Munster stormed to a convincing victory against the Dragons in Newport this evening.
They reached a bonus point before half time, with the Welsh side leaving 31 unanswered points. Tries in the first 40 came from Diarmuid Kilgallen, Alex Kendellen, Ben O’Connor and Dian Bleuler, along with a penalty try.
The second half saw Dragons come out much the same way Munster did in the first, with Chris Coleman diving over in the first couple of minutes. They got a further two from Harry Wilson & Dane Blacker to claw back 19 points. John Hodnett scored Munster’s only try of the second half.
Next up Munster will take on Scarlets at Thomond Park on Saturday, February 15, 5.15pm. Tickets are available here.
Munster started with explosive pace and high tempo with a try in the first five minutes. Tom Ahern galloped down the left wing before Diarmuid Kilgallen got the first score of the game with his superb finish. The conversion was wide, but the visitors got themselves off to an almost perfect start, 0-5.
Jack O’Donoghue stormed 20 metres down the midfield to put Munster within striking distance. Gavin Coombes looked to be down for try number two, but the TMO confirmed he came up just short.
Beautiful link up play and consistent line breaks led to two Munster tries in quick succession. Alex Kendellen got his first try of the season and Billy Burns slotted the conversion putting the visitors ahead by 12 points. Ben O’Connor got the third try of the evening just two minutes later on his first Munster start. Burns added the two points from the tee 0-19.
A high tackle on Shane Daly led to a penalty try for Munster’s 4th in the first quarter, with the Dragons out-half Lloyd Evans sent to the sinbin, 0-26.
Dian Bleuler dived over for another at 33 minutes with Tony Butler’s conversion just missing the posts. The Munstermen led by 31 points at half-time.
Dragons got the second half underway with gusto and scored in the first minute with tight head prop Chris Coleman getting over. The conversion went wide however, 5-31.
Another Munster try went to the TMO, but John Hodnett’s effort from the maul after just coming on from the bench was successful. Butler kicked a difficult conversion to make the score 5-38.
Academy hooker Danny Sheahan came on at 65 minutes to make his Munster debut before Dragons gathered some attacking momentum. Recent signing Harry Wilson got over the line to make it a second for the home side, the conversion was good, 12-38.
The Dragons got their third and final in the last ten minutes, as Dane Blacker went over just left of the posts.
Munster left Newport with six tries and a bonus point win.
Munster: Ben O’Connor; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell (Tony Butler ‘24), Rory Scannell, Shane Daly (Paddy Patterson ’50); Billy Burns (Brian Gleeson ’56), Ethan Coughlan (Danny Sheahan ’64); Dian Bleuler (Kieran Ryan ’67), Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager (John Ryan ’40); Fineen Wycherley (Evan O’Connell ’60), Tom Ahern; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Alex Kendellen (John Hodnett ’51), Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Danny Sheahan, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Evan O’Connell, Brian Gleeson, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, John Hodnett.
URC Round 10 Round-Up
Munster scored six tries and earned a bonus point.
Ben O’Connor made his first Munster start.
Danny Sheahan made his senior Munster debut from the bench.
Gavin Coombes was awarded the Player of the Match.
