Munster sees off Harlequins in game of cards
EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Munster scored two second-half tries to secure a 21-7 Champions Cup win over Harlequins and get their European campaign off to the perfect start.
A penalty try as well as a late score from Gavin Coombes was enough for the Irish province, with both sides struggling in tricky conditions at Thomond Park.
The first half was an attritional affair, with the first points coming on 15 minutes after penalty advantage was being played for Munster, but came to nothing so JJ Hanrahan would sweep over the first three-pointer.
Harlequins did have chances to level and even take the lead from the kicking tee, but Marcus Smith nudged both efforts wide left of the posts.
After them missed efforts, Munster instead went six ahead after a Hanrahan kick was swinging towards the right-hand post but just ducked inside.
That was how the score looked at the break, but Munster soon edged further clear and grabbed the first try.
* As it happened. To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!
It was from a driving maul heading for the try line that was brought down illegally by Will Evans, who headed to the sin bin as a result.
Harlequins would not lie down and moved back within six points on 57 minutes, after a fantastic pass from Danny Care out wide to Cadan Murley allowed the wing to swivel past Andrew Conway and manage to dot down, with the conversion landed by Smith.
Ben Healy kicked a long-range effort to put Munster nine ahead before the Irish province sealed the deal with eight minutes to play.
Back-row Gavin Coombes claimed the score after a bruising driving maul and a powerful leg drive that saw the points stay in Limerick.
Munster travel to ASM Clermont Auvergne in Round 2, while Harlequins host Racing 92.
The scorers
For Munster
Tries: Coombes, Penalty try
Con: Penalty try does not require a conversion
Pens: Hanrahan 2, Healy
For Harlequins
Try: Murley
Con: Smith
Yellow cards: James Chisholm (Harlequins, 38), Stephen Archer (Munster, 46), Will Evans (Harlequins, 49), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 61)
Teams
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Chris Farrell, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Keith Earls, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 6 Gavin Coombes, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Kevin O’Byrne, 1 James Cronin.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 John Ryan, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Jack O’Donoghue, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Rory Scannell.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Nathan Earle, 13 Luke Northmore, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 Will Evans, 6 James Chisholm, 5 Glen Young, 4 Hugh Tizard, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Elia Elia, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Fin Baxter, 19 Richard DeCarpentier, 20 Tom Lawday, 21 Scott Steele, 22 James Lang, 23 Ross Chisholm.
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland), Paul Haycock (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Source: @ChampionsCup