Dragons slay Munster

Gwent Dragons 29 Munster 6

Gwent Dragons made it two home wins in the space of six days, in taking the scalp of Munster at Rodney Parade tonight, as Alan Gaffney’s men fell to another Celtic League – their fourth of the campaign.

After just two minutes, former Wales A out-half Craig Warlow put Gwent into the lead with a penalty, given by referee Rob Dickson for the Munster front row infringing and coming up out of a scrum.

Warlow, scorer of 17 of Dragons’ 27 points against Glasgow last Sunday, missed three minutes later with another penalty, as Munster struggled to hold onto possession early on. But a seventh minute break saw great continuity between Gwent’s backs and forwards ending in a try for flanker Jason Forster, converted neatly by Warlow.

10 points shipped inside the first ten minutes and Alan Gaffney’s men looked in for a torrid time and had flanker David Wallace seen Dominic Crotty on his shoulder following his twelfth minute break inside the Gwent ‘22, arrears may have been reduced.

Old Crescent hooker Andy Long conceded another penalty at a scrum on 15 minutes to gift Warlow his third success from five kicks for a 13-0 lead. A fourth kick before the break gave Dragons an impressive 16-point interval lead.

Munster out-half Jeremy Staunton wasted two further penalty attempts before opening his account after 15 minutes of the second half.

A second Staunton effort closed the gap, but a try from prop Adam Black with twenty minutes remaining took the home side 20 points clear.

Warlow’s fourth penalty late on condemned Munster to another defeat for a side who are still to add to their first night win over Leinster at Donnybrook back in September.

Gwent Dragons: S Tuipulotu; G Arasa, J Luscombe, A Marinos (capt), B Breeze; C Warlow, G Baber; A Black, S Jones, C Anthony, I Gough, P Sidoli, J Ringer, R Oakley, J Forster.

Munster: D Crotty; S Payne, M Mullins, C O’Sullivan, M Lawlor; J Staunton, E Reddan; S Keane, A Long, J Danagher, T Hogan, D Sheehan, S Keogh, J Williams (capt), D Wallace.

Referee: Rob Dickson (SRU)

Scorers: Gwent: Black, Forster tries; Warlow 2 cons, drop gl, 4 pens

Munster: Staunton 2 pens