Munster’s play-off charge was derailed in Wales as Rhys Patchell produced an impressive showing as Cardiff Blues claimed a 37-28 GUINNESS PRO12 win. Tries from Macauley Cook, Matthew Rees, Garyn Smith and Patchell did the damage as Cardiff ended a run of poor form in the competition, with Darren Sweetnam, Mike Sherry and Jack O’Donoghue late on replying for Munster. Patchell ended with 19 points as Cardiff Blues claimed the bonus-point win after scoring four tries en route to claiming the points. Munster started like an express train and Ian Keatley slotted a third minute penalty to put the visitors in front after Rory Scannell and Billy Holland had made the hard yards to win the decision. And it got even better for Munster just four minutes later as Scannell again broke the gain-line and as the ball went wide Sweetnam was on hand to touch down – unfortunately Keatley couldn’t add the extras. Cardiff reduced the deficit on ten minutes as the ever-dependable Patchell slotted a penalty for the hosts after Munster had been penalised at scrum time. Cardiff, whose only victory in their last four GUINNESS PRO12 fixtures was 23-13 at home to Ulster in round 16, felt they should have scored their first try of the night on 24 minutes but Dan Fish spilled a pass from Patchell and the chance was lost. The pressure was now very much on Munster but after a series of scrums near the visitors’ line, Holland came to the rescue turning the ball over and the Irish side were able to clear their lines. Cardiff pressure finally told on 32 minutes as Josh Navidi broke clear and offloaded for Cook to run through and score – Patchell added the extras to give the Welsh side a 10-8 lead. Lloyd Williams and Blaine Scully both had chances towards the end of the half but Munster held firm in the face of fierce of Cardiff pressure. Munster had won their last two GUINNESS PRO12 matches against Treviso and Newport Gwent Dragons and had been defeated just once away from home in the competition since the turn of the year but it was Cardiff who started the second half the brighter. Patchell extended the home side’s lead to 13-8 in the 43rd minute with a well struck penalty as Cardiff started to turn the screw. Keatley took advantage of Cardiff ill-discipline three minutes later as Munster responded with a penalty to bring the visitors back within two points. Cardiff extended their lead on 50 minutes, the home side turned down a penalty and kicked for the corner and from the resulting line-out Rees rumbled over and Patchell added the conversion to make the score 20-11. Just two minutes later Munster was back in the game as Sherry was driven over and Keatley reduced the deficit to just two points with a conversion. In a topsy-turvy encounter, Cardiff earned some much-needed breathing space as Smith stripped the ball from a Munster forward and raced away to score, with Patchell converting to leave the score at 27-18. Munster refused to throw in the towel and they dominated possession and territory in the final quarter, with Johnny Holland scoring a penalty for the visitors. Patchell extended Cardiff’s lead with a score on 73 minutes as the Blues sealed the bonus point and the fly-half also added the extras for good measure to leave the score at 34-21. O’Donoghue added a late score for Munster but it proved too little too late for the Irish side as the Blues added a late penalty to deny them even a losing bonus point. To buy tickets for the GUINNESS PRO12 Grand Final click here. Also follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12.
