Munster get Heineken Cup Campaign back on track

With a convincing win over Perpignan at Thomond Park, Munster notch up the first win in their Heineken Cup Campaign.

The conditions were ideal for the clash between Munster and French side, Perpignan, today at Thomond Park. The capacity crowd was not to be disappointed with Munster winning out on a margin of 30 to 21.

Ronan O’ Gara opened the scoring with a penalty, which was soon negated by a try from Nicholas Couttet. Bellot converted to make it 3-7. It took Munster six minutes to reply with a John Kelly try, which O Gara converted bringing the score to 10-7.

Munster continued to dominate in the next few minutes with another Kelly try, again converted by O’ Gara giving Munster a convincing lead of 17 – 7. Before long, Perpignan had reduced the deficit to 17-14 with a Manuel Edmonds try, converted by Bellot.

The first yellow card of the game was issued to Renaud Peillard on the stroke of half time. The teams went in with Munster leading 17 – 14.

O Gara opened the scoring again in the second half with an eighth minute penalty lengthening Munsters lead to 20-14. Soon afterwards, John Daniell got the second yellow of the game and Perpignan were down to 14 men. Munster capitalised on this, with John Hayes going over. O Gara was on song with another conversion making it 27 – 14. He seemed to seal the winning margin with another penalty bringing it to 30 -14. However, 14 minutes later, substitute Nicolas Laharrague went over, giving Perpignan a lifeline. Manues Edmonds converted making it 30-21.

There was no time left for the French side. At the final whistle the score stood, Munster 30, Perpignan 21.