Munster trail Castres by three

Castres 9, Munster 6 (half-time)

Munster trail Castres in their Heineken Cup semi final by three points at half-time after an exciting first half that saw few scores.

The match began with both teams immediately trying to stamp their mark on the game by moving the ball.

Castres launched an incisive attack deep into the Munster 22 after the Munstermen threw the ball too deep at a line out, but Munster were awarded a penalty to ease the pressure as Castres failed to release in the tackle.

Three minutes later Mick Galwey conceded a penalty for use of the boot in a ruck but Castres' attempt fell short.

Munster were dealt a blow in the 15th minute when Anthony Foley had to go off with a shoulder injury.

Matters got worse as props Brent Moyle and Peter Clohessy were then sent to the sin bin for a brief dust up. Romain Teulet kicks the resultant penalty to put Castres ahead.

Castres infringed at the scrum to give Ronan O'Gara the chance to reply immediately for Munster, but his kick sailed to the left and wide of the posts.

Munster then won another penalty after a maul took them 20 yards upfield and kicked it into the corner.

Castres repelled their forward drive and when Munster spun the ball wide they were penalised.

Five minutes later Munster came in from the side and conceded a kickable penalty.

The diminutive Teulet knocked it over from 46m to extend Castres' lead. He extended it further minutes later when Munster fell offside in front of their posts after a surging Castres attack.

Ireland had a golden chance of a try with two minutes of the first half remaining but Dominic Crotty knocked on in the tackle with the line at his mercy.

However, there was some respite when Munster were awarded a penalty right in front of the posts and O'Gara knocked it over to get them on the board before the break. The Cork Con outhalf then scored another to bring Munster closer in first-half injury time.