Munster A have recorded an opening round victory in the 2014/15 British & Irish Cup, defeating Moseley 27-21 at Clonmel RFC this afternoon.
With tries from Ronan O’Mahony and Paddy Bulter, together with 5 penalties and one conversion from the boot of Rory Scannell, Munster ground out a hard fought win against the English Championship side.
Moseley for their part persistently tested the Munster defence and scored two tries in the process, the first of which levelled the scores early in the second half, however Munster A held their composure with the defence holding firm when it mattered most.
It was the hosts who started the stronger, making territory from each collision and driving Moseley backwards. The visitor’s opening problems were compounded when a beautifully weighted kick from Scannell bounced favourably for O’Mahony who touched down on the left wing just shy of the 2 minute mark. Scannell was just wide for the extras.
Munster continued to make good ground and could have been in again minutes later when a break from Dan Goggin in the centre saw Stephen Fitzgerald beautifully flick the ball out to O’Mahony who knocked on while attempting to gather.
However Moseley soon started to find their stride and lapses in the Munster defence allowed the visitors to make easy yardage. Yet despite the initial breaks, Mosely rarely made their way into the Munster 22 with the hosts recovering well and managing to get back in numbers.
Lateral play across the backline from the Englishmen also allowed Munster to neutralise the threat by bundling them into touch.
When Mick O’Driscoll’s men infringed at the breakdown on 10 minutes, Samuel Olver was on hand to get Moseley off the mark with a kick straight in front of the posts.
Munster A and Moseley then traded penalties from the boot of Scannell and Olver respectively but undoubtedly the kick of the game went to the Munster A out-half – landing a penalty from the half way line on 40 minutes and giving the hosts a 5 point cushion at the interval.
11 – 6 at the break.
Moseley emerged a different side upon the resumption and dominated Munster A for the opening 10 minutes of the second half, holding on to most of the possession and forcing Munster to cough up two consecutive penalties in that time.
Although the penalties were in kickable position, Moseley, sensing they had their hosts on the back foot, kicked to touch each time. Munster secured turnover ball on the first attempt but Moseley would not make the same mistake twice.
From a line out deep in the Munster 22, the visitors kept it tight and sniped around the fringes with Adam Caves touching down after a couple of phases. Olver’s miss with the conversion left the sides all square on 11 points after 47 minutes.
However Moseley were unable to capitalise on their new found momentum, instead handing the advantage straight back to the Munster men. Cynical play which sent Stefan Thorp to the sin bin together with a separate offside offence presented the hosts with two kickable penalties within the next 10 minutes, both of which the
impressive Scannell slotted between the posts.
A scrappy period of play from both sides again saw Olver and Scannell trade penalties before Paddy Butler dealt Moseley a killer blow – from an attacking lineout deep in the visitors 22, Munster A went thought the phases with Butler using his significant bulk and power to barge though the defensive line and touch down on 78 minutes. Scannell made it a full 7 point return with his sixth successful placekick of the game.
That said, Moseley would have the final say of the game when a late surge put Munster on the back foot, defending on their own line. The pressure eventually told when replacement out half Caolan Ryan touched down from a pick and go at close range.
Ryan was also on hand to add the extras and that was to be the final action of the game with Munster A winning out 27-21 t Clonmel RFC.
Munster A now travel to Sixways to play Worcester Warriors in Pool 3 of the B&I Cup next Saturday at 3pm.
