Munster 39-16 Cardiff Blues: Munstermen earn bonus-point win
By Keith Moore
Last Updated: 30/09/17 8:13pm
Munster overturned a half-time deficit to claim a 39-16 bonus-point win over Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park on Saturday.
The Blues started the game the brighter of the two teams and took a 16-13 advantage into the break thanks to a try from Josh Turnbull and 11 points from the boot of Jarrod Evans - with Munsters points coming from a converted Conor Murray score and two penalties from Ian Keatley.
In the second half Munster turned things around, and when Taufa'ao Filise was shown a yellow card for repeated team infringements, the home side capitalised through tries from tighthead prop John Ryan and replacement JJ Hanrahan.
Robin Copeland then crossed in the 68th minute and Hanrahan notched his second late in the game to put the finishing touches on a comfortable victory.
The win puts Munster second in Conference A in the Guinness PRO14, while the Blues are now rooted at the bottom of the table.
Evans gave the visitors an early 3-0 lead when the Munster defence strayed offside in their own half, and Munster could have levelled things shortly thereafter but opted instead to kick to the corner from a scrum penalty.
Munster lost the resulting lineout, but after the Blues missed touch with the clearance, the hosts countered and went through the phases before Murray dived into the base of the post to notch a try.
Evans then brought his side to within a point with his boot when Nick Williams got over the ball at the breakdown to win a penalty at the end of the first quarter.
The Blues scored their first try when Rhun Williams made a break down the left touchline before releasing Tom James. The winger was tackled short of the line but after the ball was recycled it was sent to the right, and a long pass from Willis Halaholo put Steven Shingler into space and Shingler drew the final defender to put Turnbull over.
Ian Keatley added three points from the tee when the Blues were penalised for no clear release at the tackle to made it a three-point game on the half hour mark, and the No 10s traded further penalties to leave the Welshmen 16-13 ahead at half-time.
Munster came out firing in the second half, and after the Blues conceded penalty after penalty in front of their own line, referee Quinton Immelman finally lost his patience and sent Filise to the sin bin.
Rassie Erasmus' side cashed in during the ten-minute period with an extra man, with Ryan crashing over from close range before Hanrahan dived over following a superb break from Rory Scannell.
The Blues tried to get back into the game but were unable to breach the Munster line, and ultimately conceded a total of 26 unanswered points in the second half when Copeland and Hanrahan dotted down in the final quarter for a bonus-point win for the Munstermen.
