Munster fight back to salvage 25-25 draw at Scarlets in PRO12
Last Updated: 22/02/15 3:22pm
An 80th-minute try from replacement JJ Hanrahan helped Munster salvage a thrilling 25-25 draw in a see-sawing Guinness PRO12 clash at Parc y Scarlets.
Fly-half Steven Shingler kicked six penalties and converted the Scarlets' only try, scored by centre Hadleigh Parkes, as the Welsh side built up a 25-13 lead with less than five minutes to go.
But, after George Earle's 74th-minute yellow card saw them reduced to 14 men, they conceded two late tries, with Hanrahan racing under the posts in the final move of the match, allowing fly-half Ian Keatley to convert for the draw.
The draw lifted the west Wales region into the all-important sixth spot in the table, but they will feel it was an opportunity squandered.
As for Munster, they missed a chance to go top of the standings, but remain firmly in contention for a play-off berth.
Both squads had been bolstered by international returnees, with the Scarlets having Wales squad members Rob Evans, Rhys Priestland and Gareth Davies on the bench, while Tommy O'Donnell, Ian Keatley and Felix Jones were back in the ranks for the Irish province.
It was the boots of opposing fly-halves Shingler and Keatley, together with some bruising defence, that stood out in the opening 40 minutes.
Both sides looked to give the ball some air, but the tackling was fearsome at times.
With Ireland flanker O'Donnell to the fore, Munster enjoyed plenty of possession - 70 per cent in the first half - but were finding the Scarlets' defence in determined mood.
Shingler and Keatley exchanged penalties twice before the Scarlets marksman was able to add two more for a 12-6 half-time lead.
There was further frustration for the visitors just before half-time when scrum-half Duncan Williams was shown yellow by referee Dudley Phillips for a stamp on the ribs of wing Harry Robinson.
While O'Donnell had earlier left the field following a bang to the head, the Scarlets brought on Evans, Davies and Priestland for the second half, but Munster managed to negotiate the sin-binning without conceding further points.
And they should have scored themselves, but, after centre Keith Earls broke clear, they butchered a clear overlap out wide.
The Irish province 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, brother Aaron's charge-down was hacked through by centre Parkes and the Aucklander did well to gather and dive over for his first Scarlets try.
Another Shingler penalty pushed the Scarlets 25-13 ahead and put them seemingly in control, but after Scarlets replacement Earle was yellow-carded for not retreating, Munster full-back Felix Jones cut inside to give his side hope.
Then, after the Scarlets were controversially penalised at a line-out inside their half, the visiting forwards drove towards the line and eventually, with the home defence sucked in, Hanrahan was freed for a simple run-in. Keatley converted with the final kick of the game.
