Munster march on as Mintern stars with try-double

NOTTINGHAM coach Ian Costello said his men could have few complaints after his native Munster ran in five tries to stay top of Pool 1.

The reigning B&I Cup champions produced another powerful display as they backed up their first victory against Ospreys Select, scoring five tries against the English Championship side.

Munster held only a 10-7 lead at half-time but with Evan Mintern scoring twice, along with the efforts of Brian Scott, Sam Arnold and Sean O’Connor, they coasted past Nottingham.

“Munster were brilliant in the first 25 minutes, we didn’t touch the ball,” said Costello, who previously coached Munster A.

“We came in with a plan, we needed to get off to a good start especially away from home but that backfired. Munster managed the conditions into the wind very impressively.”

Nottingham had their replacement lock Tim Cardell yellow carded for a team penalty late on, with Oli Evans’ first-half try their only touchdown.

Munster retained possession expertly into the breeze in the first-half and tighthead Scott dived over in the eighth minute. Bill Johnston added a conversion and penalty for a narrow lead but Munster took off after the break.

They moved 24-7 ahead within 12 minutes of the resumption through tries by Arnold and Mintern, who added a second late on.

Munster coach Peter Malone said: “We started well but poor discipline let them in – we did enough.”