Reds stay on road to home semi-final
MUNSTER defeated Glasgow Warriors for the fourth time this season as James Cronin’s fourth-minute try set them on the road to a 107 win in Cork.
Munster missed out on a third-quarter try, most notably when Ronan O’Mahony fumbled past the try-line, but a Rory Scannell penalty extended their lead to 10 points.
Although Stuart Hogg rallied Glasgow with a welltaken try from his own chip through, the Scots ran into a red brick wall in the closing stages, with the result leaving their play-off hopes hanging by a thread.
Both sides played at breakneck speed, especially during a physical first half, in front of a sell-out 8,008 crowd at Musgrave Park.
Despite making 10 changes from their European victory over Toulouse, Munster kept up their fine form and a home Pro12 semi-final is within their grasp.
South African loan-signing Jean Deysel was prominent as a ball carrier in Munster’s early attacks, the pressure leading to Cronin burrowing over from a close-in ruck. Tyler Bleyendaal converted before his night was ended prematurely by injury.
Both sides left points behind them from visits to the 22, the end-to-end action seeing Munster full-back Andrew Conway thrive under the high ball.
There were further missed opportunities for Munster after the interval, the hosts unable to convert from a brilliant Conway break and their forwards going close soon after.
Winger O’Mahony thought he had scored in the 56th minute, having linked in superb fashion with Duncan Williams and Jaco Taute. However, replays showed that he lost control of the ball as he went over the line and the try was ruled out.
A penalty from Scannell put the province into the double figures, but Hogg hit back in the 68th minute, exposing Conway with a clever kick and collect.
Finn Russell converted and Glasgow enjoyed a serious purple patch past the 70-minute mark but Munster stood firm in defence, forcing a couple of crucial knock-ons with young openside and man-of-the-match Conor Oliver at his disruptive best.