Cardiff Blues 37
Munster 28
MUNSTER’S PRO12 PLAYOFF hopes took a major blow tonight as they lost out in Cardiff.
Anthony Foley’s men were looking to make it three wins on the trot but they’ll leave the Welsh capital disappointed, days after their head coach agreed a new deal at the province.
Munster began well but Cardiff recovered to run in tries from Macauley Cook, Matthew Rees, Garyn Smith and Rhys Patchell with the latter converting all successfully and adding two penalties, either side of the break.
The visitors opened the scoring thanks to an impressive try from former Cork hurler Darren Sweetnam after good work from Francis Sali.
Jack O’Donoghue and Mike Sherry also crossed the whitewash with Ian Keatley and then Johnny Holland converting.
The Blues earned a bonus try when Patchell got away to score and though O’Donoghue notched Munster’s third try, Evans’ last-minute penalty meant Anthony Foley can’t even console himself with a losing bonus point.
Cardiff scorers: Tries: Cook (32), Rees (49), Smith (54), Patchell (73)Conversions: Patchell (32, 49, 54, 73)Penalties: Patchell (10,43)
Munster scorers:
Tries: Sweetnam (6), Sherry (52), O’Donoghue (78)
Conversions: Keatley (53), Holland (78)
Penalties: Keatley (3,46), Holland (67)
Cardiff : Dan Fish, Blaine Scully (for Gavin Evans 62), Garyn Smith
Reynold Lee-lo, Aled Summerhill, Rhys Patchell, Lloyd Williams (Lewis Jones 75′), Thayer (Thomas Davies 69′), Matthew Rees (Kristian Dacey 50′), Salesi Ma’afu (Taufa’ao Filise 41′), Cameron Dolan (Manoa Vosawai 69′), Josh Turnbull, Macauley Cook, Ellis Jenkins, Josh Navidi.
Munster: Andrew Conway, Darren Sweetnam, Francis Sali, Rory Scannell (Sean McCarthy 77′), Ronan O’Mahony, Ian Keatley (Johnny Holland 61′), Duncan Williams (Cathal Sheridan 71′), James Cronin (Dave Kilcoyne 53′), Michael Sherry (Niall Scannell 53′), David Foley (David Johnston 77′), Billy Holland, Jack O’Donoghue, Dave O’Callaghan, Robin Copeland, John Ryan 58′ (Stephen Archer).
Referee: David Wilkinson
