Scarlets (10) 20
Tries: Manu, Jones Cons: Priestland 2 Pens: Priestland, D Evans.
Munster (10) 22
Tries: Hurley 2, Moorland Cons: Manning 2 Pen: Manning.

Munster players celebrate at the final whistle at Parc y Scarlets

A try two minutes from the end by Munster wing Denis Hurley broke Scarlets hearts in the Magners League.

The hosts led for large parts of the Parc y Scarlets contest, but the visitors' never-say-die reputation was enhanced by their fight-back.

Fly-half Jeremy Manning had a poor game overall, but he kicked the conversion of Hurley's second try to seal the win.

Scarlets tries came from Deacon Manu and Mark Jones and their kicks from Rhys Priestland and Daniel Evans.

Priestland failed with his first shot at goal after three minutes, but the Scarlets' encouraging start put the visitors under such pressure that number eight Denis Leamy was sin-binned for going offside at a ruck seven minutes later.

Leamy's punishment came after a clear warning from referee Alain Rolland to Munster skipper Mick O'Driscoll.

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And after a second warning about his side's spoiling tactics, O'Driscoll had to watch as Priestland slotted the game's first points after 12 minutes.

Priestland's opposite number Jeremy Manning fluffed his first shot at goal in the 15th minute, but he soon made amends.

The Scarlets then found themselves trailing for the first time as Hurley put wing opponent Sean Lamont under pressure from a kick-and-chase to establish the visitors deep in the hosts' 22.

Lamont was then caught out by Manning's pass that sent Hurley over and the fly-half converted only to see a 29th-minute penalty attempt drift wide.

Munster's Donnacha Ryan was the next to feel referee Rolland's wrath, but his sin-binning for tackling Daniel Evans while the full-back was jumping for the ball seemed harsh as the visiting lock had his back to his 'victim' at the time.

However, the Scarlets' ruthlessly and spectacularly exposed Munster's defensive shortfall as Simon Easterby set Lamont free on the blindside before Jonathan Davies and Easterby combined to send prop Manu over.

Priestland converted the 34th-minute touchdown to level the scores at 10-10 and the teams went in at the break with all to play for.

The Scarlets reclaimed the lead five minutes after the break, centre debutant Gareth Maule's clever offload sending Daniel Evans through before Priestland's pass and a supporting drive took skipper Jones over the line for the fly-half to convert.

Wing Jones took a heavy blow to the face as he challenged Doug Howlett in the air for the ball, but the home captain was soon back on his feet.

However, his side wobbled at a scrum on their own line as scrum-half Martin Roberts allowed himself to be ambushed by flanker Alan Quinlan, resulting in Munster number nine Toby Morland touching down for the 55th-minute score.

Fly-half Manning, who regularly fluffed his lines throughout the game, had to suffer the indignity of seeing his simple, close-range conversion rebound off an upright.

With five minutes left Scarlets full-back Daniel Evans punished more Munster indiscipline at the breakdown.

But Munster were far from finished, conjuring a great score by Hurley, who rounded Manu and held off Maule before bursting clear for Manning to add the extra points.

Scarlets: Evans; Lamont, Maule, Davies, M Jones (capt); Priestland, Roberts, I Thomas, Owen, Manu, Reed, Day, Easterby, D Jones, Lyons.
Replacements: John for I Thomas (55), Cooper for Reed (55), Pugh for D. Jones (55).
Not Used: Phillips, Williams, Newton, Higgitt.

Munster: Jones; Howlett, Murphy, Mafi, D Hurley; Manning, Morland, Brugnaut, Varley, Hayes, Ryan, O'Driscoll (capt), Quinlan, Ronan, Leamy. Replacements: Gleeson for Murphy (71), O'Leary for Morland (65), Buckley for Brugnaut (47), Fogarty for Varley (58), O'Donnell for Ronan (41).
Not Used: Holland, Deasy.

Att: 6,313

Ref: Alain Rolland (Ireland).

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