Bonus Point Win Sends Munster ‘A’ Through
Munster ‘A’ have this afternoon secured a place in the knockout stages of the British & Irish Cup after an impressive 35-13 bonus point win over Moseley in Pool 3.
Never an easy task to achieve an away win on English soil, but motivated by an under par performance at home to Worcester Warriors last weekend, and with a place in the quarter-finals of the competition at steak, Munster 'A' rallied to achieve their first bonus point victory of the campaign.
Mick O'Driscoll's charges were first to lay down a marker with winger Darren Sweetnam touching down in the opening minutes of the game.
Their highest points scorer in this season's competition, Rory Scannell, once again took command of the kicking duties and made it a full seven-point return.
However, the hosts soon got a foothold in the game and forced Munster 'A' into coughing up two kickable penalties, both of which they landed successfully via the boot of Sam Olver.
With the deficit reduced to 7-6, and sensing they now had their visitors on the back foot, Moseley made good use of possession and continued to pressurise Munster 'A' deep in their own 22.
The pressure eventually told when Moseley were awarded a penalty try which they duly converted – but that was to be their final score of this round 6 encounter.
If Moseley's original comeback was regarded as swift, the Munster 'A' one was just as prompt. Two consecutive penalties from Scannell saw the province draw level with their hosts within the next 10 minutes and head into the interval all square at 13-13.
From the restart Munster 'A' began clocking up a tally of 22 unanswered points, the first three of which came from the accurate boot of Dolphin clubman Scannell.
Chasing the bonus point victory to guarantee their qualification for the last-eight, the Munstermen were clinical when it mattered most, scoring three second half tries from Shane Buckley, Ned Hodson and David Johnston respectively – two of which Scannell converted.
Winning out with the bonus point on a 35-13 scoreline, Munster 'A' now progress to the British & Irish Cup quarter-finals. The draw for which will be made by the organising committee on Monday.
Referee: John Meredith (England)