Guinness PRO12: Zebre 12-16 Munster
Last Updated: 01/02/16 10:56am
Munster were forced to battle it out with Zebre as the Irish side came away with a 16-12 win in the PRO12 on Saturday.
Mark Chisholm crossed early for Munster to give them a 7-0 lead, but ill discipline from the Irish side and the boot of Kelly Haimona kept the Italians in the game before Ian Keatley kicked his side to a relieving victory.
Australian Chisholm's fifth-minute try was awarded after the referee consulted the TMO and Keatley added the conversion to give Munster the early advantage.
Haimona then got Zebre off the mark in the 13th minute after Munster were penalised at the scrum. Moments later, he reduced the gap to just a point after Munster strayed offside in midfield.
With the first quarter drawing to a close, Haimona made it three from three attempts to put Zebre into the lead for the first time from another penalty in front of the posts.
However, the Italians were only ahead for two minutes before conceding a penalty inside their own 22 which Keatley converted to restore Munster's lead.
Haimona made Munster pay again with his fourth shot at goal after the Irish side were penalised at the breakdown but Keatley sent Munster into the break 13-12 up with his second penalty four minutes before the interval.
Haimona missed his first penalty of the afternoon when Munster were penalised for not rolling away from the tackle early in the second half as Munster began to squeeze the hosts out of the game.
Keatley missed a penalty opportunity of his own before landing a 71st-minute drop-goal which stretched the Munster lead to four points, and the Irish side saw out the win in Parma.
