Scarlets 14-17 Munster

Munster came from behind to beat a resilient Scarlets side, to put them in pole position in their Heineken Cup pool after three games

Scarlets battled hard to try and gain something from the game, but the visitors held on to take the victory at Parc Y Scarlets. The home team started much the better here, and had a try within the first five minutes. Back row Aaron Shingler dived over for the Welsh side to give them the lead early on. Rhys Priestland then added a penalty two minutes later to leave the Scarlets 8-0 up after ten minutes. Munster took a while to get themselves back in the contest, but eventually began to threaten midway through the half. Scarlets held up well, but the visitors got off the mark after twenty five minutes from a Ronan O'Gara penalty. The Irish side were now looking a much better outfit, and drew level just after the half hour mark, when a great move down the right hand side saw Niall Ronan dive over. Scarlets, who had looked in control early on, were now struggling, and when Ronan O'Gara landed a penalty right on half time, Munster somehow had a three point lead at the interval. The home side needed to respond, and did just that with a Rhys Priestland penalty ten minutes into the second period. However, the reliable boot of O'Gara restored the Munster lead soon after with a placed kick of his own. Indeed O'Gara was yet again on target with fifteen minutes to play with another penalty to leave six between the teams, with Scarlets slowly running out of time. Stephen Jones came off the bench to land a penalty with ten to play for Scarlets, but it was too little too late for them, as Munster held on to record a third win in their Heineken Cup pool.