Munster Schools Tour Report

Going behind by two penalties early on, Munster Schools had to keep creating to produce a score to deal with a physically imposing Bath Academy side.

Friday, 17th October 2003:

Bath Academy U19s 13 Munster Schools 19

Going behind by two penalties early on, Munster Schools had to keep creating to produce a score to deal with a physically imposing Bath Academy side. It came after 22 minutes when full back Evan Ryan scored a try, converted by Tom Gleeson. Nine minutes later, another try came from excellent closing down of the Bath defence with a second try from Duncan Williams, scrumhalf. Munster Schools was developing a rhythm and led at half time 12 points to 6.

The second half produced varied and attacking play from Munster, going over the line twice and either being held up or having the ball knocked on at the last minutes. Two other promising try scoring opportunities had the final pass going amiss. Munster continued to press when five minutes from the end, a Bath centre made an intercept and ran three quarters of the field to score under the posts. Bath now led 13 points to 12.

The side had to dig deep. With determination, Munster continued their attacking style and led to a most memorable try from the Bath ten metre when winger, Jonathan Shortt ran the distance evading defenders to score the impact try, iced as it was by the conversion from Tom Gleeson. Final score 19 points to 13 for the Munster men.

Munster: E. Ryan, P. Shallow, T. Gleeson, A. Kelleher, J. Shortt, C. Doyle, D. Williams, R. Hasson, S. Cronin, L. Casey, B. Holland, F. Walsh, M. Essex (Captain), B. O’Mahony, D. Sherry.

Replacements: J. Philpott for L. Casey

Sunday, 19th October 2003:

Gloucestershire Schools 13 Munster Schools 25

Against a determined Gloucester side, Munster went behind to a well earned try midway through the first half. Five minutes later, Munster responded with a power try from the forwards scored by prop, Liam Casey to level the score at 5 apiece. Minutes later, full back, Michael South added a penalty to make it 8 points to 5 in Munster’s favour. On thirty minutes, winger, Peter Shallow scored a well worked t ry up the wing to leave the half time score, 13 points to 5.

Gloucester piled on the pressure and were it not for some errors would have scored more in the second half. The Munster defence was under a lot of pressure. Ten minutes into the second half, Gloucester scored a penalty and four minutes later, another try to level the match. With the score 13 points each, the match was wide open. Gloucester persisted with a dynamic forward attack.

With about seven minutes to go, captain David Daly made an intercept to run three quarters of the pitch to score the breakthrough try and leave the score 18-13. A further attack from Munster at the end, led to a well taken try by winter, Frank Daly, converted by Michael South, to leave Munster winners by 25 points to 13.

Munster: M. South, F. Daly, G. Blower, E. Ryan, J. Shortt, T. Barry, T. Cahill, J. Philpott, P. Doyle, L. Casey, B. Holland, O. Keely, D.Gardiner, D. Daly (Captain), K. Roche.

Replacements: A. Kelleher, P. Shallow, D. Williams, T. Gleeson, U. Foley, R. Hasson, F. Walsh, D. Sherry.