Munster 21
Ulster 20
MUNSTER SECURED A dramatic 21-20 win over Ulster in the Guinness Pro21 at Thomond Park this evening, as a last-gasp Ian Humphreys conversion miss proved crucial.
The hosts endured a bad start, going 12-0 down, before 21 unanswered points put Anthony Foley’s side in the driving seat.
Ian Humphreys’ fifth penalty from five attempts ensured a tense finish, as Munster were put under further pressure after substitute Stephen Archer was sin-binned late on for tackling his opponent in the air.
And there was to be further drama, as a Nick Williams try with a minute remaining appeared to have won it for the visitors, only for Humphreys to miss his first kick of the night.
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges, with four penalties by Humphreys putting them into a 12-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes.
Ian Keatley missed an early chance to reduce the deficit, but then made up for it with a successful kick after 23 minutes, before man-of-the-match Robin Copeland crossed over before half-time for a try, following an excellent break by Ronan O’Mahony.
In the second half, a Duncan Williams try in the corner put Munster ahead for the first time, before two successful Keatley penalties extended their advantage further.
Nevertheless, the hosts looked in danger of throwing it away late on, with Ulster capitalising on their extra man in the form of a Humphreys penalty, before Williams was adjudged to have grounded the ball over the try line by the TMO.
However, Humphreys — so assured with the boot for much of the night — missed the crucial kick in the dying moments.
Munster tries: Copeland, Duncan Williams. Conversions: Keatley (1). Penalties: Keatley (3).
Ulster try: Nick Williams. Penalties: Humphreys (5).
MUNSTER:
15. JJ Hanrahan
14. G van den Heever
13. P Howard
12. Denis Hurley
11. R O’Mahony
10. I Keatley
9. D Williams
1. J Ryan
2. D Casey
3. BJ Botha
4. Donncha O’Callaghan (c)
5. B Holland
6. R Copeland
7. P Butler
8. CJ Stander
Replacements: K O’Byrne, D Kilcoyne, S Archer, T O’Donnell, S Dougall, N Cronin, A Smith, F Jones.
ULSTER:
15. S Olding
14. L Ludik
13. D Cave
12. S McCloskey
11. C Gilroy
10. I Humphreys
9. P Marshall
1. C Black
2. R Best (c)
3. W Herbst
4. A O’Connor
5. F van der Merwe
6. R Wilson
7. S Reidy
8. N Williams
Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, R Diack, M Heaney, M Allen, P Nelson
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
