Munster (0) 3
Pens: Manning

Two tries in as many minutes sent the Ospreys on their way to a comfortable Magners League win over Munster.

Lee Byrne slid in for the first score on 30 minutes after a classy break from fly-half Gareth Owen, making his start for the region.

Shane Williams then touched down in right corner for the second try after Byrne had sucked in two defenders.

Owen landed his second penalty after the break with Jeremy Manning sparing Munster the ignominy of a whitewash.

Scrum-half Mike Phillips, making his full debut, was among a handful of Wales internationals in the Ospreys side, while Munster included only two of their returning Ireland players.

Gavin Henson started at centre, but his afternoon lasted just 13 minutes at the Liberty Stadium as a lower back injury forced him off.

The home side were lucky to escape on 19 minutes when Munster were harshly disallowed a try, referee Simon McDowell judging that Brian Carey's short pass a yard out to prop Tony Buckley was forward.

The Ospreys were also left frustrated five minutes later when the television match official ruled that Phillips had failed to ground the ball after crashing over the Munster tryline.

A video replay was again needed moments later as the Ospreys began to seize control, but this time the home crowd could celebrate the first try.

Young fly-half Owen, who had opened the scoring with a fourth-minute penalty, pierced through the Munster defence and found Byrne on his left shoulder.

The full-back was brought down over five yards out, but his momentum allowed him to slide over on the greasy surface before being bundled into touch.

Byrne turned creator for the home side's second try two minutes later when his perfectly timed pass to Williams gave the winger just enough space down the right wing to squeeze in at the corner.

Again the referee asked for conformation from the TMO, who saw that Williams had come within a grass blade of going into touch.

Owen missed both conversions from difficult angles and hit the post with a penalty effort early in the second half, but the 18-year-old found his range on 48 minutes to stretch the Ospreys lead to 16 points.

Owen found himself in the sin bin moments later for killing the ball as Munster pressed inside the home 22, giving replacement Manning a simple chance to open the visitors' account.

The rest of the second half was forgettable as the standard rapidly deteriorated, and Munster's frustration was compounded on the final whistle when the TMO denied them a try which could have secured a losing bonus point.

Ospreys: Byrne; Walker, Parker, Henson, S. Williams; Owen, Phillips; D. Jones, Bennett, Griffiths, Gough, Evans, Thomas, Lewis, Tiatia (capt).
Replacements: A. Bishop for Henson (13), Hook for Owen (69), Roberts for Phillips (80), B. Williams for Bennett (74), A. Jones for Griffiths (53), Bateman for Evans (80), Tandy for Lewis (80).

Munster: Payne; Carney, Lewis, Tipoki, Dowling; P. Warwick, O'Leary; Pucciariello, Fogarty, Buckley, Melbourne, O'Driscoll, Quinlan, Ronan, Foley (capt).
Replacements: Stringer for Payne (51), Mafi for Dowling (66), Manning for P. Warwick (49), D. Hurley for Pucciariello (74), Sheahan for Fogarty (51), Holland for Melbourne (74), Coughlan for Foley (74).

Att: 7,740

Ref: S McDowell (Ireland).