Celtic League: Munster Run Scuppered by Scarlets

Despite edging 17-15 in front through an Alan Quinlan try, Munster lost their ten-game unbeaten Celtic League run to the Llanelli Scarlets on Saturday, going down 32-17 at Stradey Park.

Celtic League: Saturday, January 29
Llanelli Scarlets 32 Munster 17, Stradey Park
Scorers: Scarlets: Tries: Matthew Watkins, Andy Powell, Aisea Havili, Chris Wyatt; Cons: Gareth Bowen 3; Pens: Bowen 2
Munster: Tries: Peter Stringer, Alan Quinlan; Cons: Ronan O’Gara 2; Pen: O’Gara

A jittery night for the league’s top two saw Stefan Terblanche rescue a 27-all draw for leaders the Ospreys in Glasgow, and lead chasers Munster concede four tries as they lost in the league for the first time since September.

Even with the presence of fit-again Ireland out-half Ronan O’Gara on the pitch, Alan Gaffney’s side surrendered their chances of equalling Leinster’s league record of eleven straight wins in a bruising encounter.

The lead changed seven times before the Welsh wonders finally ended a three-game losing streak in the strangest of fashions.

Long-armed lock Chris Wyatt – who has been ignored by Wales boss Mike Ruddock for this year’s Six Nations – thundered over in the left corner for Llanelli’s bonus point try, even evading the grasp of former All-Black pace man Christian Cullen on a exhaustive 80-metre dash.

Cullen could have bagged his ninth try of the season in the opening skirmishes, but was hauled down from behind, after Gareth Bowen had booted the Scarlets into a 3-0 lead. His opposite number O’Gara then had the easy task of converting Peter Stringer’s 15th-minute snipe over from a close-range maul, as Munster’s forward unit stepped up a gear.

Another maul effort close on the Llanelli line was soon repelled and with Stringer going toe-to-toe with 6ft 3in Scarlets pivot Mike Phillips, no quarter was given.

Simon Easterby’s side broke loose for a 15-10 interval lead when Matthew Watkins pounced on an Anthony Foley error for the Scarlet’s first try, and the Welsh managed to sandwich an O’Gara penalty on the stroke of half-time, with an Andy Powell touch down just 21 seconds later.

The visitors were ruefully exposed as Gavin Thomas set up his fellow flanker Powell for a 25-metre sprint to the line.

A borderline forward pass from O’Gara to Jason Holland on the restart, saw Munster edge back in front at 17-15 as Ireland back row Quinlan muscled over under the posts. Quinlan’s shoulder took a heavy hit in grounding the ball but the Shannon star soldiered on.

Scarlets’ burly wing Aisea Havili led the home side’s stunning revival as he seized on a Foley knock-on to scorch over on 50 minutes. Bowen converted and tagged on a second penalty.

Gaffney’s men then threw caution to the wind, only to see an over-zealous long pass plucked out of the air by Wyatt and the 32-year-old veteran had enough gas to score the 70th-minute clincher.

MUNSTER:

(15) Christian Cullen
(14) Paul Devlin
(13) Shaun Payne
(12) Jason Holland
(11) Anthony Horgan
(10) Ronan O’Gara
(9) Peter Stringer
(1) Marcus Horan
(2) Jerry Flannery
(3) John Hayes
(4) Donncha O’Callaghan
(5) Paul O’Connell
(6) Alan Quinlan
(7) Denis Leamy
(8) Anthony Foley (Capt)

Replacements used: David Wallace for Quinlan (48 mins), Mike Mullins for Payne (53), Mossy Lawlor for
Mullins (72). Not used: Gordon McIlwham, Frankie Roche, Trevor Hogan, Eoin Reddan.

HT: Llanelli 15 Munster 10; Attendance: 7,530
Referee: Andy Ireland (Scotland)