COOMBES HITS HIS STRIDE IN MUNSTER VICTORY
MUNSTER knocked Cardiff Blues off the top of Pro14 Conference B with a bonus point win at Thomond Park. The competition’s first ever Monday night match outside of the festive period quickly caught fire thanks to early tries from Rey Lee-Lo and Gavin Coombes. No8 Coombes completed his brace to help Munster lead 17-13 at the break, with Ben Healy and Jarrod Evans landing three kicks each. There were five tries in 16 minutes either side of the hour mark, as scores from Kevin O’Byrne, Jack O’Donoghue and replacement JJ Hanrahan kept Munster in front. Aled Summerhill and Willis Halaholo sandwiched in two high-quality touchdowns for Cardiff. Lloyd Williams’ late callup to the Wales squad saw Kristian Dacey captain the Blues. It took only a minute for centre Lee-Lo to burst in behind the posts following a slick set-up by Halaholo and Evans. Munster hit back when Coombes burrowed over for the levelling seven-pointer. After John Hodnett was held up before Coombes’ grounding was spotted by Andrea Piardi. Munster led by four at the interval before stretching their lead after the break. MUNSTER: Haley, Nash, Goggin (de Allende 29), R. Scannell, Sweetnam, Healy (Hanrahan 63), Casey (McCarthy 72), J. Cronin (J. Wycherley 69), O’Byrne (Marshall 60), Archer (Salanoa 69), F. Wycherley (Kleyn 63), Holland, O’Donoghue, Hodnett (Cloete 63), G. Coombes.
Scorers: Tries: G. Coombes 2, O’Byrne, O’Donoghue, Hanrahan. Cons: Healy 4, Hanrahan. Pens: Healy.
CARDIFF BLUES: Morgan, Summerhill, LeeLo, Halaholo (Smith 69), Amos, Evans (Tovey 72), L. Williams (Jones 69), Domachowski (Thyer 62), Dacey (E. Lewis 69), Arhip (Andrews 69), Murphy, Thornton (Lawrence 41), Ratti, Botham (Moore 69), Robinson. Tries: Lee-Lo, Summerhill, Halaholo. Cons: Evans 3. Pens: Evans 2. Ref: Andrea Piardi (Italy).