Munster win a close encounter against Warriors – Magners League
So far the toughest match of the Magners League and the best rugby witnessed so far this season was between Munster and Glasgow Warriors.
Munster strengthened their standing at the top of the Magners League table with a well deserved and hard earned win of 22-20 over Glasgow Warriors who went off the field with a bonus point.
The away team was leading with 10-3 at half time with the help of a try from Colin Gregor and five points coming off from Ruaridh Jackson’s boots. O’Gara struck passed four penalties beyond the posts in the second half of the game, while David Wallace executed
a perfect try which was converted by O’Gara. Later on DTH van der Merwe scored a try converted by Gregor and Jackson scored a neat drop goal.
Jackson awarded Glasgow a decent start with a 7th minute penalty. O’Gara responded to this with a penalty four minute later in to the game, when Richie Gray made no effort to roll away after a tackle. Second row Gray was yellow carded for this
serious offence.
Jackson went off target with his next kicking attempt at the posts, twisting an effort wide off in 23rd minute of the game. Munster had the home advantage and was enjoying the territorial benefit but was not able to infringe the obstinate Warriors’
defense. The Warriors had Munster under threat when Gregor touched down, after Max Evans went on dashing sprint in the 36th minute and gesticulated a couple of challenging tackles by Munster, prior to providing the pass for scrum half to score.
Jackson contributed two points with the conversion later on. In the dying moments of first half, Keith Earls was yellow carded for his offence in the centre. O’Gara shrank the home side’s deficit with a penalty two minutes after the first half. Four minutes
late, O’Gara followed it up with another kick at the posts.
Munster was ahead the visitors yet again when Ireland’s fly half scored another penalty. The match was going neck to neck and the teams were demonstrating superb defense and a challenging attack. In 60th minute, Wallace went over the opposition’s
side for another try after a strong push from Munster forwards. O’Gara made full use of the conversion and kicked it over the posts to bring Munster to a nine point advantage. Glasgow Warriors replied ardently when Jackson made a breakthrough run and passed
Van der Merwe, who ran for the try. Gregor contributed to the conversion in this successful effort.
Glasgow Warriors got a one point lead after Jackson scored a drop goal but then Munster were all over the Scottish territory and shook the opposition’s defense. Bernardo Stortoni was sin binned for deliberately knocking on Mick O’Driscoll. It appeared to
be a try scoring effort that was harshly negated by Stortoni. O’Gara scored another penalty to give Munster a two point lead. With only five minutes left in the game, tension was increasing and the heat was rising on the pitch.
A late effort by Jackson wasn’t accurate and the drop kick went off the posts, giving Warriors a losing bonus point.
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