LIFE under Clayton McMillan for Munster suffered its first knock when Stormers won Saturday night’s URC top-of-the-table clash at a bitterly cold Thomond Park (attendance: 14,400).
McMillan’s side were 21-6 ahead at the break thanks to tries from Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, who converted all three, and John Hodnett but the home outfit failed to score in the second half as the Stormers used their power to get back into the game.
Near the end, Munster looked to have secured a fourth try in remarkable fashion.
A penalty advantage for Munster saw the ball chipped over the top by Crowley. Shane Daly tapped it back for Craig Casey who then put in a crossfield kick for Tom Farrell who crossed for the ‘try.’
It all came down to Crowley’s conversion and with ice in the veins, the out-half nailed the kick.
Unfortunately for Munster, the TMO spotted a knock on in the build up so The Reds went back to the penalty advantage which was kicked into the Stormers’ 22.
From the scrum, the visitors won a penalty and although Munster managed to stop the maul and win a free kick, the clock was already in the red as the Italian referee Andrea Piardi blew for full time.
Munster are away to Bath in the Champions Cup this weekend.
Munster: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell (Kelly 62), Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman (Milne 55’), Diarmuid Barron (Scannell 55’), John Ryan (Foxe 62’); Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley (Edogbo 58’); Tadhg Beirne, captain, Jack O’Donoghue (Hodnett 10’), Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Michael Milne, Ronan Foxe, Edwin Edogbo, John Hodnett, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Dan Kelly.