Celtic League: Macintosh unhappy with referee’s performance

Newport director of rugby Ian Macintosh tried to remain upbeat despite his side’s 29-21 Celtic League defeat to Munster at Musgrave Park, Cork.

The result leaves the Welsh club needing victories over Connacht and Neath in their last two Pool B matches if they are to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.

South African Macintosh was unhappy with the refereeing of Scotsman Iain Ramage, who made his mark on the game by persistently halting play.

Ramage also sin-binned Newport substitute Matt Pini midway through the second half.

However, Macintosh insisted there were plenty of plus points. ‘‘It was a great first half for us. It was just their tries either side of half-time,’’ he said.

‘‘We just conceded penalty after penalty and I was very doubtful about some of them. In the second half it was just a one-way whistle and even the wind changed against us.

‘‘To be fair to Munster they played the right game. They controlled the ball and drove it into us.

‘‘But we played a great first half, kept a good shape, and it gives us something to build on.’’

Stand-off Duncan Hodge jumped to Edinburgh’s rescue at Myreside after Caerphilly had threatened to pull off a shock success.

Kevin Utterson and Martin Leslie had laid the platform for a potential home rout with two early tries.

But the Gunners lost their momentum to let the Welsh side back into the contest and they had to rely on two late drop-goals by Hodge, anxious to prove a point after being left out of the Scotland squad, to ensure the 27-20 victory.

Connacht ended Neath’s unbeaten run with a disciplined and clinical performance at the Galway Sports Ground.

Having defeated Munster the previous week, Neath went into action in buoyant mood as Connacht are regarded as the weakest Irish provincial side, even though they chalked up an opening-day victory over Cardiff at the Arms Park.

Eric Elwood was the crucial performer for Connacht, converting two of the three touchdowns and landing three vital penalties in the 28-10 win.

In Pool A, outside-half Paddy Wallace steered Ulster to a 29-27 away victory against hard-working Welshmen Ebbw Vale by kicking five penalties and two conversions for a personal tally of 19 points.

Wallace’s most important kick came in the 64th minute when he slotted over a straightforward 20-metre goal to put his team in front for the first time after they had trailed 20-3 at the interval.