Munster had a tough battle on their hands as they ran out for the United Rugby Championship semi-final in Limerick against a strong and resilient Glasgow Warriors side.

Jack Crowley missed an early opportunity to get some points on the board as the wind twisted the ball just wide of the posts early on. 

The first half saw Glasgow’s discipline let them down, giving away four penalties in the first eight minutes.  The Scots were found infringing on too many occasions with Richie Gray shown yellow.

Crowley’s boot secured the first points for Munster as the fly-half gave the home side the lead after eleven minutes, 3-0. 

A dropped ball by Alex Nankivell after a difficult pass from Antoine Frisch allowed a breakaway try from Glasgow’s captain Kyle Steyn, who sprinted up the field to dot the ball down for the first try of the match. As George Horne converted, it left the score at 3-7.

A mistake from Craig Casey after knocking the ball in the scrum cost Munster, but despite Mike Haley giving Glasgow a penalty, the visitors couldn’t find any momentum. 

A TMO review just before the break for a high tackle on Peter O’Mahony by Matt Fagerson meant the flanker was sent to the bin just before the break.  

Glasgow were out of the blocks at the start of the first half as they went on the attack, however the visitors missed their chance to increase their lead with a penalty going wide of the posts. 

The Scotsmen continued their attack as Huw Jones powered down in midfield, passing the ball out wide to Sebastian Cancelliere who sped down the wing, finding a gap in the Munster defence, and ran in for the try. Warriors leading 14-3 after George Horne’s conversion. 

Munster gained their first try after RG Snyman set up an attack, passing to Jeremy Loughman who stormed ahead, allowing Antoine Frisch to get the ball down in the corner. Despite a tough conversion for Crowley from the touch line, the ball bent its way through the posts. This left Munster within four points just ahead of the final quarter. 10-14. 

During the last few minutes of the game Munster were penalised at the breakdown and reduced to fourteen men. Alex Nankivell was shown a red card making the chance to come back even tougher. Horne kicked the penalty between the posts to make the scoreline 10-17. 

Munster made a final attempt at levelling the score as Crowley kicked to the corner to launch a final attack.  As they approached the Glasgow 22, efforts fell short after a knock-on, ending their journey in this year’s URC competition. 

BKT URC Semi-Final Round-Up

Sione Tuipulotu was awarded the BKT Player of the Match.  

Munster: Mike Haley ; Shane Daly, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell (Blood substitution O’Brien ‘46, Nankivell ‘57), Simon Zebo (O’Brien ‘61); Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (Murray 57′); Jeremy Loughman (Ryan ‘65), Niall Scannell (Barron ′45), Stephen Archer (Jager ′45); Fineen Wycherley (Snyman ‘45), Tadhg Beirne (C); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett (Kendellen ‘72) Jack O’Donoghue (Coombes ‘54). 

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Oli Jager, RG Snyman, Gavin Coombes, Conor Murray, Sean O’Brien, Alex Kendellen