scored a well-worked seven pointer three minutes after the kick-off, Carbery feeding Haley and, playing his 100th game for the province, his pass was well timed to send Shane Daly over. Carbery kicked the conversion. Four minutes later Sean O’Brien intercepted far out and raced over but Joey Carbery was wide with the conversion. On 17 minutes minutes Munster led 0-19 when Sean O’Brien scored a second try, availing of a lucky bounce to ground the ball and this time Carbery was on target. The Ospreys showed tremendous determination but the rock-like Munster defence repelled the Welsh but after a series of pressure winger Keelan Giles got over to reduce the lead to 5-19. Eight minutes into the second half there were just seven points between the sides thanks to a forwards try, Sam Parry grounding the ball over the line and out-half Owen William Owens kick the conversion.

That score raised Munster’s determination and in tyipical fashion RG Snyman got the bonus point try. The Ospreys never gave up and they got another try with six minutes remaining when Alex Cuthbert breached the visitors’ defence.

Ospreys: Iestyn Hopkins, Alex Cuthbert, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, James Ratti, Rhys Davies, Jeandre Rudolph, Justin Tipuric (c), Morgan Morris
Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Garyn Phillips, Rhys Henry, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Cameron Jones, Jack Walsh, Owen Watkin
Munster: Mike Haley, Seán O’Brien, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly, Joey Carbery, Craig Casey, Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Tom Ahern, RG Snyman, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen (c), Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy.

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