Llanelli Scarlets 32-17 Munster

Llanelli Scarlets put on a fine display to defeat Munster 32-17 at Stradey Park on Saturday. Two tries in each half secured the win, with Gareth Bowen adding three conversions and two penalties.

Llanelli Scarlets put on a fine display to defeat Munster 32-17 at Stradey Park on Saturday evening. Two tries in each half secured the win, with Gareth Bowen adding three conversions and two penalties.

Although Bowen had slotted an early penalty Munster were soon in the lead through a Peter Stringer touch down from close in which Ronan O Gara converted.

However the Llanelli Scarlets pack upped their game and Matthew Watkins got their opening try after half an hour to retake the lead but it was short lived with an O’Gara’s penalty putting Munster 10-8 ahead.

However the Scarlets turned round in front as Andrew Powell’s try a minute later, followed by Bowen s conversion made it 15-10 to the home side.

An Alan Quinlan try early in the second half saw the lead regained for Munster but again it was short lived with ‘Aisea Havili capitalising on some poor Munster handling to collect the third try for the Scarlets.

Bowen converted and added a penalty soon after to take the Scarlets 25-17 ahead. And as Munster threw everything into attack a wayward long pass 10 minutes from time allowed Chris Wyatt to score the bonus point clinching fourth score with Bowen again on the mark with the conversion.

Scarlets (15) 32

Tries: Watkins, Powell, Havili, Wyatt Cons: Bowen (3) Pens: Bowen (2)

Munster (10) 17

Tries: Stringer, Quinlan Cons: O’Gara (2) Pens: O’Gara

Att: 7,530

Scarlets: G Evans; A Havili, M Watkins, S Finau, T Selley; G Bowen, M Phillips; P John, R McBryde, J Davies, V Cooper, C Wyatt, S Easterby (capt), G Thomas, A Powell.

Replacements: D Maddocks, M Rees, D Duley, J Mills, C McDonald, A Thomas, B Davies.

Munster: C Cullen; P Devlin, S Payne, J Holland, A Horgan; R O’Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell, A Quinlan, D Leamy, A Foley (capt).

Replacements: G McIlwham, F Roche, , T Hogan, D Wallace, E Reddan, M Mullins, M Lawlor.

Referee: Andy Ireland (Scotland)