BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Celtic | Munster show their class

Celtic League - Pool A
Neath 19-35 Munster

Munster were a class above Neath at The Gnoll as they cruised to victory and leapt to the top of Pool B.

The Irish province out-scored their hosts by four tries to one in a well-drilled display against a disappointing Neath side.

The home side were their own worst enemy in the first half as two basic errors handed Munster a couple of tries.

The first arrived in the 17th minute after Neath lost possession and the visitors launched a slick counter attack which saw winger Mossie Lawler touching down under the posts.

Scoring details:

Neath (9) 19
Tries: S Jones
Cons: Connor
Pens: Jarvis 4

Munster (20) 35
Tries: Lawler, Williams, Sheahan, O'Gara.
Cons: O'Gara 3.
Pens: O'Gara 3.

And the second came for captain Jim Williams who crossed in the corner deep into injury time after a poor clearance by Sean Marsden fell perfectly into Munster hands.

Neath could and should have scored tries of their own beforehand, but were thwarted by a combination of poor handling and deliberate Munster offending.

Fly-half Lee Jarvis did manage to punish them with three penalties, but it was a story of missed chances for the Welsh All Blacks as they faced a 20-9 scoreline at the break.

Neath got the first points on the board in the second period through another Jarvis penalty only for Munster to stretch further ahead soon after with another try.

The whole pack combined perfectly to drive hooker Frank Sheahan over the tryline.

Ronan O'Gara added the conversion and then a third penalty as the Irishmen threatened to break away.

Neath full-back Gareth Morris looks for a break
Neath changed their half-backs and hooker in an attempted to find some spark of inspiration, and the change had immediate effect.

Sharp passing by veteran scrum-half Andy Moore around the rucks put his side on the front foot, and it was no surprise when replacement hooker Steve Jones drove over for a try.

Shaun Connor added the extra points from the conversion which left Neath with 15 minutes to cut a 11 point deficit.

They never looked like coming close to achieving that feet, however, and Munster's fourth try from O'Gara five minutes from time made absolutely certain of victory and secured a precious bonus point.

Neath: Gareth Morris; Sean Marsden, James Storey, Dave Tiueti, Shane Williams; Lee Jarvis, Patrick Horgan; Duncan Jones, Barry Williams, Adam Jones, Andy Newman, Gareth Llewellyn (capt), Hywel Jenkins, Nathan Bonner-Evans, Steve Tandy.
Reps: Allan Bateman, Shaun Connor, Andy Moore, Steve Jones, Steve Martin, Alfie Mocelutu, Andrew Millward.

Munster: J Staunton; J Kelly, M Mullins, R Henderson, M Lawlor; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, J Williams (capt), A Quinlan, A Foley. Reps: S Kerr, J Blaney, MGalwey, E Halvey, D Leamy, M Prendergast, D Malone, J Holland, D Crotty.

Ref: Chris White (England).


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