Hanrahan snatches draw but Munster miss top spot
A LAST-GASP tr try from replacement JJ Hanrahan helped Munster salva salvage a dramatic 2525 draw in th this see-sawing Guinness PRO12 clash. The Sc Scarlets had led 25-13 with le less than five minu minutes remaining, but, afte after George Earle’s 74 74th-minute yellow ca card saw them r reduced to 14 men, th they conceded two l latethe match.tries, with Hanrahan racing under the posts in the final move of
The draw lifted th the west Wales regionre into the allimportantim sixth spot in the table, but they willwi see it as a wasted opportunity.op Munster missed a chancech to go top but remainr firmly in contentionc for a play-offp berth.
Both squads were bolstered by the return of some internationali players,pla with the ScarletsScar having Rob Evans, Rhys Priestland and Gareth Davies on the bench, while Tom Tommy O’Donnell, Ian Keatley and Feli Felix Jones were back in Munster’s ran ranks.
It was the boot of opposing flyhalves Steve Shi Shingler and Keatley, together with so some bruising defence that sto stood out in the opening 40 minu minutes. Both sides looked to give th the ball some air, but the tackling was fearsome at times.
A bright start f from the Scarlets saw Shingler mo move them 3-0 ahead early on, only fo for Keatley to respond for Mun Munster.
With flanker O O’Donnell to the fore, Munster enjoyed plenty of possession – 70pc in the first half – but found the Scarlets defence in determined mood.
After veteran prop Phil John was held up just short, Shingler put the Scarlets back in front before Keatley was on target again.
A rash high tackle by Donncha O’Callaghan on Jordan Williams allowed the Scarlets to grab the lead again and Shingler added three more points before half-time.
There was further frustration for the visitors just before half-time when scrum-half Duncan Williams was shown yellow for a stamp on the ribs of wing Harry Robinson.
O’Donnell had earlier left the field following a bang to the head but Munster managed to negotiate the sin-binning without conceding.
And they should have scored themselves, but, after centre Keith Earls broke clear, they butchered a clear overlap out wide.
They were not to be denied, though, with a period of concerted pressure on the home line leading to replacement Jack O’Donoghue ploughing over from close range.
Keatley’s conversion gave Munster the lead for the first time in the match, but it did not last long with Shingler bisecting the uprights from close to halfway.
Moments later his brother Aaron played a leading hand in their only try scored by Hadleigh Parkes. Another Shingler penalty pushed
pM Scarlets 25-13 ahead and put them seemingly in control, but Munster are past masters at pulling a game out of the fire and did so again.
Firstly, after Scarlets replacement Earle was yellowcarded for not retreating, Munster full-back Felix Jones cut inside.
Then, after the Scarlets were controversially penalised at a lineout inside their own half, the visitors pounced. The forwards drove towards the line and with the home defence sucked in, Hanrahan was freed for a simple run-in at the posts and Keatley landed the kick. SCARLETS: J Williams; H Robinson, R King, H Parkes, M Tagicakibau; S Shingler (R Priestland 41 temp, A Warren 75), A Davies (G Davies h-t); P John (R Evans h-t), K Owen, P Edwards (J Adriaanse 75); L Rawlins, J Snyman (G Earle 8); A Shingler, J Davies, J Barclay (R McCosker 75). Yellow card: G Earle (74-80). Scorers - Tries: Parkes. Con: Shingler.