Munster hold off Ulster in Belfast
URC REPORT: Munster held off an Ulster fightback to pick up a 24-17 win in Belfast that lifts them above their opponents in the United Rugby Championship table.
First-half tries from Stephen Archer and Keith Earls, along with a conversion and four penalties by Joey Carbery over the course of the night, saw Munster to a valuable victory.
Ulster trailed 3-15 at the break and, despite battling back in the second half with tries from Rob Herring and Sean Reidy, they slipped from second to fourth in the table thanks to a third straight URC defeat, with Munster climbing to third.
John Cooney opened the scoring with a seventh-minute penalty, but Munster levelled it four minutes later through Carbery.
Munster then claimed the next score just after the 20-minute mark when the visitors put a penalty to the corner where, from an untidy line-out, prop Archer drove over from close range.
Carbery’s conversion put them 10-3 ahead and this became 15-3 on 27 minutes.
Munster moved the ball at pace from left to right, with Damian de Allende and Carbery combining for former Ulster centre Chris Farrell to provide the assist for Keith Earls to touch down. Carbery missed the conversion.
Though Ulster battled to get back into the game, with Robert Baloucoune looking dangerous and Cooney making some determined runs, they made no inroads on the scoreboard as the opening half ended with Munster maintaining momentum and staying 12 points in front.
Ulster skipper Iain Henderson did not return for the second half and Munster got the first score through a Carbery penalty.
Ulster were given hope on 47 minutes when a terrific take by Stuart McCloskey launched an attack which led to a penalty and, in turn, saw Herring touching down from the resulting maul. Cooney also converted to cut Munster’s lead to 18-10.
Carbery kicked his third penalty just short of the hour, but – with barely five minutes left on the clock – Reidy scored close in for Ulster after Shane Daly’s yellow card, and Nathan Doak’s conversion cut Munster’s lead to four.
However, with a minute to go, Carbery landed his fourth penalty to secure the contest.
Player of the match
Craig Casey put his hand up for the individual honour, with a lot of what was good about Munster passing through the scrum-half.
However, it was number eight Alex Kendellen who scooped the prize for his excellent overall showing in the Munster back row.
Play of the match
Munster's second try was a terrific move which came off a turnover secured by Archer.
Jean Kleyn and Jason Jenkins carried hard into the heart of the Ulster defence and the ball was then moved, with De Allende and Carbery handling before Farrell was put into space.
The scorers:
For Ulster:
Tries: Herring, Reidy
Cons: Cooney, Doak
Pen: Cooney
For Munster:
Tries: Archer, Earls
Con: Carbery
Pens: Carbery 4
Yellow card: Shane Daly (Munster, 73')
Teams:
Ulster: 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Ethan McIlroy, 10 Mike Lowry, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Matty Rea, 5 Iain Henderson (captain), 4 Alan O’Connor, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Andrew Warwick.
Replacements: 16 Brad Roberts, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Sam Carter, 20 Sean Reidy, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Ben Moxham.
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Chris Farrell, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Alex Kendellen, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman.
Replacements: 16 Scott Buckley, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 John Ryan, 19 Thomas Ahern, 20 Fineen Wycherley, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Chris Cloete.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Paul Haycock (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
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