Battle-hardened Munster hold off Ospreys

Two-time European Cup champions Munster drew on all their experience on Sunday to defeat Welsh side Ospreys 22-16 and stay top of Pool 3.

The Irish province scored three tries – courtesy of former All Black Doug Howlett, veteran David Wallace and Johne Murphy – to the Ospreys one – by Irish winger Tommy Bowe.

Although they played the last 10 minutes with just 14 men after lock Paul O’Connell was given a straight red card only 10 minutes after coming on.

Ospreys had more than held their own, leading until the final seconds of the first-half when Ronan O’Gara landed his first kick in four attempts to make it 8-6.

Munster had scored the only try of the half when Tomas O’Leary’s superb kick into the Ospreys 22 saw Howlett run onto it and touch down.

It was the Ospreys, though, who drew first blood in the second period when Bowe intercepted Sam Tuitupou’s pass deep inside his 22 and raced away showing a clean pair of heels to record his 19th try in 39 European Cup appearances.

However, the Irish side gained the upper hand near the hour mark when Ryan Jones was yellow carded and the hosts took full advantage.

First Wallace crossed the line, for his 15th try in 82 European Cup games, aided by fellow veterans Alan Quinlan and Mick O’Driscoll and O’Gara converted to give them a 15-13 lead.

This was quickly followed by Murphy taking O’Leary’s pass and running the ball in which was also superbly converted by O’Gara from way out on the left.

The other early match saw another defeat for a Welsh side as the Dragons went down 23-16 at home to former champions Wasps of England.