MUNSTER let slip a healthy 28-7 closing quarter advantage to eventually finish level at 28 points apiece with Bath in a lively pre-season closer at Cork’s Virgin Media Park.
It was through tries from Andrew Smith, Michael Milne, Mike Haley, and a penalty try which gave Clayton McMillan’s side such a big advantage well into the second half.
For this unique three 30-minute period fixture, Munster fielded two teams and used 37 players in all.
Munster (Team 1): Shane Daly; Andrew Smith, Seán O’Brien (Gibbons 60’), Dan Kelly (Wood 60’), Diarmuid Kilgallen (McCarthy 3’); JJ Hanrahan, Ethan Coughlan (Patterson 35’); Jeremy Loughman (Donnelly 30′)), Niall Scannell , captain, (Clein 30’), Oli Jager (Bartley 30’); Evan O’Connell, Tom Ahern; Ruadhán Quinn (Edogbo 35’), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.
Munster (Team 2): Mike Haley; Ben O’Connor, Fionn Gibbons, Gordon Wood, Thaakir Abrahams; Tony Butler, Craig Casey, captain, (Patterson 76’); Michael Milne (Donnelly 71’), Lee Barron, John Ryan (Bartley 60’); Conor Ryan, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Donnelly, Conor Bartley (Foxe 76’), Ronan Foxe, Michael Foy, Seán Edogbo, Paddy Patterson, Shay McCarthy.