Cardiff hold on for impressive win against Munster

Cardiff produced an impressive display to post a 25-18 Guinness PRO14 victory over Munster on Saturday evening.

Cardiff hold on for impressive win against Munster

Cardiff produced an impressive display to post a 25-18 Guinness PRO14 victory over Munster on Saturday evening.

Tries from Macauley Cook, Lloyd Williams and Owen Lane put the Blues 19-5 up at the break and two critical late penalties from Jarrod Evans made sure they came out on top.

Munster scored through Chris Cloete and Stephen Fitzgerald, but it was not enough to get them the result as they were second best. Tyler Bleyendaal's penalty with the last kick of the game did at least earn them a losing bonus point.

Both sides were boosted by the availability of a handful of squad members released from Wales and Ireland's NatWest 6 Nations preparations, but the game got off to a scrappy start.

The Blues looked threatening with ball in hand, and after visiting fly-half Ian Keatley somehow missed with what looked a simple penalty effort, the home side moved comfortably ahead.

Three tries in eight minutes did the damage for Danny Wilson's men. First, Ellis Jenkins' long pass found Cook, who dived over. Evans could not convert, but Munster felt hard done by as there looked like a knock-on from Jenkins and a forward pass in the build-up to the score.

Still, the visitors did not help themselves. Duncan Williams' clearance kick was charged down by Lloyd Williams, who scored the Blues' second, and then Rey Lee-Lo kicked ahead from a scrum platform to give flying wing Lane a try. Evans converted both scores.

Chris Cloete scores his side's first try. Pic: INPHO/Kevin Barnes
Chris Cloete scores his side's first try. Pic: INPHO/Kevin Barnes

Munster were shell-shocked, but did at least respond before the break. Cloete was their scorer, peeling off the back of a line-out drive to go over the line.

Keatley kicked a penalty as Munster flew out of the blocks at the start of the second period and Blues hooker Matthew Rees was yellow-carded for offside as the visitors hit back.

Fitzgerald dived over in the right corner to finish off a flowing team move and the conversion was added by the boot of Keatley to set up a four-point game.

The Munster comeback did not last, however. The Blues showed admirable restraint to respond to a tricky spell and, buoyed by a series of replacements, they got back in the driving seat.

Referee Stuart Berry penalised them a number of times, but two critical three-pointers from Evans made sure they were home and hosed.

Bleyendaal came off the bench and his penalty meant Munster did take something from the game, but there was no doubting which side deserved to win.

PA

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Aoife Wafer celebrates after scoring a try with Neve Jones 23/3/2024 Like Ireland's defence, Declan Danaher is bedding in nicely
Peter O'Mahony 26/3/2024 Returning Ireland stars to boost Munster ahead of 'business end of season'
Ronan Kelleher 25/3/2024 Ronan Kelleher and Leinster have 'unfinished business' in Europe
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited