Munster get back on track

Munster 26 Glasgow 10

It wasn't always pretty stuff but a Munster team shorn of a lot of their best talent still managed to put the final touches to what coach Alan Gaffney described as "a decent victory."

Glasgow struck back in the last moments of the match to score two tries but by that stage their cause was lost. Munster, with a 26 points advantage, dominated proceedings for 90% of the game and got the rewards their endeavours deserved.

Having lost to Glasgow in the quarter final of the Celtic Cup, Munster had a point to prove and they certainly did that up front. Their set piece play was vastly improved from the first tie and, despite a number of first half handling errors, nobody could argue with the final outcome of the match.

Coach Gaffney admitted he was disappointed with the concession of the two late tries but suggested: "By that stage we had made a number of changes, had introduced our substitutes, and it did get a bit ragged. Still, we needed to give these guys a bit of time on the park. They are all young guys and it takes a bit of getting used to. Overall, I am very happy with the result, particularly the improvement I saw from the game over there.

"We probably didn't put as many points on the board as we should have, but a win is a win and that will give the guys a lot of confidence."

Munster scorned early opportunities. They dominated territory but failed to take advantage when Jason Holland's pass to Martin McPhail went astray. Munster then turned over possession at a lineout close to the Glasgow line, and it didn't get any better when Jeremy Staunton missed a relatively easy penalty chance.

In a subsequent Munster attack after 18 minutes the ball was knocked forward on the way to McPhail who was in space.

Finally, however, another a Munster attack yielded a penalty opportunity to Staunton in front of the posts and Munster got the points they deserved three minutes from the break.

They got even more in injury time when Mike Mullins scampered in for a try that Staunton converted. Munster, though far from happy with a mere three-point advantage, didn't look like adding to it until Dominic Crotty made a break on the blind side. When bowled over, Crotty managed to pop up the pass to Mullins and the centre caught the entire Glasgow defence unawares to streak through for the try.

Things got worse for Glasgow five minutes into the second half when Staunton knocked over a simple penalty, and he added another in the eighth minute from virtually the same position near the posts. At 16-0, Munster finally looked to be on their way to victory.

That lead was stretched further when Staunton kicked another penalty 16 minutes into the half and Munster were in total control from that point on, particularly when Glasgow back rowers Donnie MacFadyen and Paul Dearlove were shown the yellow card within minutes of one another.

Munster stormed into an unassailable lead when David Wallace finished off a brilliant movement started by Mossie Lawlor and carried on by Eoin Reddan. Staunton converted to make it 26-0.

With the sting apparently gone from the Glasgow challenge, they flattered to deceive with two late tries from Graeme Morrison and Stuart Moffat

MUNSTER: D. Crotty, M. McPhail, M. Mullins, J. Holland, M. Lawlor, J. Staunton, E. Reddan, S. Kerr, A. Long, F. Roche, T. Hogan, S. Keogh, D. Leamy, J. Williams (captain), D. Wallace. Replacements: C. O'Sullivan for Crotty (69), C. McMahon for Wallace, C. Casey for Holland (both 72), E. McGovern for Roche (75) D. Sheehan for Leamy and F. Reddan for Murphy (both 79).

GLASGOW: S. Moffat; Steel, Morrison, Lamont, Kerr; Parks, Sinclair; Proudfoot, Gunn, Harrison; Hall, Beardshaw; Reid, Dearlove, MacFadyen. Replacements: M McMillan for Sinclair (40, E. Murray for Proudfoot (56), S. Lawson for Gunn and R. McKay for Beardshaw (57), A. Bulloch for Steel (63) and C. Howarth for Parks (74).

Ref: Hugh Watkins (Welsh RFU).