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Home Comfort Should Swing It

October 20, 2012 12:00 am By Munster Rugby

Home Comfort Should Swing It

On the face of it, Ian Costello’s side look to hold all the aces for today’s British & Irish Cup clash with Aberavon at Tralee RFC (1pm).

Not only do they have the comfort of a ground they're well familiar with having won here last season in this competition but they also have an array of players who have plenty of RaboDirect PRO12 and indeed Heineken Cup experience behind them.

And none more so than Peter Stringer with 227 Munster caps to his credit who will provide the link between a pack containing Ian Nagle Dave Foley, Dave O'Callaghan and Tommy O'Donnell and a backline that includes Scott Deasy, Danny Barnes and two players who have a proven nose for the tryline Corey Hircock and full back Luke O'Dea.

Hircock scored twice against Plymouth Albion last week and might have had a third while O'Dea has five Rabo tries to his credit from just nine starts.

For their part Aberavon, or the Wizards as they're sometimes called, will not be travelling light on ambition despite their opening round home loss to Rotherham Titans.

They led that game 13-0 before, partly indiscipline – they had two forwards yellow-carded -, partly tough decisions and partly missed opportunities all contributed to a four (25-21) point defeat.

But they did play a load of rugby and scored a cracking try from full back John Phillips, lively wing Stefan Andrews scored another, and if the astute Costello managed to get his mitts on the video, he'll have seen enough to know that this is far from a gimme.

Munster: Luke O'Dea; Ronan O'Mahony, Danny Barnes, Cian Bohane, Corey Hircock; Scott Deasy, Peter Stringer; Alan Cotter, Sean Henry capt, John Ryan; Ian Nagle, Dave Foley; Dave O'Callaghan, Barry O'Mahony, Tommy O'Donnell. Replacements: Duncan Casey, Christy Condon, Brian Hayes, Shane Buckley, Cathal Sheridan, Johnny Holland, Ivan Dineen.

Aberavon: John Phillips; Richartd Thomas, Ben John, Wil Price, Stefan Andrews; Jamie Davies, Joe Heatley; Rowan Jenkins, Ieuan Davies, Chris John; Rhydian Gierat, Gavin Ronan; Ben Thomas, Joe Tomalin Reeves, Morgan Allen. Replacements: Ricky Thomas, Craig Evans, Gareth Harvey, Lee Purnell, Darryl Thomas, Hywel Davies, Neil White.

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Munster A Continue On Winning Ways

October 20, 2012 12:00 am By Munster Rugby

Munster A Continue On Winning Ways

Ian Costello’s B&I Cup side recorded a 19-11 victory in Tralee RFC today against Welsh side Aberavon RFC.

Early indications would lead supporters to believe they were in store for a great afternoon of running rugby with Munster applying the pressure and making the yards, spending the opening 10 minutes attacking inside the Aberavon 22.

Cian Bohane was first up crashing through the Aberavon defence bringing play in front of the posts with Tommy O'Donnell continuing the attack before the final pass didn't come off to Corey Hircock.

But Munster went again and this time with the focus on the breakdown from both sides Scott Deasy chanced a cross-field kick to Bohane who went wide into the left hand pocket, only to be closely denied by the as equally tall Aberavon number 14 Richard Thomas.

For all the pressure and possession Munster held it was Aberavon who finished the opening quarter with a try after a quick turnover ball on the halfway mark was moved to the wing sending Thomas over for the opening score.

Scott missed an opening penalty chance and it was reflective of a frustrating stop start period for Munster where they caused their own problems with knock-ons and handling errors. Any positive play resulted in a turnover of possession until the half hour mark when Dave Foley charged down an Aberavon kick inside their 22 and the turnover gave Munster the space and numbers to run it wide with Tralee local Danny Barnes setting Corey Hircock up for the try. Deasy kicked the extras to give Munster a 2 point margin.

Tommy O'Donnell's experience at the breakdown and work-rate in defence was evident as he thwarted a number of Aberavon attacks before Jamie Davies added a penalty just before the break resulting from a Dave Foley infringement in the lineout, and the Welsh side went in one point ahead, Munster 7 Aberavon 8.

Davies was on hand again on the return with his second penalty but it was to be the last score of the afternoon for the visitors as Munster responded with two tries and a conversion.

Costello's young charges moved ahead after 54" thanks to a Ronan O'Mahony try under the posts, taking the pass off Cian Bohane who broke the Aberavon defence. Deasy added the conversion.

Ten minutes later Barry O'Mahony completed the sibling act with a try of his own to give Munster a score-line of 19-11.

The Munster bench was cleared with all replacements in action at this stage and the fresh legs certainly gave Munster a new lease of life going into the closing minutes. Munster bombarded the Aberavon line time and time again looking for the illusive bonus point winning try.

As the clock ticked into extra time there was certainly a sense they were going to produce the goods but after a number of phases and an eventual knock on it was not to be.

Afterwards B&I Cup Head Coach Ian Costello commented "I thought Tommy O'Donnell and Cian Bohane really stood out for us today. And Barry O'Mahony certainly did in the second half. They (Aberavon) were a very physical side and went out with a clever game plan, slowing our ball time and time again."

"We struggled with continuity, the stop/start nature didn't suit us but we were much better in the second half. Yes we're happy with the win but overall frustrated with not getting the bonus try especially after getting so many penalties and 5 metre scrums."

"Look, next up we have Rotherham Titans back to back in December so we have the time to re-group and look at the mistakes and the positives, and that's what we'll do."

Referee: Andrew Jackson

Munster: Johnny Holland; Ronan O'Mahony, Danny Barnes, Cian Bohane, Corey Hircock (Ivan Dineen 62), Scott Deasy (Richie Mullane 68), Peter Stringer (Cathal Sheridan 60); Alan Cotter (Christy Condon 53), Sean Henry Capt. (Duncan Casey 60) John Ryan, Ian Nagle, Dave Foley (Brian Hayes 60), Dave O'Callaghan (Shane Buckley 62), Barry O'Mahony, Tommy O'Donnell.

Aberavon: John Philips; Richard Thomas, Ben John, Will Price, Stefan Andrews; Jamie Davies, Joe Heatley; Rowan Jenkins, Ieuan Davis, Chris John; Rhydian Gieran, Gavin Ronan; Ben Thomas, Joe Tomalin Reeves, Morgan Allen. Replacements: Mathew Jenkins, Craig Evans, Neil White, Gareth Harvey, Darryl Thomas, Hywel Davies, Lee Purnell.

C Hircock 1 Try

S Deasy 2 Conversions

R O’Mahony 1 Try

B O’Mahony 1 Try
 

R Thomas 1 Try

J Davies 2 Penalties
 

Johnny Holland; Ronan O'Mahony, Danny Barnes, Cian Bohane, Corey Hircock, Scott Deasy, Peter Stringer; Alan Cotter, Sean Henry Capt., John Ryan, Ian Nagle, Dave Foley, Dave O'Callaghan, Barry O'Mahony, Tommy O'Donnell.  Replacements:  Duncan Casey, Christy Condon, Brian Hayes, Shane Buckley, Cathal Sheridan, Richie Mullane, Ivan Dineen.
John Philips; Richard Thomas, Ben John Capt., Will Price, Stefan Andrews; Jamie Davies, Joe Heatley; Rowan Jenkins, Ieuan Davis, Chris John; Rhydian Gieran, Gavin Ronan; Ben Thomas, Joe Tomalin Reeves, Morgan Allen.  Replacements:  Mathew Jenkins, Craig Evans, Neil White, Gareth Harvey, Darryl Thomas, Hywel Davies, Lee Purnell.
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