World Cup Stars Do The Job

Munster 31 - 10 Cardiff Blues Musgrave Park   Att: 5,500 Referee: Iain Ramage Friday 28th November 2003, 19:35

Munster secured their third Celtic League win in four games as they beat Cardiff 31-10 at a sodden Musgrave Park.

Frankie Sheahan scored two of his side's four tries as the hosts were bolstered by the return of nine Ireland internationals. The home side opted out of several early sightings of the Cardiff posts and instead to chose to pummel the touchline through returning stand-off Ronan O'Gara. After 11 minutes the Welsh line was crossed as Munster's third line-out in quick succession saw Donnacha O'Callaghan grasp possession and hooker Sheahan rumble over from close range. O'Gara went left with the conversion and Munster turned the screw, with the visiting scrum under pressure and offering up penalty after penalty. South African wing Shaun Payne deservedly crossed for Munster's second try after 34 minutes, when a pick and drive by David Wallace saw O'Gara transfer wide and centre Jason Holland loop a one-handed pass cleverly for Payne to glide over under the challenge of Rhys Williams. Centre Mike Mullins followed up his own chip to touch down his fifth try of the competition close to the Cardiff posts three minutes later, and O'Gara kicked the home side into a 17-0 lead. Blues stand-off Iestyn Harris cut the deficit with a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Cardiff plodded on with Harris, Heino Senekal and Canadian Dan Baugh always presenting, but the home side held too much in reserve with Sheahan notching his second try of the night after 54 minutes, once more on the end of a powerful maul from 10 metres out. A penalty try 10 minutes later, awarded as the Blues sought to bring down a rampant Munster drive close to their line, put four converted tries between the sides. O'Gara kicked the extra points. Cardiff centre Jamie Robinson got a consolation score six minutes from time but a late rally could not prevent a fifth loss from five away trips this season for David Young's side.

Munster V Cardiff Blues   P D C T Pos Player Player Pos T C D P   FB Jeremy Staunton 15 Rhys Williams FB 1 W Shaun Payne 14 Tom Shanklin W 1 C Mike Mullins 13 Jamie Robinson C 1 C Jason Holland 12 Matt Allen C W Mossie Lawlor 11 Craig Morgan W 3 FH Ronan O'Gara 10 Iestyn Harris FH 1 1 SH Peter Stringer 9 Andrew Moore SH P Marcus Horan 1 John Yapp P 2 H Frank Sheahan 2 Gareth Williams H P John Hayes 3 Darren Crompton P L Donncha O'Callaghan 4 Heino Senekal L L Paul O'Connell 5 Andy Moore L FL Jim Williams 6 Dan Baugh FL FL David Wallace 7 Martyn Williams FL 8 Anthony Foley 8 Nathan Thomas 8 Replacements r Jerry Flannery 16 Ben Evans r r Simon Kerr 17 Andrew Lewis r r Trevor Hogan 18 Craig Quinnell r r Stephen Keogh 19 Jim Brownrigg r r Eoin Reddan 20 Ryan Powell - r Martin McPhail 21 Nick Robinson - r Dominic Crotty 22 Donovan Van Vuuren - Penalty Tries 1 0

All Pictures: ©  http://www.inpho.ie/, Huw Evans Agency,  Martin Stuart