Munster A pay the price for first-half failings

Yorkshire Carnegie 43 Munster A 29: Munster A’s valiant second-half fightback was all in vain as relieved Yorkshire Carnegie eventually claimed victory to all but seal Pool Three’s top spot in the British & Irish Cup.

The visitors would have moved into first themselves with victory, with just one fixture then remaining at home to London Scottish next week in Midleton, but they were 31-10 down by half-time.

Former Saracens flanker Andy Saull scored a first-half hat-trick of Carnegie tries all from lineout drives and, when he added his fourth in the 48th minute after Munster A prop Brendan Quinlan was penalised for a scrum offence, it looked like the English side, leading 38-10, would run away with things.