Munster lose to hard-working Edinburgh

Edinburgh 20 Munster 9

Edinburgh lost captain Todd Blackadder to a hand injury as they kickstarted their Celtic League campaign with a hard-fought victory at home to Munster tonight.

Blackadder was forced to leave the fray midway through the first half – and then centre Tom Philip was taken off with a knee problem.

Munster went into attack from the outset and rocked Edinburgh by taking the lead with a penalty by Conrad O’Sullivan.

But the home side were quickly stung into action at the other end. Inspired by a try-saving tackle by Hugo Southwell on Martin McPhail, they levelled with a long-range Brendan Laney kick.

The Scotland reject grabbed the lead in identical fashion before Andy Dall claimed the crucial opening try following a well-controlled maul.

Laney managed another penalty from a wide angle. But with Derrick Lee in the sin bin, Munster clawed back three points thanks to O’Sullivan before the break.

Edinburgh found themselves under heavy pressure after the restart; yet they added to their advantage.

They cashed in on a Munster knock-on to race up field where Marcus Di Rollo and Simon Webster combined to send Ally Hogg cruising in under the posts to give Laney an easy conversion.

O’Sullivan reduced the leeway with his third penalty, but Edinburgh held out for the vital win – leaving their assistant coach Henry Edwards to conclude: “We showed great discipline in defence and recovered well after a nervy start.”