Munster lost in Round 6 of the URC to a fast, accurate and clinical Sharks side in Durban with the final score 41-24.
Sharks got on the scoreboard almost immediately with two tries in the first five minutes. Munster obtained a losing bonus point with two tries in the first half from Tom Ahern and Mike Haley and in the second from Calvin Nash, and Tadhg Beirne with the captain crashing over with the clock in the red.
The hosts got on the scoreboard in the first minute after a break from Grant Williams, with full-back Aphelele Fassi diving over. Another try came just three minutes later as Makazole Mapimpi crossed over in the left corner. Jordan Hendrikse converted both giving the Sharks the perfect start, 14-0.
Following their fast start Sharks earned a penalty, adding three more points to their tally, 17-0.
Rory Scannell reacted quickly to take the ball at the back of a ruck allowing Tom Ahern to get Munster’s first points of the match. The conversion went wide but the visitors got five on the board just inside the first quarter, 17-5.
A Sharks counterattack not long after led to a try under the posts from Williams, which Hendrikse converted from short range, 24-5.
A second Munster try came from full back Mike Haley as he dived over in the right corner with ten minutes before half time. The conversion went wide, Munster reducing the deficit, 24-10.
Sharks centre Andre Esterhuizen dotted down just before half time off the back of a scrum. Hendrikse added two points from the tee giving the hosts the lead at half-time, 31-10.
Sharks won a penalty early into the second half for offside and extended their lead 34-10.
Munster had two tries held up within three minutes, a yellow card to Sharks flanker James Venter followed the first, but the visitors were unable to capitalise on the 14-man side.
Vincent Tshituka charged down a Munster ball leaving the score 41-10, with their out-half slotting the conversion.
After 72 minutes Ronan Foxe came on for loosehead prop John Ryan for his Munster debut performance.
The last ten minutes Munster took two tries showing plenty of character in the closing stages. The first started with an Ethan Coughlan break going out to Calvin Nash who got over the line. The second came from captain Tadhg Beirne with the clock in the red, stemming from a Billy Burns cross-field kick. This gave Munster their losing bonus point. Crowley converted both to make the final score 41-24.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell (Burns ’68), Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (Coughlan ’68); John Ryan (Foxe ’72), Niall Scannell (Barron ’50), Stephen Archer (K. Ryan ’68); Jean Kleyn (Wycherley ’49), Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern (Quinn ’49), John Hodnett (Kendellen ’50), Jack O’Donoghue
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Kieran Ryan, Ronan Foxe, Fineen Wycherley, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Billy Burns, Alex Kendellen.
Tries: Ahern, Haley, Nash, Beirne
Cons: Crowley
Attendance: 19,465
Hollywoodbets Sharks Round 6 Round-up
Ronan Foxe made his Munster debut coming on for loosehead prop John Ryan