Sport

Munster fail to fire at Dragons

Rugby Celtic League Munster - 6 Gwent Dragons - 16: Holders Munster's poor recent run in the Celtic League continued last night…

Sat Mar 13 2004 - 00:00

Rugby Celtic League Munster - 6 Gwent Dragons - 16: Holders Munster's poor recent run in the Celtic League continued last night when they suffered a 16-6 defeat at the hands of a tenacious Gwent Dragons side at Thomond Park.

Three second-half penalty goals from South African centre Percy Montgomery sealed a deserved victory for the Dragons before a crowd of 4,000.

Munster lacked nothing in terms of endeavour, but were simply unable to breach a rock-solid visitors defence. This defeat effectively ends Munster's slim chances of retaining the league title with just six rounds remaining in the competition.

Gwent Dragons, third in the league table before kick-off, created the bulk of the scoring chances in the opening quarter.Twice the Welsh visitors seemed destined to score tries in the opening 12 minutes, but both winger Hal Luscombe and scrumhalf Gareth Baber knocked on with the try-line at their mercy.

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Mossie Lawlor failed to get hold of a 25-metre penalty on 25 minutes, but opened Munster's account two minutes later after Dragons prevented captain Jim Williams from releasing under their posts.

The visitors were reduced to 14 players in the 28th minute when prop Chris Anthony was sin-binned for killing the ball. Lawlor kicked over the penalty.

However, Gwent Dragons hit back soon after with captain Andy Mariner, scoring a fine try following good work by both Montgomery and outhalf Craig Warlow. Montgomery added the conversion points to give his side a slender 7-6 interval lead.

In the second half, Gwent Dragons made sure of victory with those three penalty goals from the boot of Montgomery.

SCORERS: Munster - Pens: Lawlor 2. Gwent Dragons - Tries: Marinos. Cons: Montgomery. Pens: Montgomery 3.

MUNSTER: Cullen; Payne, Kelly, Holland, Lawlor; O'Sullivan, F Murphy; Horan, F Sheahan, McIlwham, Pusey, T Hayes, S Keogh, Wallace, Williams. Replacements: E Reddan for F Murphy (60 mins); K Matthews for C O'Sullivan (66); M McPhail for M Lawlor (75).

GWENT DRAGONS: Tuipuluto, Brew, Montgomery, Marinos, Luscombe, Warlow, Baber, Black, S Jones, Anthony, Sidoli, Edwards, Beattie, Skinstad, Forster. Replacements: L Charteris for N Edwards (68 mins); R Snow for C Anthony, R Oakley for R Beattie (both 77); B Breeze for H Luscombe (79).

Sinbin: C Anthony (28-38 mins).

Referee: G Hannah (Scotland).