Munster wins by a single point to stay top of the Magners League
Munster managed to overcome the Scarlets 27-26 during their Magners League match at Musgrave Park on Sunday.
Both sides were missing a large number of their international contingent and the two teams were forced to field a number of unfamiliar names.
Paul Warwick, Sam Tuitupou and Barry Murphy scored the Munster tries, while Warwick added the conversions and knocked over two penalties.
Scarlets ran Munster close, but despite scoring two tries of their own from through captain Jonathan Edwards, they were unable to beat the league leaders.
The Scarlets dominated the early proceedings and they should have fully capitalised on the possession and territory they had.
Rhys Priestland missed two penalties early on, as Munster tried to slow the ball in the break down to stop a rampant Scarlets side. Ben Morgan had a try ruled out, when a ball came loose in a ruck, but the Welsh side were penalised for not staying on their
feet in the ruck.
The Scarlets' pressure did pay off and they opened the scoring with a Priestland penalty, after Munster were penalised once again for putting hands in the ruck and slowing the ball down.
However, Munster weathered the storm and a yellow card to Scarlets scrum-half Martin Roberts for a late challenge on Denis Hurley gave Munster the initiative.
Warwick brought the sides level when he converted a penalty, and he added a second penalty after the Scarlets were penalised with Munster threatening their line. Priestland replied and made the score 6-6 when Edwards was taken out in the air.
Both teams seemed nervous, but Munster managed to score a try through out-half Paul Warwick after he took advantage of some good work by the Munster pack to score under the posts.
However, the Scarlets reply was immediate and a break by Priestland allowed the out-half to whip a pass to Edwards, who had enough pace to reach the line to bring the two teams in 13-13 at half-time.
The signs looked ominous for Munster in the second half when Peter O’Mahony was sin-binned for coming into a maul on the wrong side. Priestland scored a penalty from the infringement to give the Scarlets a three point lead.
Yet, it was Munster who rallied and dominated with O’Mahony off the field. Tuitupou showed great power to go over under the posts, and shortly after, Murphy added a third try as he found a gap in the Scarlets defence to give Munster a 27-16 lead.
Edwards gave the Scarlets some hope on the hour and Roberts’ delayed pass allowed the forward to score.
Priestland scored another penalty after Munster flanker Niall Ronan was penalised, but they could not snatch a victory as Munster hung on.
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