HEINEKEN CUP, POOL FOUR Munster (15) 15 Tries: Horgan, Leamy Pens: O'Gara Cons: O'Gara Harlequins (3) 9 Pens: Staunton 3 Att: 10,500

In abysmal conditions, Quins looked to be heading for a heavy defeat after Anthony Horgan and Denis Leamy scored first-half tries.

But a third penalty by Jeremy Staunton kept the game on the boil right until the end of an absorbing contest.

In the end Munster hung on thanks to their first-half haul, which included five points from Ronan O'Gara's boot.

With rain pouring down over the Limerick venue it was Harlequins who made the early running with Staunton sliding over a penalty.

In the 10th minute both sides were reduced to 14 men when a rather pedantic Hugh Watkins handed out yellow cards to respective props Maurice Fitzgerald and Marcus Hogan after the scrum collapsed.

Both sides tried to play rugby, despite the bad weather - it wouldn't be one for the purists but we'll accept a win gleefully Alan Gaffney Munster coach

Munster immediately gained control when a quick penalty by Anthony Foley saw the ball spin out to Christian Cullen whose slip pass allowed O'Gara to put Anthony Horgan scurrying into the corner.

There was worse for Quins when four minutes after Staunton became the third player to be binned after a deliberate knock-on, Munster scored their second try.

The excellent Jim Williams took advantage of a turnover and his charge and off-load put fellow flanker Leamy in at the corner. O'Gara converted from the touchline.

Even when they were back to a full complement, Quins found Munster's power up front extremely hard to handle.

But despite their possession, all Munster had to show at half-time was another penalty by O'Gara to give them a 15-3 cushion.

We know we had our opportunities but things just weren't coming off for us Andre Vos Harlequins captain

Harlequins started the second half in a more positive mood and Staunton slipped over his second penalty to reduce the arrears.

Even when replacement hooker Ace Tiatia was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Horgan, Munster still could not find many gaps against the 14 men.

Instead, it was Quins who clawed back some of the leeway with Staunton rifling over his third penalty with 13 minutes remaining.

Munster were never to find their rhythm again and instead had to hang on grimly to keep Quins out.

Munster: Cullen, Lawlor, Kelly, Henderson, Horgan, O'Gara, Stringer, M. Horan, F. Sheahan, J. Hayes, T. Hogan, O'Connell, Williams, Leamy, Foley.
Replacements: Flannery, McIlwham, Bowman, Quinlan, Wallace, Prendergast, Burke.

Harlequins: Duffy, Harder, Greenwood, James, Keogh, Staunton, So'oialo, Jones, Fuga, Fitzgerald, Winters, Miall, Easter, Vos, Diprose.
Replacements: Tiatia, Worsley, Palepoi, Sherriff, Dunne, Deane, Williams.