A last-minute Arno Botha secured the bonus-point win for Munster after a convincing second-half performance saw the province edge past Ospreys at Irish Independent Park on Friday night.

The victory saw Munster make it three bonus-point wins in four Guinness PRO14 games.

Munster led 7-6 at the break thanks to James Cronin’s converted try with the game in the balance but Rhys Marshall, Man of the Match Mike Haley and Botha touched down in the second half for a hard-fought win.

Ospreys proved difficult opponents and were a threat at the breakdown throughout. The visitors were also very strong in the set-piece, particularly the scrum.

Neither side were able to build much momentum in the opening quarter but it was Munster who hit the front with the first quality attack.

Haley made the initial break down the right wing before releasing Dan Goggin to make further ground with his superb floated pass inside allowed Cronin to power over after 16 minutes with Bleyendaal adding the extras.

Two Luke Price penalties in the final ten minutes of the half reduced the deficit to a single point. A Munster rolling maul was well halted by Ospreys late in the half as the hosts led 7-6.

Sam Cross was sin-binned straight after the break for cynical play as Neil Cronin looked to move the ball under the shadow of the posts. Marshall took the quick tap and hammered past the Ospreys defence for the second try on 43 minutes with Bleyendaal making it 14-6.

14-man Ospreys hit back when Munster were pinged for taking down a rolling maul and Price again made no mistake with his third penalty.

Haley put Munster back in control with the province’s third try on 50 minutes after excellent link play from Billy Holland in the middle of the field and Goggin provided the telling pass with the full-back dashing through the defence superbly to score.

Bleyendaal’s conversion glanced the post on its way over for Munster to lead 21-9.

Ospreys were back to 15 shortly after and a Tommy O’Donnell high tackle allowed Price to kick his fourth penalty and keep Ospreys in the hunt with just over 20 minutes to play, 21-12.

As the clock ticked down, the bonus point fourth try didn’t look likely but Munster came up trumps at the death as the pack drove forward in the maul before Botha pounced for the crucial fourth try.

Guinness PRO14 Round 4 Round-Up

Mike Haley was awarded Man of the Match.

Munster Academy no.8 Jack O’Sullivan and Jed Holloway made their first Guinness PRO14 starts.

James Cronin made his first PRO14 start since November after recently returning from injury.

Sammy Arnold and Craig Casey made their first appearances of the season.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Dan Goggin (Sammy Arnold, 74), Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Tyler Bleyendaal (JJ Hanrahan, 59), Neil Cronin (Craig Casey, 68); James Cronin (Liam O’Connor, 56), Rhys Marshall (Kevin O’Byrne, 60), Stephen Archer (Jeremy Loughman, 68); Jed Holloway (Fineen Wycherley, 53), Billy Holland (C); Jack O’Donoghue, Tommy O’Donnell, Jack O’Sullivan (Arno Botha, 58).

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