Returning stars fail to inspire Young Munster

Barry Coughlan

Instead they struggled to claim a 15-12 win, and had to watch as the visitors claimed a late bonus point.

It was no more than Greystones deserved for they had to battle back from a 12 point deficit and threatened to take all the points late on with a

spirited assault on Munsters' territory.

Young Munster coach Declan

Edwards was relieved at the end.

"Greystones might be near the

bottom of the table but they certainly put it up to us. They were very dogged and they took advantage of our mistakes. They made us work

really hard for the points and we're happy to escape with them."

Edwards pointed out that Munsters played well in patches. "I was happy with our scrums and our mauling once we got the lineout problems sorted out.

"We tried too many 50-50 passes, tried to push it a little bit too much at times and I would like to have seen them a bit more composed. It's hard to be too critical though because the wind was a factor and you can't ask players to stop playing when they were trying so hard.

"We paid the price for one rushed movement when they scored an

intercept try but I thought we tightened up our play considerably after that.

"Some of the supporters might have earmarked this for a big win but I

never presumed it would be easy. We went out there to secure the points and we got them. It was a hard grind but we will take the result."

The Clifford Park side scored two tries early on and looked as if they would cruise to victory. Their top scorer this season, Brian Murphy, grabbed a try inside four minutes and converted it himself.

John Pardoe got in for a second try and Young Munster looked set for a comfortable win.

But Ross Spillane pegged them back seconds before the break with an opening try for Greystones and Ryan Corcoran's intercept try allowed

Simon Brady's convert to level matters six minutes into the second period.

It took a 67th penalty from Murphy to steer Young Munster through

although, by that stage, they had clearly got their act together.

Dolphin maintained their edge over Old Crescent in the race for the

Division Two title by virtue of a 20-17 victory over Dublin University at Musgrave Park. But this was never easy and the match-winner eventually proved to be outhalf John O'Mahony.

Crescent stayed on course for

promotion with another hard-fought victory although this was achieved away from home against Malone at Shaws Bridge.

Ross Leahy scored Old Crescent's try but Stephen Tuohy did most of the damage when kicking four penalties and a conversion.

Thomond stayed in third place with another narrow win against bottom placed Portadown. On a try count of three tries to two, Thomond sneaked home by 22 points to 20.

Midleton's late capitulation at

Ballymacarn Park has probably cost them any chance of challenging for promotion at this stage.

They led late in the game but were finally beaten 11-7 their only

consolation being a bonus point.

UCC heaped further trouble on Sunday's Well at the Mardyke. There was a period a few weeks ago when Murray Kidd's side looked capable of pushing on and upwards but they have since slipped back and now lie in third last place, just a point ahead of Greystones.

The consolation is they have a match in hand over the Wicklow side.

UCC won that game on a 15-3 scoreline, Conor Quaid doing all the damage with two tries, a penalty and conversion.