Munster Rugby score precious bonus point win over table toppers Glasgow Warriors in URC

MUNSTER RUGBY scored a crucial 40-29 bonus point win over table toppers Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park on Friday night.

In front of a sold-out attendance, URC champions Munster put on an excellent display of team rugby to score several memorable tries in a deserved victory. 

Number six Thomas Ahern was awarded the BKT Player of the Match after crossing for two tries during the entertaining contest.

Munster had multiple attacks in the opening minutes of play with Glasgow Warriors infringing on multiple occasions and the home side opting to kick to the corner each time.

This decision payed off as Munster were finally gifted a try underneath the post with a huge charging run from Edwin Edogbo and Jack Crowley adding the extra two points after eight minutes of play. 

Glasgow's prop Nathan McBeth was then shown a yellow card for the sides infringements at the breakdown. 

This propelled Munster on further with another cross-field kick from Crowley finding Thomas Ahern on the wing, who was taken out in the air, and still incredibly, managed to get across the line for their second try. Crowley was unable to convert the kick leaving Munster 12-0 ahead. 

Straight off the try re-start, Munster came right back at Glasgow and ran from deep through their backs finally ending in the hands of captain Diarmuid Barron who went over the white-wash and Crowley stepping up to add the conversion. 

After 26 minutes Glasgow got their only real attack of the opening half and made no mistake with the score with flanker Sione Vailanu dotting the ball over off a driving maul but Duncan Weir was unable to convert, leaving the score at 19-5. 

Munster maintained their pressure in attack with another fantastic team score going from one side-line to the other to send Ahern over for his second try of the night with Crowley adding the conversion keeping Munster 26-5 ahead at half-time. 

Glasgow got off to a quick start after the breaking with a driving maul finished by hooker Johnny Matthews but Weir was unable to convert. 

With the visiting side infringing once more, costing them their full-back to head to the bin, Munster made no mistake with their penalty from five meters out after the forwards made some space for Alex Nankivell to dive over the line and Crowley to add the spoils leaving them 33-10. 

Despite being down a man Glasgow managed to score another try, yet again off their driving maul from Rory Darge with Weir missing the conversion. 

Glasgow relied heavily on their driving maul and after 62 minutes of play Munster were charged with collapsing the maul gifting the visitors a penalty try. 

Munster replied immediately with a huge try off a tap and go penalty from John Hodnett with Crowley making no mistake with the conversion stretching the lead out to 40-22. 

In the dying minutes of the game Warriors got their fifth try of the game through Angus Fraser, converted by Weir finishing the scoreline with Munster winning 40-29. 

MUNSTER RUGBY: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (C), Stephen Archer; Edwin Edogbo, Tadhg Beirne; Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Scott Buckley (43 minutes), Oli Jager (50 mintutes), Dave Kilcoyne (50 minutes), Alex Kendellen (55 minutes), Conor Murray (60 minutes), Fineen Wycherley (60 minutes), Rory Scannell (69 minutes). 

GLASGOW WARRIORS: Josh McKay, Kyle Rowe, Sione Tuipulotu, Stafford McDowall (C), Ollie Smith, Duncan Weir, Sean Kennedy; Nathan McBeth, Johnny Matthews, Lucio Sordoni, Sintu Manjezi, Scott Cummings, Sione Vailanu, Rory Darge, Henco Venter. 

Replacements: Tom Jordan (38 minutes), Greg Peterson (49 minutes), Oli Kebble (49 minutes), Max Williamson (49 minutes), Ben Afshar (70 minutes), Angus Fraser (70 minutes), Thomas Gordon (75 minutes).