Champions Munster claim Musgrave victory
Ryan Woodman grabbed a first try for Dragons on his first senior start but it was reigning champions Munster who eased to a 45-14 BKT United Rugby Championship victory at Musgrave Park.
Wales Under-20 captain Woodman scored just before half-time for depleted Dragons, who showed plenty of spirit against an impressive home attack.
The Men of Gwent were without 20 players, through international call-ups and injury, so several exciting talents got the chance to impress in Cork.
Ewan Rosser, Nathan Evans and Barny Langton-Cryer all made club debuts as Dragons showcased the young players at the club.
But they were up against a Munster side who had lost only once at Musgrave Park since 2016 and it was the hosts that took maximum points.
Scrum half Rhodri Williams led the team out to make his 100th appearance as Head Coach Dai Flanagan made 10 changes.
But he was soon playing full back after Angus O’Brien was forced off after less than three minutes with a wrist injury, replaced by Dane Blacker in a rejigged back line.
Munster looked threatening in the opening minutes as wing Calvin Nash danced inside before losing control and then a driven lineout saw Rory Scannell touch down but a forward pass brought play back.
A mistake from home fly half Tony Butler, as he kicked dead from just outside his own 22, gave Dragons their best field position of the game.
Despite playing into a strong wind, A slick backs move sent Rhodri Williams and then Luke Yendle into space, but when the ball came back left it was turned over.
Munster scored the opening try of the game as they broke from deep through Nash and he sent Scannell over. Butler converted for a 7-0 lead.
A second try followed soon afterwards as home Number Eight Gavin Coombes burst through two tackles and burst over.
Dragons were guilty of giving up possession too easily with wing Nash breaking a tackle and showing his pace to add a third.
A sublime 50:22 gave the Munster machine a five-metre lineout, but Woodman did superbly well to steal the throw and Reed cleared.
A big driving maul won a penalty for Dragons and the visitors finally enjoyed sustained field position as Butler kicked out with his cross field.
Woodman, Bradley Roberts and Ashton Hewitt all carried strongly to force another penalty and a kick to the corner, but after a number of forward drives the ball was spilled.
Pressure finally told as centurion Williams broke and Blacker produced a peach of a cross kick to Woodman to crash over. Reed converted.
Late first half pressure saw Dragons come strong again and try to break through one more time, but Munster held firm for a 17-7 lead at the interval.
Munster secured the try bonus just after the break when lock Tom Ahern broke over from close range after relentless pressure on the Dragons line.
A brilliant last-ditch tackle from Corey Baldwin denied Alex Nankivell a try after he raced down the left wing after neat home handling.
The home side were not to be denied just before the hour when some fantastic offloads freed up the space for scrum half Craig Casey to score.
Ewan Rosser made his club debut and his pressure helped force a penalty that Dragons drove up close with Roberts only a metre short. Another maul was driven up, but this time Roberts was ruled to be held up.
Seán O’Brien had a try ruled out after he was shunted into touch by Williams. But it was no more than a reprieve as a poor lineout was snaffled up the home side and Brian Gleeson bulldozed over.
Nathan Evans and Barny Langton-Cryer were handed debuts late on while Reed hit a brilliant kick into the Munster corner to set up another attack, but spilled ball saw the chance gone.
Nash grabbed his second of the night in the corner after a clever grubber kick through.
Dragons had the final word as a big driving maul saw prop Aki Seiuli touchdown and Reed convert courtesy of the left post.
Timeline:
14m Scannell t Butler c 7-0
18m Coombes t 12-0
22m Nash t 17-0
36m Woodman t Reed c 17-7
48m Ahern t Butler c 24-7
54m Casey t Butler c 31-7
63m Gleeson t Butler c 38-7
74m Nash t Crowley c 45-7
80m Seiuli t Reed c 45-14
Munster: Shane Daly; Seán O’Brien, Alex Nankivell, Rory Scannell, Calvin Nash; Tony Butler, Craig Casey; Kieran Ryan, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan; Edwin Edogbo, Tom Ahern; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Scott Buckley, Mark Donnelly, Stephen Archer, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Ben O’Connor.
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien (Blacker 3), Corey Baldwin (E. Rosser 55), Steff Hughes, Jack Dixon (Owen 66), Ashton Hewitt (Baldwin 67), Will Reed, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones (Seiuli 66), Bradley Roberts (Coghlan 66), Luke Yendle (Evans 64), Joe Davies, George Nott (Langton 66), Ryan Woodman, James Benjamin (Young 77), Taine Basham
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Aki Seiuli, Nathan Evans, Barney Langton-Cryer, George Young, Dane Blacker, Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 36th game)
