RaboDirect Pro12 round-up:Defending champions Munster hit the ground running in their opening competitive game of the season as first-half tries from centres Danny Barnes and Lifeimi Mafi helped them secure a 20-12 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park.
Ian Keatley missed a penalty after 15 minutes for the home side before Steffan Jones put the visitors ahead six minutes late with a haymaker from inside his own half.
Fullback Johne Murphy’s scintillating break and offload after 27 minutes saw 21-year-old Barnes go over, with Keatley adding the extras. And three minutes before the break Munster grabbed their second five-pointer through Mafi, with Keatley again on the mark with the conversion.
Jason Tovey slotted over a penalty right on the whistle to reduce the deficit to 17-6 at the break and further successes after 64 and 69 minutes put the Welsh outfit within five points of Munster going into the last 10 minutes.
The flow of the game was not helped by ill-discipline on both sides, with the Dragons’ Ben Castle being followed into the sin-bin by the Munster trio of Mafi, flanker Peter O’Mahony and replacement hooker Damien Varley.
Keatley knocked over his second penalty of the night with six minutes remaining to put eight points between the sides and Tovey missed the chance to earn his side a losing bonus point when he missed a penalty attempt at the final whistle.
Prop Rodney Ah You crossed for the game’s only try just before half-time as
Connachtgot their competitive season off on the right foot at Stadio di Monigo in the with an 11-9 victory over Benetton Treviso.
Connacht came a cropper at the same ground last year, losing 24-17, but without their World Cup stars, the home side couldn’t repeat the dose in temperatures over 30 degrees.
Treviso opened the scoring through Willem de Waal’s eighth-minute penalty, but despite being under huge pressure early on, Connacht kept the Italians out and Eoin Griffin was called back after a forward pass with the line at his mercy.
De Waal then missed a straightforward penalty which allowed Matthew Jarvis to level up the scores on the half-hour mark.
Jarvis also miscued with a penalty before Connacht took the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Following a lineout deep inside the Treviso half, lock Michael Swift made the initial break and Kiwi tighthead Ah You was on hand to drive over from close range. Jarvis missed the conversion to keep the score at 8-3.
Connacht were put under fierce pressure in the third quarter, but Jarvis's second penalty put his side ahead by a score.
Jarvis missed his third attempt at goal before De Waal slotted two penalties to close the gap to two points, but Connacht held on to seal the points.
