Three-try Ulster claim significant win over Munster
Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 22:02
Munster struggled in the absence of O'Gara
Ulster have claimed a vital win in their quest to secure a place in next season's Heineken Cup following a 19-9 victory over Munster.
The Ravenhill club are now eight points ahead of Irish rivals Connacht in the Magners League table with two more homes games left in their schedule.
Munster, who qualified for the final of the Heineken Cup last weekend, fielded a weakened side and were made to pay by Ulster who scored three tries while Munster could only respond with penalties.
Rob Dewey opened the scoring after ten minutes when he broke two tackles and then stretched for the try line. Munster fly-half Paul Warwick reduced his side's arrears with a penalty but missed chances to make further in-roads into Ulster's lead.
He was left to regret those missed penalties when lock forward Ryan Caldwell broke through a lineout to cross the whitewash and give the home side a 14-3 lead at the break.
Ulster were forced to work hard at the start of the second half when Caldwell was sin-binned, however, they managed to survive several Munster attempts to score a try just inches from their own line.
Once Ulster were back to 15 players they were able to re-assert their dominance when Ireland international Andrew Trimble broke from deep to score Ulster's third try.
Warwick added two more late penalties for Munster but it was too-little too-late and the defeat effectively ends their slim title aspirations.