Handling errors, lineout issues and ill-discipline were enough to gift Glasgow possession and scoring opportunities in tonight’s PRO12 round 3 encounter and despite all this, Munster just about recorded their third league win with a 23-21 victory at Thomond Park.
The visitors’ points all came through the boot of Rory Clegg with the out-half successfully kicking six of his seven penalty opportunities and he rounded off a solid display with a well taken drop-goal.
While Munster produced two tries, one in each half, with Dave O’Callaghan and BJ Botha both touching down with Ian Keatley converting both and adding a further three penalties.
With both out-halves exchanging penalties in the opening 20 Munster moved ahead when the Scottish side were reduced to 14 men after Tyrone Holmes was yellow carded. The men in red opted for the corner and Dave O'Callaghan completed a series of pick and goes when diving over from close range.
Keatley add the conversion on 29 minutes but Glasgow replied with two successive penalties from Clegg before Munster once again pulled ahead in the final play of the opening half. Glasgow were penalised for holding on and Keatley fired over his long-range penalty to give a half-time score of 13-9.
Glasgow once again reclaimed the lead after a 10 minute period that saw the Scottish side take full advantage of Munster ill-discipline with three successful penalties from the boot of Clegg. There was a moment of reprieve after 63 minutes when the out-half missed his first kick on the seventh attempt.
At this stage Munster had rung the changes and the introduction of BJ Botha and Dave Kilcoyne reignited Munster’s engine room. With the changes came a period of increased intensity and while in the visitor's 22 the attacking wave broke the Glasgow defence, and following a number of phases BJ Botha stretched for the line and scored Munster’s second try. Keatley added the extras to put Munster ahead by two with 12 mintues remaining.
However, Glasgow continued to battle on and Clegg split the posts with a well taken drop-goal on 74 minutes and Munster had it all to do moving in to the final minutes.
Thankfully they were dealt one final chance when Glasgow went offside and Keatley stepped up to kick his third penalty and the final winning score after 77 minutes.
PRO12 Round 3 round-up: Captain Felix Jones was replaced after 38 minutes for HIA after sustaining a knock to his neck. This fixture saw Mark Chisholm play for the first time in Thomond Park and it was Tyler Bleyendaal's first time starting at centre for the province. There were 2 academy players in the side – David Johnston starting and Rory Scannell in the replacements.
Munster: Felix Jones Capt. (Shane Monahan 38); Andrew Conway, David Johnston, Tyler Bleyendaal (Rory Scannell 74), Gerhard van den Heever; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams (Cathal Sheridan 55); James Cronin (Dave Kilcoyne 55), Duncan Casey (Mike Sherry 44), Stephen Archer (BJ Botha 51); Mark Chisholm (Robin Copeland 55), Dave Foley; Dave O'Callaghan, Jack O'Donoghue, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne, BJ Botha, Robin Copeland, Jordan Coghlan, Cathal Sheridan, Rory Scannell, Shane Monahan.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse