FOR the most part, Munster made light work of Dragons in the URC at Rodney Parade, Newport.
The visiting side were 31-0 ahead after a totally lopsided opening half, but Dragons improved thereafter and eventually it finished: Munster 39, Dragons 18.
The outcome brought with it a bonus point victory that moves Munster up the ladder and inside qualification for the knock-out phase of a competition in which the side emerged winners in recent times.
Diarmuid Kilgallen, Alex Kendellen, Ben O’Connor, Dian Bleuler and John Hodnett scored Munster’s tries. There was also a penalty try awarded, with Billy Burns converting two and Tony Butler one.
Munster have some downtime now before Scarletes visit Thomond Park on Valentine’s Weekend.
Munster: Ben O’Connor; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell (Tony Butler ‘24), Rory Scannell, Shane Daly (Paddy Patterson ’50); Billy Burns (Brian Gleeson ’56), Ethan Coughlan (Danny Sheahan ’64); Dian Bleuler (Kieran Ryan ’67), Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager (John Ryan ’40); Fineen Wycherley (Evan O’Connell ’60), Tom Ahern; Jack O’Donoghue, captain, Alex Kendellen (John Hodnett ’51), Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Danny Sheahan, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Evan O’Connell, Brian Gleeson, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, John Hodnett.
