Munster 7s Through To Quarters

Earlier today, one loss, one draw and one bonus point victory against Canadian Maples, Samurai Invitational and San Francisco respectively was enough to secure Munster 7s a place in the quarter finals of the Limerick World Club 7s at Thomond Park tomorrow.

Munster go through as 8th seeds and will now play Daveta Fiji at 12.55pm tomorrow.

Game One: Munster 17-19 Canadian Maples

In their first Sevens outing since last season’s competition, rustiness and a lack of cohesion would cost Colm McMahon’s side in the opening round. Coupled with handling errors, Munster found themselves caught out in defence in wider channels as they struggled to match the pace of the more experienced Canadian Maples.

A break down the right wing and quick recycling as Maples worked the ball infield led to the tourist's opening try and the Canadians crossed again within 5 minutes – scoring off a tap-and-go penalty when Munster went off their feet in defence.

The tap-and-go would also work in Munster’s favour, getting them off the mark on the stroke of half time. Working the ball across the backline from left to right, a neat step and offload from Cian Aherne sent his Ireland Men’s 7s teammate Diarmaid McCarthy in for Munster’s opening try.

14-5 at the break.

The flanks we’re again exploited as Maples made better use of space, this time notching up a try on the left wing, however Munster’s second try – through strong running from Ollie Lyons and good support from Tomás Quinlan – kept the home side in touch, 19-10 with just minutes to go.

Munster rallied and registered the final score of the game with McCarthy again showcasing his pace on the wing before offloading to Steven McMahon who ran in under the posts.

Captain Alex Wotton kicked the conversion leaving Munster with a two point defeat, 17-19, with unforced errors costing Munster a potential opening round victory.

Munster 7s Game 1: Murray Linn (Lyons 7), Alex Wootton – capt., Niall Kenneally, Ryan Foley (Cullen 9), Tomas Quinlan (Bennie 9), Diarmaid McCarthy, Cian Aherne (McMahon 10)

Replacements: Frank Bradshaw Ryan, Steve McMahon, Jack Cullen, Ollie Lyons, Alan Bennie.


Game Two: Munster 19-19 Samurai Invitational

Learning from their opening round mistakes, Munster were a far more potent outfit in their second outing of the afternoon.

McCarthy’s rich vein of Sevens form continued and the winger displayed excellent footwork in getting Munster off the mark in the opening minute. Wootton added the conversion – the captain leading by example with an impressive work rate and good penetration in the wider channels.

Bunching in defence from McMahon’s men would let Samurai back into the game minutes later and when the invitational side chose to go wide, Munster had no answer down the left wing.

Samurai would have been in again were it not for a try saving tackle from Jack Cullen and with Munster winning back possession in their own 22, breaks from Cian Aherne and Wotton gave Munster a foothold deep in Samurai territory.

From there, the visitors looked to clear the Munster danger from a line-out but astute play from Olly Lyons saw him poach possession at set-piece and touch down to hand Munster five point cushion before half time.

12-7 at the interval.

End to end flowing ruby would take its toll on both sides with defences tiring. In the first instance, Samurai crossed in the right corner as the province struggled to get defensive numbers across, but their celebrations were short-lived as Aherne put on the afterburners in midfield and crossed for Munster’s third try – Ryan Foley slotting the extras.

Despite Munster’s much improved performance, Samurai would have the final say, registering the final try of the game and clinching a draw from the jaws of defeat, 19-19 the full time score.

Munster 7s Game Two: Ollie Lyons (Bradshaw Ryan 9), Alex Wootton – capt., Niall Kenneally (Linn 11), Jack Cullen (Foley 10), Alan Bennie, Diarmuid McCarthy (Aherne 4), Steve McMahon.

Replacements: Frank Bradshaw Ryan, Ryan Foley, Tomás Quinlan, Murray Linn, Cian Aherne.


Game Three: Munster 28-22 San Francisco

Munster’s final game saw them finish out their day on the most positive of notes, securing a bonus point win through four tries, the first of which came from Alan Bennie who capitalised on good work when Niall Kennelly straightened in breaking the American’s defensive line.

A tit for tat first half continued as both sides traded tries – Steve McMahon scoring his first try off a pick and go at close range before San Francisco finished out the half with a five point return down the left wing.

14-10 at the break.

Steve McMahon was to the fore again early in the second half, backing himself on the outside and then beautifully stepping inside the cover defence in touching down behind the posts.

San Francisco’s footwork was just as impressive in the midfield when they brought Munster’s advantage back to six with another try, but the province would strike again with superb offloading from Tomás Quinlan and subsequent support lines from Ollie Lyons and Bennie seeing the latter secure the bonus point try for Munster.

The tourists scored the final try of the game but Colm McMahon’s charges had done enough to finish out the day as 28-22 winners.

Munster 7s: Game 3: Ollie Lyons (Bradshaw Ryan 10), Alex Wootton – capt., Niall Kenneally, Alan Bennie (Linn 11), Tomás Quinlan (Foley 11), Steven McMahon (Dwyer 9), Cian Aherne.

Replacements: Frank Bradshaw Ryan, Diarmaid McCarthy, Ryan Foley, Sonny Dwyer, Murray Linn.