Munster back to winning ways after defeating Lions 

WINNING WAYS: Munster's Shane Daly scores a try despite Quan Horn of Emirates Lions. Picture: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

URC: Munster 17 Lions 10

Munster got back to winning ways in the URC with a 17-10 victory over the Emirates Lions at Thomond Park.

Tries from Thaakir Abrahams, Shane Daly and Alex Kendellan saw them to what is just their third win in the competition this season.

The Lions led 10-7 at half time with many promising Munster attacks breaking down, in part to a large error count. Hanco van Wyck got the Lions try with Kade Wolhuter adding five points from the kicking tee.

However, Munster were more accurate in the second half with Daly and Kendellan adding to Abrahams’ first half five-pointer Munster made a promising start to the game with early pressure inside the Lions ’22. Diarmuid Barron made an excellent break through the heart of defence but Munster were denied after WJ Steenback’s turnover.

They were soon back inside Lions territory, however, another promising attack came to nothing after an Alex Kankivell knock on.

The early pressure in the opening quarter eventually told on 16 minutes with Abrahams crossing for his first ever Munster try.

The South African winger was stopped short earlier in the move after cutting a sublime line to take in Nankivell’s offload.

He didn’t have to wait long to get another chance as he made no mistake second time around as he held two tackles before touching down. Burns added the extras to give Munster a deserved lead.

Munster were on the back foot from the restart after a Shay McCarthy knock on gave Lions good field position.

Kade Wolhuter’s chip in behind was initially dealt with by Abrahams but he was pinged for holding on.

Wolhuter kicked to the corner but Munster’s maul defence held firm but the Lions were quick to punish further errors as the half continued.

A Fineen Wycherley knock on in midfield was seized upon by Henco van Wyk and he shrugged off five would be tacklers to cross over from 45 metres for the Lions. Wolhuter nailed the conversion to level the game.

The Lions were edging the battle at scrum time as well with a 32nd minute penalty won by the South African side seeing Wolhuter taking a shot at goal. The successful kick seeing the Lions lead 10-7 at the break.

Munster were fast out of the blocks in the second half, despite the loss of Mike Haley to a HIA at the break with Shane Daly on for his return. Nankivell was at his devastating at the break down again with a second turnover of the game.

The ball was moved right to Abrahams and he showed his strength with a hand off and then raced down the wing, before passing inside for Shane Daly to score Munster’s second try. However, Burns missed the conversion attempt.

Munster didn’t have to wait long for their third try as a mistake by Lions scrum half Morne van den Berg earned them a scrum 15 metres from the try line.

Daly went close after a slick move off the scrum but Munster soon were in after Kendellen powered over after a number of cracks at the line. That score saw Munster into a 17-10 advantage with Burns again off target from the conversion.

They were almost punished for those missed kicks when the Lions were camped on the Munster line only for Sanele Nohamba’s pass going to ground.

Munster pushed hard for the bonus point try in the latter stages but had to settle for the win, their third of the URC campaign and a confidence boost ahead of their fixture in the Champions Cup with Stade Francais next week.

MUNSTER: M Haley (S Daly, h-t); S McCarthy, T Farrell, A Nankivell, T Abrahams; B Burns (T Butler, 60), E Coughlan (P Patterson, 51); D Bleuler (K Ryan, 67), D Barron (captain) (N Scannell, 60), J Ryan (S Archer, 55); E O’Connell (R Quinn, 71), F Wycherley; J O’Donoghue, A Kendellen (J Hodnett, 55), G Coombes.

LIONS: Q Horn; R Kriel, H van Wyk (E Cronje, 69), M Louw (captain), E van der Merwe (T Mafura, 73); K Wolhuter (S Nohamba, 44), M van den Berg; J Schoeman (M Naude, 55), PJ Botha (F Marais, 55), A Ntlabakanye (C van Vuuren, 55); R Schoeman (R Nothnagel, 57), R Delport; J Cairns, WJ Steenkamp (JC Pretorious, 69), F Horn.

Referee: A Jones (Wales).