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Munster reclaimed third place in the RoboDirect PRO12 table after securing a 29-11 bonus-point victory over Treviso.
Last Updated: 07/01/12 11:05pm
Munster reclaimed third place in the RaboDirect PRO12 table after securing a 29-11 bonus-point victory over Treviso at Thomond Park.
Niall Ronan registered the only try of the opening 40 minutes as the hosts went into half-time only 10-6 ahead, but Keith Earls, James Coughlan and Simon Zebo all scored after the break to ensure maximum points.
Manoa Vosawai scored the only try for Treviso, with the rest of their points being kicked by Kris Burton.
Burton gave the Italian outfit the lead with an early kick, but Munster threatened straight from the restart and Ronan O'Gara to drew them level with a 19th-minute penalty.
Munster's play looked rusty in the opening stages but with 24 minutes on the clock, flanker Ronan raced onto Lifeimi Mafi's offload and showed a clean pair of heels to the Treviso cover to go over for the opening try.
O'Gara converted but then missed a difficult penalty attempt from the left after Treviso were shunted back in a scrum.
Chance
A crisply-struck penalty from Burton then punished Donncha O'Callaghan for going offside, leaving Franco Smith's side still firmly in contention at the interval.
They might have been in an even better position at the break but blew a great counter-attacking chance, with Burton also striking the woodwork with a difficult penalty attempt.
Munster's lead was extended in the second half when some neat footwork from Earls saw him burst away from Burton and go in under the posts for a try that was converted by O'Gara.
But Treviso refused to lie down and a well-worked line-out set up by captain Antonio Pavanello led to Vosawai being driven over from a few metres out.
Burton failed to convert from wide out on the left, however, and then it was Munster found another gear, with Murray going close before Coughlan's drive over from close range was confirmed by television match official Seamus Flannery. O'Gara added the extras.
The contest had now been killed off and the visitors' defence was breached once more when a good carry from Coughlan and neat passing from Ian Keatley led to Zebo's try in the corner, before frustration got the better of Treviso replacement Simon Picone as he received a red card in the final seconds.
