Late charge lifts Munster
Munster moved up to second in the RaboDirect PRO12 table after a 24-14 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.
Last Updated: 03/03/12 9:04pm
Munster moved up to second in the RaboDirect PRO12 table after a late flurry of points saw them secure a 24-14 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.
The Irish province leapfrogged the Ospreys and moved away from the chasing pack in the race for the play-offs after scoring 15 points in the last 12 minutes.
Munster, playing without a sizeable international contingent, settled into the match quickly and opened the scoring with a third-minute penalty from fly-half Ian Keatley.
But the Dragons worked their way into the game and drew level thanks to a penalty from Keatley's opposite number Lewis Robling on 17 minutes.
And the hosts were soon in front when a superb 50-metre jinking run by full-back Will Harries allowed centre Ashley Smith to dive over the try-line and make it 8-3.
The conversion was missed, however, and it was Munster who edged back in front as Keatley slotted over a pair of penalties.
The Dragons responded again and Robling knocked over another penalty to reclaim the lead in an error-strewn encounter, with the hosts going into half-time 11-9 to the good.
Possession
The Welsh side had the better of things in terms of possession and territory at the start of the second half but were unable to break clear of a resilient Munster side.
The Dragons suffered a blow when centre Andy Tuilagi limped off the field and was replaced by 17-year-old Jack Dixon.
And the teenager nearly had a dream introduction to the PRO12 when he featured prominently in a dashing 60-metre move that was ended agonisingly close to the line.
Munster were under severe pressure and scrum-half Tomas O'Leary was sin-binned on 58 minutes after referee Carlo Damasco took action over the visitors' infringements at the breakdown.
The Dragons kicked a penalty to the corner and laid siege to the Irish province's line, but the Munster defence stood firm and next time the Dragons earned a penalty they went for the posts - with Robling successfully making it 14-9 with 15 minutes left.
The home side would not hold the lead for long, however, as replacement Denis Hurley went flying through a gaping hole in midfield and the ball was worked wide from the next phase for fellow wing Luke O'Dea to dash over down the right for Munster.
Fly-half Scott Deasy, who had also come off the bench, missed the conversion but was on target minutes later when presented with a 40-metre penalty to put the visitors 17-14 up with 72 minutes on the clock.
And the contest was killed off with five minutes left when full-back Felix Jones snapped up a loose ball in midfield to race over under the posts, Deasy adding the routine extras for a hard-earned win.
