Paterson punishes Munster

Edinburgh 12 Munster 7: Munster’s poor run of form continued in Edinburgh as they failed to prevent the Scottish side going …

Edinburgh 12 Munster 7:Munster's poor run of form continued in Edinburgh as they failed to prevent the Scottish side going top of the Magners League – recording their first loss to Edinburgh since October 2006.

Scotland back Chris Paterson kicked four penalties for the hosts, while Ireland international Ronan O'Gara had an off night, missing three shots at goal.

O'Gara did convert David Wallace's second-half try but it was not enough for the visitors.

Munster were offside at the start and Paterson kicked the resulting penalty.

READ MORE

However, although the hosts dominated the rest of the opening quarter from quick possession they could not breach the visitors' defence.

The closest they came was when they drove a five-metre lineout only for the ball to pop out on the Munster side.

The set scrum was proving a messy area with each side taking one against the head.

When the ball came out on Munster's side after 21 minutes Edinburgh were penalised in the subsequent mess but O'Gara missed the kick.

Five minutes later O'Gara stuck a penalty to touch 10 metres from the Edinburgh line which then fell under prolonged siege.

Munster drove line-outs and attempted to pick and dive over. Number eight Wallace drove over but the effort was ruled out by the tv official.

A splendid tackle by Ross Ford on his Lions captain Paul O'Connell ended the siege and allowed Edinburgh to go up field.

Paterson kicked two more penalties after an infringement by Donncha O'Callaghan before punishing another offside with his third penalty.

Ian Dowling misjudged a kick from Phil Godman two minutes after the restart, putting Tim Visser apparently clear down the left wing.

But Munster centre Jean De Villiers recovered to save his side.

Dowling was then involved in chasing a kick from O'Gara that ended in a five-metre scrum.

Wallace touched down off the scrum and O'Gara converted to cut Edinburgh's lead to two points.

Paterson then extended Edinburgh's lead by maintaining his 100% record with a simple penalty.

Six minutes later O'Gara failed from long distance, his third penalty miss.

In the closing minute centre Ben Cairns ghosted past two men but appeared to suffer a leg injury when he was tackled to worry Scotland coach Andy Robinson.