Scarlets 16 (6)
Tries: Watkins.
Cons: Priestland.
Pens: Priestland 3.

Munster began their Magners League campaign with a hard-fought win over Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park.

Paul Warwick claimed a try, converted it himself and added a penalty to give the Irish a 10-6 lead at half-time.

The boot of rookie rival fly-half Rhys Priestland kept the Scarlets in touch, while Matthew Watkins scored a try.

But Munster always had their noses in front thanks to wing Anthony Horgan's deserved try and Warwick continuing his good form with the boot.

Scarlets' 20-year-old fly-half Rhys Priestland, making his Magners League debut, had an early chance to put his side ahead but pushed his simple penalty kick wide of the right-hand post.

But the youngster made no mistake with a longer-range effort in the eighth minute.

Munster hit back after good work from the pack carved a hole that Warwick popped through to go over almost under the posts, the fly-half converting his own try.

Although both sides endeavoured to produce a decent game, the quality of handling often left a lot to be desired and mistakes were plentiful.

Priestland added his second penalty to bring the visitors to within a point, but Warwick replied with a late kick to give Munster a 10-6 lead at the break.

The home side took control within two minutes of the restart as centre Rua Tipoki stepped brilliantly through a gap to send wing Horgan away to the line, Warwick converting.

The Scarlets should have pulled a try back after Morgan Stoddart made a thrilling break from inside his own 22.

The full-back found Bruce Douglas in support, but the hooker somehow opted to pass inside with Garan Evans clear on the right wing and screaming for what would have been a try-scoring pass.

Instead of being within a score, the Scarlets found themselves adrift 20-6 down soon after as Warwick added his second penalty of the night.

Priestland reduced the deficit with his own penalty before the Scarlets hit back in earnest.

It came thanks to some brilliant work on the deck from John Davies, the veteran turning over Munster ball to allow fellow prop Iestyn Thomas to loop an intelligent pass to the left wing.

Watkins had plenty of work to do but the wing chipped ahead, followed up and gathered before plunging over for a converted try.

But two more Warwick penalties kept Munster out of reach at 26-16, also denying the Scarlets a losing bonus point.

Munster: Payne; Dowling, Lewis, Tipoki, Horgan; Warwick, O'Leary; Pucciariello, Fogarty, Buckley, Melbourne, O'Driscoll, Holland, Ronan, Foley.
Replacements: Cronin, D. Hurley, O'Donnell, Coughlan, G. Hurley, Manning, Mafi.

Scarlets: Morgan Stoddart; Garan Evans, Regan King, Gavin Evans, Matthew Watkins; Rhys Priestland, Gavin Cattle; Iestyn Thomas, James Hayter, Bruce Douglas, Vernon Cooper, Adam Eustace, Dafydd Jones, James Bater (capt), Nathan Thomas.
Replacements: Ben Broster, Ken Owens, Lou Reed, Jonathan Edwards, Liam Davies, Daniel Evans, Jon Davies.

Referee: Peter Allan (SRFU).