A dominant second half performance gave Munster a seven-try Guinness PRO14 victory over Southern Kings at a sold-out Irish Independent Park on Friday night.

Neil Cronin scored his first Munster try with Andrew Conway, Darren Sweetnam, Billy Holland, Rhys Marshall, Man of the Match Jean Kleyn and Rory Scannell also touching down in the bonus-point win.

Scannell kicked four conversions as Munster kept their place at the top of Conference A ahead of next Friday’s trip to Ospreys.

It was the Southern Kings who started the brighter with the South African visitors adapting to the difficult conditions well.

Kings made a number of line breaks early on with their impressive speed and handling to the fore but strong Munster defence eventually forced the knock-on.

When Munster did manage to get into the Kings half, they took advantage with a clinical first try after 13 minutes.

Scannell set up the field position with a penalty into the corner and although Chris Farrell was halted just short of the line, Cronin sniped over from close range.

Scannell converted and Munster led 7-0.

Munster were on top but it was scrappy enough with the hosts unable to turn pressure into points.

A yellow card for Southern Kings no.8 Ruaan Lerma for an infringement at the ruck gave Munster a man advantage on 34 minutes.

The province made it count with a second try through Conway with Tyler Bleyendaal giving the telling pass for the winger to skate through the stretched Kings defence.

Scannell’s conversion thudded off the post and out as Munster led 12-0 at the interval.

Munster improved in the second half and Sweetnam touched down the third try on 54 minutes.

The score came after a well-worked move with Mike Haley making good ground as Conway eventually chipped in behind the defence.

Alby Mathewson won the race but was hauled down for what would have been a penalty try but Sweetnam was on the spot to touch down.

Scannell drilled the touchline conversion over and Munster led 19-0.

The bonus-point was secured just after the hour following another concerted period of Munster pressure with Holland powering over for his fourth Munster try on his 204th appearance.

Munster were over for a fifth try on 66 minutes after a superbly executed rolling maul with Marshall touching down. Scannell’s conversion gave Munster a 31-0 lead.

Two yellow cards in quick succession for Tertius Kruger and Andisa Ntsila reduced the Kings to 13 men and Munster took advantage once again.

A well-taken short lineout from five metres out saw Kleyn score Munster’s sixth try with the big lock stretching to score in the right corner.

The wind carried Scannell’s conversion wide and the lead was 36-0 after 72 minutes.

Centre Scannell had the last word in the final play as he scooped up a loose ball and scored under the posts after the Kings looked to run the ball from deep.

His conversion made it 43-0 as Munster made it six wins in a row.

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell (Dan Goggin, 17), Rory Scannell, Darren Sweetnam; Tyler Bleyendaal (C) (JJ Hanrahan, 65), Neil Cronin (Alby Mathewson, 49); Jeremy Loughman (Liam O’Connor, 49), Niall Scannell (Rhys Marshall, 62), John Ryan (Stephen Archer, 62); Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (Darren O’Shea, 62); Fineen Wycherley, Chris Cloete, Arno Botha (Gavin Coombes, 68).

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Chris Farrell was replaced on 17 minutes as a precautionary measure after taking an early knock.

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