Munster Tighten Grip On Pool B
Ronan O’Mahony’s terrific late try, teed up by a crossfield kick from replacement Andrew Burke, helped Munster to an 18-6 British & Irish Cup victory over Bristol in front of a large crowd at Nenagh Ormond RFC on Friday.
BRITISH & IRISH CUP – POOL B: Friday, November 27
MUNSTER 18 BRISTOL 6, New Ormond Park, Nenagh
Scorers: Munster: Tries: Dave Kilcoyne, Danny Barnes, Ronan O’Mahony; Pen: Declan Cusack
Bristol: Pens: Chris Ashwin 2
If Munster might have rode their luck in the opening British & Irish Cup game against Coventry last week, there was no doubt about the worthiness of this victory at the home of Nenagh Ormond RFC.
It owed much to the industry and invention of a side that is clearly growing in confidence with every minute they spend together.
Thanks to a steady scrum and a dominant lineout in which young locks Ian Nagle and Dave Foley were on top for most of the contest, Munster were provided with an excellent plaform.
Team captain James Coughlan was another player who left nothing behind him on the night.
The home forwards were well marshalled by impressive scrum half Conor Murray as coach Anthony Foley highlighted afterwards.
“I thought our pack were excellent, the scrum steady and jumpers and lifters working very well and they were well controlled by Conor at scrum half,” said the former Munster captain.
“All in all, we’d have to be well pleased with that performance.
“That’s a good Bristol side. There were a few ropey times, particularly in the first half, but the defence was superb, totally committed.
“Nine points from two outings – If you’d offered us that at the start of this competition we’d have taken it.”
Munster led 8-3 at half-time thanks to a Declan Cusack penalty and try from prop Dave Kilcoyne.
They added to that total three minutes after the restart when winger Danny Barnes scored wide on the right after a good lineout take by Dave Foley.
Then, with six minutes to go, Ronan O’Mahony put a seal on the result when he gathered a perfectly-placed crossfield kick from fellow replacement Andrew Burke.
MUNSTER: Danny Riordan; Danny Barnes, Tom Gleeson, Scott Deasy, Simon Zebo; Declan Cusack, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer, Ian Nagle, Dave Foley, Billy Holland, Tommy O’Donnell, James Coughlan (capt).
Replacements used: Andrew Burke for Cusack (52 mins), Nick Williams for Holland (60), Ronan O’Mahony for Zebo (64), Pa O’Regan for Kilcoyne (65), Paul Rowley for Riordan (78). Not used: Sean Henry, Peter O’Mahony.
BRISTOL: Jack Tovey; Lee Robinson, Luke Eves, Sam Giddens, George Watkins; Chris Ashwin, Sam Alford; Mark Irish, Ross Johnston, Mako Vunipola, Ben Glynn, Josh Brown, Nathan Budgett (capt), James Merriman, Darren Barry.
Replacements: Ollie Hayes, Wayne Thompson, Marko Mama, Adam Bellamy, Robbie Shaw, Mark Davies, Jack Gadd.
Referee: Keith Lewis (England)