Defending champs march on

Munster produced a typically resilient and effective display to beat Sale Sharks 24-16 in their Heineken Cup encounter at Edgeley Park on Sunday.

The defending European champions took control in the first half courtesy of a fine Paul Warwick try and the full-back then added a opportunistic long-range drop-goal.

But Sale fought back bravely in the second period and restored parity at 16-16 as Luke McAlister converted Dean Schofield's score under the posts.

Munster were not to be denied, though, and after man-of-the-match David Wallace had edged them back in front again, Ronan O'Gara killed the match - and denied Sale a losing bonus point - as he slotted a late 40-metre drop-goal.

The visitors did in fact make a scrappy start to the contest handing McAlister two early penalty opportunities - the New Zealander making the more difficult second after seeing his first attempt drift past the posts on the wind.

But Munster were back on terms shortly afterwards with Sebastien Chabal clumsily infringing to allow O'Gara to land the first of his two penalties.

The visitors hit the front for the first time on the quarter-hour mark as O'Gara fed back-rower Alan Quinlan who joined the line before producing a deft pass to Warwick who steamed over unopposed.

O'Gara added the conversion from out wide before Warwick extended the lead to 13-3 as he expertly took a clearing kick from Richard Wigglesworth before advancing in field and unleashing a clean drop-goal.

Response

Ten points down, Sale needed a response and got it as McAlister helped earn a penalty with a darting break before slotting the kick, but the hosts ended the first period on the back foot and only some manful last-ditch defending kept Munster from crossing the whitewash for a second time.

The second half started in poor style for Sale as, barely thirty seconds into it, Rory Lamont, amongst others, was caught offside from Wiggleworth's high kick allowing O'Gara to re-establish the ten-point gap with his second penalty.

Five minutes later Sharks head-coach Philippe Saint-Andre opted to shuffle his pack and introduced Charlie Hodgson for Dwayne Peel in a move that saw Wiggleworth move from fly-half to scrum-half.

Sale instantly looked better-balanced with Hodgson decisive with his passing and kicking from hand and they hauled themselves back within seven as McAlister landed his third penalty after Lifeimi Mafi was penalised for a perceived spear tackle on replacement Marc Jones.

McAlister was involved as Sale pulled level shortly before the hour mark as he produced a runaround with Hodgson that nearly sent Lamont through Munster backline, but seconds later Marc Jones did pierce it with a strong break and offloaded to another replacement, Dean Schofield, who bundled over under posts - McAlister adding the conversion.

But as so often in the past Munster maintained their composure and after some canny kicking from O'Gara gained excellent field position inside the Sale 22, resulting in a move that ultimately saw Mafi release Wallace with a quick show of hands to allow the back-rower to crash over for what proved the game's crucial score.

O'Gara then added a gloss five minutes from time with an immaculate drop-goal that earned his side a second straight European triumph, while robbing their opponents of a losing bonus point.