Job done for Munster
Munster overcame a sloppy first-half display to consolidate their lead in the Magners League with a 20-10 win over Aironi.
Last Updated: 27/02/11 5:42pm
Munster overcame a sloppy first-half display to consolidate their lead in the Magners League with a 20-10 win over Aironi at Stadio Zaffanella.
The win gives the Limerick-based outfit a nine-point cushion over second- placed Ospreys and edges them towards a home play-off semi-final place.
Scores from Donnacha Ryan and a penalty try condemned Aironi to their 15th consecutive defeat in the competition.
Aironi were competitive in the first period, but Munster used all their experience to take advantage of two second half yellow cards handed out to the hosts.
In a scrappy and mistake-ridden opening, fly-half Paul Warwick put Munster's first points on the board with a sixth-minute penalty.
The Italian side replied through James Marshall, but Munster's stand-off restored the away side's lead with another three points. Back-rower Ryan was then sin-binned for the Irish team but they managed to hold out until the break.
Two minutes into the second half and winger Giulio Toniolatti was yellow carded, and unlike the Italian side, Munster managed to take advantage.
Off a five metre line-out, Ryan made up for his earlier indiscretion by going over for the try, Warwick converting.
Flanker Gareth Krause became the second Aironi player to be put into the bin and the away team made their set-piece dominance tell when the referee awarded them a penalty try.
Aironi had the last say when former Munster back-row Nick Williams went over for a try, with substitute Ricardo Bocchino kicking the conversion.
