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Edinburgh 7-11 Munster

Ross Rennie
Ross Rennie charges forward for Edinburgh at Murrayfield

Edinburgh (0) 7
Tries: Meyer
Cons: Godman
Munster (0) 11
Tries: D. Ryan
Pens: Warwick 2

Edinburgh surrendered their unbeaten record with Munster chalking up a narrow 11-7 win at Murrayfield.

Edinburgh may have enjoyed the upper hand in the first half, but Munster eventually took the lead through a penalty from stand-off Paul Warwick.

Ben Meyer scored a 50th minute try to put the home side into the lead before Phil Godman converted.

Warwick doubled Munster's advantage in 55 and a try by Ryan settled it with Godman missing three penalties.

In a match that has ebbed and flowed, Roland Reid smashed into Doug Howlett early on; setting the tone for a physically challenging encounter between two certified title challengers.

The 17-stone winger then chased his kick and put off the diminutive Peter Stringer, who nervously knocked the ball into touch.

After sustained Edinburgh pressure with line breaks from Ben Cairns, Edinburgh were awarded a straightforward penalty, but Godman unfortunately missed the penalty.

Edinburgh survived a couple of purposeful Munster attacks and then turned up the heat with an eye-catching driving maul deep into the visitors� territory.

The home side started to find some rhythm and, after some quick ball from scrum half Ben Meyer, Hugo Southwell off-loaded to Reid before the move broke down.

Godman saw another two uncharacteristic penalty misses let Munster off the hook, but Allister Hogg kept rattling the Irish Province with some uncompromising tackles.

Hogg, Southwell and Meyer were the men in black and red that caught the eye in an evenly-matched first half.

Ross Rennie produced the break that led to an excellent Edinburgh attack when the 21-year-old broke two tackles to set up a period of concerted pressure in the Munster half.


Edinburgh: Southwell, Turnbull, Cairns, Houston, Reid, Godman, Meyer, Allori, Kelly, Kerr, Mustchin, Hamilton, MacDonald, Rennie, Hogg. Replacements: MacRae for Southwell (78), De Luca for Houston (54), Laidlaw for Meyer (54), Smith for Allori (51), Pringle for Mustchin (70), S. Cross for MacDonald (66).

Not Used: Lawrie.

Munster: Payne, Howlett, Tipoki, Mafi, Dowling, Warwick, Stringer, Pucciariello, Sheahan, Buckley, D. Ryan, O'Driscoll, Quinlan, Ronan, Foley. Replacements: O'Leary for Payne (71), Manning for Warwick (78), D. Hurley for Pucciariello (70), Coughlan for O'Driscoll (70), O'Connell for Foley (45).

Not Used: Fogarty, Lewis.

Att: 4,100

Ref: Tim Hayes (WRFU).




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