Munster edge out Blues
Felix Jones scored an early try on his return to Thomond Park as Munster scrapped their way to a 16-13 win over Cardiff Blues.
Last Updated: 24/02/12 9:39pm
Felix Jones scored an early try on his return to Thomond Park as Munster scrapped their way to a 16-13 win over Cardiff Blues.
Munster had to endure a nervy finish as they were held scoreless in the second half, with the Blues battling back to within three points of their RaboDirect PRO12 play-off rivals.
It was a welcome result for Munster in a week in which their head coach Tony McGahan's departure to take the Australia defence post was all but confirmed.
Dan Parks had kicked Cardiff in front but Jones' try and four successful kicks from Ian Keatley gave Munster a 16-3 at half-time.
Richard Mustoe's crossed the try-line in the 48th minute to lay the foundations for a Cardiff comeback, but the visitors fell just short in the end.
Start
Jones was involved early as he made his first start for Munster since his Rugby World Cup hopes were extinguished by a foot injury in August.
It was the Blues who nosed ahead thanks to Parks' fifth minute opener, but Keatley punished Gavin Henson for going offside when kicking the hosts level from outside the 22.
The hosts then took the lead when Simon Zebo burst onto Mick O'Driscoll's inviting inside pass to carve open the Cardiff defence and the winger then sent Jones speeding in by the posts.
Keatley converted and tagged on two more successful penalties, the second of which was kicked from just a few metres inside the Blues' half.
Cardiff eventually hit back with some pressure but Zebo was back on the attack approaching half-time, launching a kick chase which almost created a second try.
The Blues found some more impetus after the break, with Henson darting through a midfield gap to set up a good position. The visitors duly took advantage as a thread of passes put winger Mustoe over in the right corner.
Physical
Parks' conversion closed the gap to 16-10 with the visitors, benefiting from an improving scrum, clearly upping it in the physicality stakes.
Although Parks missed a kickable penalty, the Blues continued to force the issue and with Keatley being off target with a penalty at the other end, the game seemed there for the taking.
Replacements Rhys Thomas, Ceri Sweeney and Ben Blair made an impact for the Blues with the latter landing a central penalty to make it a three-point game.
Munster then sparked back into life and Paul Tito was given a yellow card for killing Munster ball as the home pack laid siege to the visitors' try-line.
However, the hosts could not add to their tally and needed some strong defence of their own to see out a narrow victory.
