RUGBY: Edinburgh ... 21 Munster ... 28 Munster opened up a five-point gap over their nearest rivals, Neath, after achieving a hard fought victory over Edinburgh in the Celtic Leage Pool A match at Meadowbank Stadium last night.

The Irish province were outscored by 2 to 1 in the try count but in Jeremey Staunton they had the ultimate match winner, the full back, in an incredible display of kicking, landing seven penalty goals and a conversion to claim 23 of his side's points.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney, acknowledging that his side had to dig hard for their win, said: "Edinburgh made us work hard and kept us on the hind foot for much of the game but typical Munster tenacity won us the match in the end."

A penalty apiece by Brendan Laney and Staunton set the tone of the game in the early phases but when Staunton was dispossessed from a restart kick Edinburgh moved the ball to Derrick Lee for the wing to cross for an unconverted try.

A second Staunton penalty reduced Edinburgh's lead to just two points, and when the Scottish side was penalised for handling in the ruck the Munster full back made it three from three to give Munster the lead for the first time in the match.

Edinburgh replied instantly with their second try of the night created by Simon Taylor's charge down of Rob Henderson's attempted clearance and the number eight's flip pass to scorer, Chris Paterson .

This time Laney added the conversion but two further penalties by Staunton levelled the scores at 15-15 but then on the stroke of half-time Munster infringed at the ruck allowing Laney to restore the lead for Edinburgh.

Munster, looking much more dynamic at the start of the second half, were given massive encouragement by Jim Williams as the skipper burst from a ruck only to be felled by Laney 15 metres short of the line.

But as Edinburgh tried to scramble clear they were penalised for handling in the ruck and almost inevitably Staunton punished the infringement with another superb kick.

Munster's momentum was slowed with the departure to the sin-binning of flanker Alan Quinlan, yellow carded for an off-the-ball punch on Edinburgh prop Craig Smith.

Edinburgh unable to take advantage of their superior numbers had to wait until the return of Quinlan before moving into the lead, this time a drop-goal from Scotland outhalf Duncan Hodge supplying the points.

It seemed that Staunton would quickly negate Edinburgh's advantage when he lined up for his seventh penalty attempt but this time the full back was just wide of target with his long-range kick.

But Munster, having made two changes, were not to be denied the score they sought.

A break by Mike Mullins ended with a penalty award to the Irishmen and from the ensuing lineout the Munster forwards drove for the line.

Edinburgh managed to thwart the Munster pack but from the next scrum replacement scrumhalf Mike Prendergast made the initial thrust for outhalf Jason Holland to carve a gap before delivering the scoring pass to Lions centre Rob Henderson.

Staunton added the easy conversion and then completed an incredible feat of goal kicking with his seventh penalty goal to make sure of Munster's win.

SCORERS: Edinburgh - Tries: Lee, Paterson. Conversion: Laney. Penalties Laney (2). Drop-goal: Hodge. Munster - Tries: Henderson, Conversion: Staunton. Penalties: Staunton (7)

EDINBURGH: B Laney; D Lee, C Joiner, G Shiel, C Paterson; D Hodge, M Blair; A Jacobsen, D Hall, C Smith, N Hines, S Murray, T Blackadder (capt), S Taylor, M Leslie. Replacements: J Brannigan for Smith (60 mins)

MUNSTER: J Staunton; J Kelly, M Mullins, R Henderson, J O'Neill; J Holland, D Malone; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, J Williams (capt), A Foley, A Quinlan. Replacements: E Halvey for Williams (78 mins), M Prendergast for Malone (75 mins), D Crotty for O'Neill (7).

Referee: N Williams (Wales)