Munster bounced back from their defeat at Kingsholm last weekend with a convincing 35-14 win over Gloucester in Thomond Park. While Ulster lost to Leicester 49-7 at Welford Road.
Munster took four tries to guarantee them the bonus point, and they move to the top of the Pool 5 table following the powerful showing in front of a terrific home crowd.
Gloucester did take the first score of the game, through a Henry Paul penalty, but Munster soon took control and put their visitors under fierce pressure. The competition was always intense, and Gloucester hooker Chris Fortey was sin binned just 18 minutes into the game for deliberately killing the ball.
All the Munster pressure eventually paid off and Jim Williams' drive towards the line resulted in a Horan try. The score was originally credited to O'Callaghan, but later a correction was made giving Horan the credit. A Paul penalty returned Gloucester to the lead, but they didn't stay there for long when Frankie Sheahan made the second touchdown.
Paul, who was at his kicking best, edged his side back into contention with another penalty, but Horan took another try before the half had ended. O'Gara converted to push his side into a 19-9 lead at half time.Gloucester piled on the pressure early in the second half, and fullback Jon Goodridge beat Marcus Horan for pace and took a try in the 47th minute, but Gloucester hopes were dashed when Paul was deservedly sinbinned for cynical play. O'Gara hit over the resulting penalty and took another in eight minutes later to nudge his side into an eleven point lead.
And Munster weren't done yet, John Kelly took their fourth try of the evening to ensure the bonus point after a cunning break from Mike Mullins. O'Gara, who found his form as the game progressed, added on a final penalty with the last kick of the game, to the delight of fans all over Munster.
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It was a case of roll reversal as Leicester inflicted a 49-7 hammering on Ulster in their second Heineken Cup encounter. Leicester always looked in control and led 24-0 at the break, however they had had a wind advantage and Ulster fans were still hopeful at the restart. But those hopes were dashed inside 12 minutes when a Neil Back try and a Vesty conversion and penalty put them 41-0 ahead.
Ulster did managed to get on the scoreboard, but it was much too little and much too late. Topping went over and Humphreys converted from a difficult angle, but they never looked like clawing their way back into the match. Leicester added further insult to injury before the end when Martin Johnson, who announced his retirement from international rugby after the game, went over for the final try of the afternoon. The result means Leicester have kept their hopes of reaching the quarter finals alive, with two wins for everyone in Pool 1.
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