Resolute Munster defeated Glasgow Warriors 21-10 in their GUINNESS PRO14 Conference A top of the table clash at a sold-out Irish Independent Park to boost their play-off hopes.
A capacity crowd of 8,008 turned out to watch full-back Simon Zebo play his final game for Munster in his native Cork before his summer move to French Top 14 side Racing 92. And they were not disappointed as Munster cut Glasgow’s lead at the summit back to 12 points with a tenacious display.
Tries in either half from front rowers Niall Scannell (24 minutes) and James Cronin (48), together with 11 points from the boot of out-half Tyler Bleyendaal, guided the home side to their seventh successive win in Cork.
This was just Glasgow’s second defeat of the PRO14 season following their narrow loss to local rivals Edinburgh in December, and although they battled back from a 13-0 half-time deficit with scrum half George Horne touching down, the absence of 19 players due to international commitments and injuries was keenly felt by the Scots.
Munster were forced into a late change before kick-off with young winger Calvin Nash replacing Andrew Conway. They were backed by a strong breeze in the first half and both sides took time to adapt to the windy conditions in a stop-start opening to the game.
Johann van Graan’s men opened the scoring on 10 minutes when their Kiwi number 10 Bleyendaal, making his first start for the province in four months, slotted over a penalty goal. The hosts managed to keep Glasgow pinned back for long spells of the half thanks to their accurate kicking game.
Last season’s beaten PRO14 finalists scored the first try of the game in the 24th minute when, from a penalty award inside the Glasgow 22, they opted for a kick to the corner. After a clean lineout and well-executed maul brought them within touching distance of the try-line, hooker Scannell managed to touch down. Bleyendaal converted for a 10-0 lead.
Munster had to rely on a superb cover tackle from winger Alex Wootton to prevent Glasgow flanker Matt Smith from responding with a try on the half hour mark. The Warriors fell further behind as a second Beyendaal penalty, shortly before the break, had Munster 13-0 to the good.
With the elements behind them in the second period, Glasgow came out firing and a 43rd minute penalty from Adam Hastings was followed by a smashing try from his half-back partner Horne, three minutes later. Bagging his ninth score of the PRO14 campaign, he was was up on Lee Jones’ shoulder after a terrific break from the winger.
When Hastings landed the conversion, Munster’s lead was suddenly just three points at 13-10. However, the province, no doubt stung by their disappointing defeat away to Cardiff six days earlier, showed admirable resilience to regain their grip on proceedings when prop Cronin beat Glasgow’s cover defence to a kick ahead before touching down for 18-10.
Bleyendaal sealed a much-needed win for the Munstermen and deprived Glasgow of a losing bonus point when landing his third penalty goal on the hour mark. Dave Rennie’s charges were unable to manufacture a response at the end of a game which saw flanker Rob Harley become Glasgow’s most-capped player of all-time with his 178th appearance.
Number 8 Robin Copeland was prominent again for the victors, getting through a lot of work and offering a physical presence in both defence and attack. He claimed the man-of-the-match award, but fellow back rower Chris Cloete went off injured in the 47th minute. He went to hospital after sustaining a knock to his arm, while try scorer Scannell was also forced off early in the second period and will need further assessment.
Giving his reaction afterwards, Zebo, who led the team out alongside captain Billy Holland, said: “Very happy with the result, it was a good performance. Tough conditions, it was very, very wind. They’re a top class side and I think it’s only the second time they’ve lost this season in the league.
“So it’s a very encouraging performance. The boys dug in there. A few wise old heads under the posts with some clear directions for the team. Billy Holland was excellent, and Tyler as well…just led us in the right direction to get the win.
“It was an incredible atmosphere. It was great to have a sell-out and just to see so many fans at the end there was brilliant. So many waited on for pictures and autographs, which was kinda special. It was amazing end to Musgrave Park (for me) but a sad one as well.
“There’s plenty of time left and plenty more games for us to go out and improve on this performance especially. It was encouraging and hopefully it can really build some momentum heading into the business end of the season.”
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