Blues’ return to Arms sees Munster take win

CARDIFF Blues fell to defeat against Munster in their first competitive match at Cardiff Arms Park in just over a year.

Having lost ground in Conference B after defeat to Connacht last week, their hopes of European qualification took another knock after losing a half-time lead.

A scrappy first-half was punctuated by one attack of real quality and a handful of penalties.

A scything break from Mason Grady in midfield splintered the Munster attack and they never really recovered from there.

A quick penalty and a few phases later, Seb Davies was able to walk through a gap in the Munster defence and stroll over for the opening try on after a penetrating flat pass from Ben Thomas.

Minutes later, Davies went from hero to villain with a yellow card for an illegal clearout.

The rest of the first-half’s scoring was limited to two JJ Hanrahan penalties either side of a Ben Thomas effort with the tee.

Munster are the runaway leaders in Conference B, but they simply couldn’t build much pressure largely in part to the work Ellis Jenkins did in spoiling their attacks with a host of key interventions.

That this is just the Wales flanker’s

CARDIFF BLUES ............... 11 MUNSTER .......................... 20

second competitive game back after over 800 days out is simply baffling, such is his sharpness.

Another penalty from Thomas shortly after half-time stretched the host’s lead. But Munster would eventually find some momentary fluency to force their way ahead for the first time.

A flurry of quick carries in the home 22 left Jenkins and his teammates powerless to stop the Irish province, with Jean Kleyn on hand to dive over as the pressure told.

Thomas had a couple of opportunities from the tee to put the home side back in front, but one hit the upright while the other fell just short.

With just a couple of minutes left, Munster rumbled over with a remarkable rolling maul from 20 metres out - Niall Scannell the apparent scorer at the bottom of the pile - to put the game beyond doubt and deny the hosts even a losing bonus point.

Cardiff Blues: Try: Davies. Pens: Thomas 2.

Munster: Tries: Kleyn, N. Scannell. Cons: Hanrahan, Carbery. Pens: Hanrahan 2.