Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CRAIG EDIN’ FOR THE TOP
Casey and Holland Scot what it takes to win
CRAIG CASEY impressed in a try-scoring outing although Munster’s lead at the top of Conference B slipped to nine points despite a win in Edinburgh.
Jack O’Donoghue, Casey and Gavin Coombes all crossed for Munster but they were forced to battle hard all the way with Billy Mata’s try just after the break giving Edinburgh hope.
Munster were outstanding in the first half, with their pack in particular laying the foundations for the win, although Connacht’s bonus point win has trimmed their lead at the top.
Jaco van der Walt andHanrahan traded penalties early and the Munster defence needed to deliver a big set to keep Edinburgh out after 20 minutes.
And after some excellent power play in Edinburgh territory O’Donoghue twisted through a tackle to score, with Hanrahan’s conversion putting Munster 10-3 on the halfhour mark.
The second try soon materialised for Munster. A huge scrum on halfway won a penalty, and s, Craig Casey eventually burrowed over from close range (right) after his dummy pass gave him a gap to attack. Hanrahan’s conversion put Munster 17-3 clear at half-time. A super Henry Pyrgos kick put Edinburgh deep in Munster territory early in the second half, and although Munster’s maul defence stood solid, and Billy Holland pulled off a brilliant try-line tackle, Bill Mata was shoved over by his pack-mates for the try. Van der Walt added the extras.
With Gavin Coombes, Chris
Cloete and O’Donoghue shining for Munster, they still had their hands full with Mata a constant threat.
But the Munster pack won another vital penalty in the 56th minute with a huge shove at scrum time, and after Hanrahan edged them into the corner, and a sniping Casey came very close, Coombes finished off the move with a try for the pack. Edinburgh were far from finished though, and a well set driving lineout 15 minutes from time almost saw them cross, but it was stopped just short. There was an offside infringement from Munster that triggered a mammoth scrummaging session under their own posts, and eventually, four minutes later, Edinburgh failed to hook the ball and Munster forced a decisive turnover and Munster held on.
EDINBURGH: Tries, B Mata; cons, J van der Walt; pens, J van der Walt. MUNSTER: Tries, J O’Donoghue, C Casey, G Coombes; cons, JJ Hanrahan 2; pens, JJ Hanrahan.