Munster come out on top in Bridgend

It was a cold and clear night for a festive fixture at the Brewery Field. Munster were clinical as they came out on top in a tense encounter. 

The opening passages were all to play for as neither side could keep a clear advantage of possession or territory.

The next five belonged to Ospreys as an extended spell of possession in the Munster 22 and a string of penalties from visitors was eventually rewarded through the boot of Dan Edwards. An easy kick in front of the sticks. Ospreys 3 - 0 Munster. 

Soon after the three points, Ospreys were reduced to 14 after a defender was deemed to have taken a Munster player out after they dinked it over.

The visitors quickly took advantage of the extra man and the Munster maul allowed Daly to peel away and go over in the corner. Conversion missed by Crowley. Ospreys 3 - 5 Munster.

After the score, Ospreys did an excellent job of neutralising the extra man and opposition opportunities were few and far between until they were restored to their full compliment.

NAGY GOES CLOSE! A charged down kick lit a fire in the full back’s belly and he was inches away from dotting it down. A recovering Munster defender did just enough to stop him but gave away a five-metre scrum in the process. Unfortunately, the ref got in the way of Morgan off the scrum and Munster were able to turn it over.

The momentum then swung the way of the visitors, who took the next opportunity and once again went over from the maul. Crowley converted. Ospreys 3 - 12 Munster.

Munster added to their tally as the clock struck red. Crowley sniped over near the line after a clean break from Paddy Patterson. Conversion made. A tough pill to swallow after a few opportunities missed by the Ospreys in the first half. Ospreys 3 - 19 Munster.
 

HALF TIME: OSPREYS 3 - 19 MUNSTER

The visitors came out in the second half similarly to how they ended the first, with the tone being set by their defence. With momentum on their side, they were able to score their fourth try at just under 10 minutes played. Conversion good.  Ospreys 3 - 26 Munster.

TRY FOR THE OSPREYS! A successive set of penalties conceded by Munster on their own line was punished by Ospreys as Morgan Morris powered over for the score. Dan Edwards converted, and Munster also received a yellow for their consistent infringements. Ospreys 10 - 26 Munster.

With 20 minutes played, Ospreys turned the screw as they won the battle at scrum time. But, an organised Munster defence made it difficult to break through and the score remained the same.

The Munster defence continued to apply pressure as the second half progressed, making it difficult to create any openings for our attack.

With less than five to go, Keith made a sharp punch through the Munster defence but the opposition turned the ball over shortly after.

The stalemate continued into the closing minutes. Munster had the ball in the Ospreys 22 for the final play of the game, but smart defence led to the turnover and Ospreys recovered possession on their own try line. A half-break by Dan Edwards in the final seconds looked like it might be something, but it was smothered by Munster and the whistle went.