Young Munster Surge Clear Of ‘Belvo
Young Munster swept to a bonus point win when they proved too strong for Old Belvedere at Tom Clifford Park as they maintained their challenge for Ulster Bank League honours.
An injury-time try by lively winger Darragh O'Neill – his second of the game – earned the home side a bonus point. Young Munster had led 13-3 at the interval thanks mainly to a try by number 8 Neville Melbourne.
After a number of unsuccessful drives for the line by their forwards, at a time when 'Belvo were reduced to 14 players, Melbourne finally found a gap to touch down close enough to the posts to enable Brian Haugh add the conversion.
Haugh had opened the scoring for the Cookies when Old Belvedere were punished for going offside after five minutes.
But the lead lasted only three minutes as the hosts were penalised for collapsing a scrum and winger Josh Glynn stepped up to land the penalty.
Melbourne broke through for his try as the game entered the second quarter, by which stage 'Belvo prop Pat O'Regan has been sent to the sin-bin.
The influential Haugh added another penalty before the interval and indiscipline cost Old Belvedere dearly in the second half when Haugh landed penalties after 49 and 69 minutes.
It got even better for Young Munster when Dom Lespiere chased a high kick which was not properly cleared and centre Lukas Kunz got in for a try which Haugh converted.
That was after 66 minutes and O'Neill notched his second try to earn the bonus point two minutes into stoppage time.
Haugh had a superb afternoon for the home side kicking a total of 20 points – four penalties and four conversions – as he took his tally for the league season to 93 points.
Referee: Kieran Barry (IRFU)