THE BORDERS...10 MUNSTER...18: Munster signed off a less than satisfactory Celtic League campaign with a deserved win last night in a game played in perfect conditions at the Galashiels ground.
Outstanding for Munster last night were flanker David Wallace, whose pace in defence was crucial, and centre Mike Mullins, who added an extra zip to the attack.
Borders full back Gareth Morton and Munster outhalf Jeremy Staunton swapped early penalties before Munster's breakthrough, as centre Mullins used turnover possession to good effect by sending winger Anthony Horgan on a straight run to the line. Staunton's conversion extended the lead.
The Munster men did not have long to wait for another score, with this time skipper Anthony Foley finishing off a drive round the front of a lineout for an unconverted try.
Despite several defence-splitting runs from former All Black star Christian Cullen, Munster were unable to make further progress in the first half and were fortunate not to concede a try when Borders full back Morton reached the line only to lose the ball in the process of touching down.
Staunton's second successful penalty kick just after the break extended Munster's lead, but proved only to be the catalyst for Borders to show their scoring power, when, from a lineout, centre Iain Berthinussen, an amateur player until last month, took a short pass from outhalf Tanner Vili to cross for a try.
Morton added the conversion to reduce Munster's lead to eight points. The visitors then suffered a further setback with the sin-binning of flanker Alan Quinlan for a high tackle on Kevin Utterson as the Borders centre raced for the line.
But despite the one-man advantage the home side were forced to defend as Munster finished strongly.
THE BORDERS: G Morton; N Walker, I Berthinussen, K Utterson, S Cranston; T Vili, G Armstrong; G Cross, S Scott, B Douglas, D Weir, C Stewart, S MacLeod, K Brown, S Sititi. Replacements: I Fairley for Armstrong (21 mins); R Ford for Scott (58): C MacRae for Morton (59); A Johnston for Cross (73); A Davidson for Weir; J Dalziel for Brown (both 75).
MUNSTER: C Cullen; S Payne, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan; J Staunton, E Reddan; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D Pusey, P O'Connell, A Quinlan, D Wallace, A Foley. Replacements: M Prendergast for Reddan (65 mins); F Roche for Flannery (68); G McIlwham for Hayes; S Keogh for Quinlan (both 75); T Hogan for Pusey, B Tuohy for Mullins (both 78); R Callaghan for Prendergast (79).
Referee: N Ballard (Wales)
