Munster Rugby maintained their unbeaten start to the Guinness Pro14 season with a 38-27 win over Cardiff Blues in Limerick.
Monday night’s clash of two unbeaten teams saw the visitors ahead within two minutes of the game starting. Slopping defending from Munster saw Lee-Lo touch down behind the posts, giving Jarrod Evans an easy conversion.
Gavin Coombes soon replied for Johann van Graan’s side, as the Corkman scored the first of his brace of tries. Two conversions and a penalty from Ben Healy as well as two Evans penalties in the opening half, saw Munster lead 17-13 at the break.
A try-fest following after the interval. Munster scored three tries and Cardiff two within 27 minutes of half-time. It was Kevin O’Byrne who crossed first for the southern province in the 51st minute.
Cardiff response
Each time Munster scored, Cardiff seemed to immediately reply. Aled Summerhill scored a five-pointer for the Blues. Then player of the match Jack O’Donoghue touched down for the bonus-point try for the men in red.
A Cardiff reply came through Willis Halaholo, who had been yellow-carded in the first forty minutes. Replacement JJ Hanrahan soon scored the try of the evening, with some excellent handling from replacements Rhys Marshall and Damian De Allende in the build up to the score.
Two conversions a piece from kickers Healy and Evans in the second half, were added to by Hanrahan when converting his own try.
Munster Rugby wrapped up a bonus-point winning game on a 38-27 scoreline in an entertaining free-flowing Monday night game.
Conference leaders on 13 points
The men in red now sit top of Conference B with 13 points from three games, four points ahead of Cardiff Blues and Connacht Rugby who are both on 9 points each.
Johann van Graan’s men are on the road next weekend as they travel to Rodney Parade to face Dragons in Round 4 on Sunday.
