Celtic League Round-Up

Both Leinster and Munster’s games went right down to the wire, in the Celtic League
on Friday evening. Munster lost 29-25 to the Celtic Warriors and Leinster beat
Glasgow 31-30.

Celtic Warriors 29-25 Munster:

Munster opened the scoring on three minutes through a Jason Holland penalty.
The first try arrived soon after, as Holland crashed over after combining with
Mike Mullins, and the out-half converted for a 10-point lead. Paul O’Connell
was held up minutes later, as Munster pressed for a second touch-down.

From a penalty and line-out, prop Gethin Jenkins was driven over for the hosts,
before Sweeney converted. The scrum-half then kicked a penalty, to level matters.

On the half-hour, a lovely midfield break by Mullins saw Anthony Horgan score
on the left. Holland just missed the difficult conversion, allowing the hosts
to lead at the break after successive penalties from Sweeney. After chances
at both ends early in the second period, another Mullins break allowed Christian
Cullen to grab a try. This time, Holland converted with ease, before hitting
a penalty on the hour.But the Warriors came roaring back, as Richard Bryan drove
over. Sweeney’s conversion had the Welsh side within two.

With time running out, a great burst from Warriors forwards and backs saw a
penalty awarded, and Sweeney sent the home side ahead. The scrum half still
had time to kick through the posts one last time.

Full details at: www.munsterrugby.ie

Leinster 31-30 Glasgow:

Brian O’Meara kicked the opening points for Leinster with a penalty, before
Glenn Metcalfe had the visitors ahead. The full-back chipped ahead and after
a fortunate touch off Felipe Contepomi, he touched down.

Parks converted and after O’Meara had kicked a second penalty, Glasgow scored
another try, as hooker Gordon Bulloch barged over. Parks was again on target
with the extra points.

The hosts, however, hit back when a quick O’Meara tap allowed Ben Gissing to
go over in the left corner, before O’Meara converted. And Leinster were 18-14
up at the interval after James Norton had scored – his third try in two games.
Parks scored 10 points early in the second half. A penalty was followed by a
touch-down after good work from skipper Jon Petrie, before a successful conversion.

A converted try had Leinster back ahead though, as replacement James Downey
benefited from an inside flick by Gary Brown. O’Meara and Parks exchanged penalties
in the closing 10 minutes, but with the pressure on and just a single point
between the sides, the Glasgow kicker couldn’t deliver when it mattered most.

Full details at: www.leinsterrugby.ie