Munster end three-match losing run in URC with Lions victory

Munster returned to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship a month on from Graham Rowntree’s departure with a 17-10 victory over the Emirates Lions.

The Lions made their Thomond Park debut and led 10-7 at half-time, Kade Wolhuter kicking a penalty after Thaakir Abrahams’ first Munster try had been cancelled out by a superb Henco van Wyk score.

However, second-half tries from replacement Shane Daly and Alex Kendellen ended Munster’s three-match losing run in the URC and gave interim head coach Ian Costello a result to build on.

Munster’s stand-in captain Diarmuid Barron showed the way with an early break, while a Billy Burns touchfinder also pinned the Lions back.

And the hosts drew first blood when their South African speedster Abrahams successfully squeezed over the line under pressure from Richard Kriel in the 15th minute, having scooped up John Ryan’s bouncing pass.

Abrahams then helped to bring down a Lions maul, but the visiting side’s outside backs were beginning to cause problems.

And there was no stopping centre Van Wyk on an outstanding 27th-minute run, beating six defenders, including bouncing off Mike Haley’s attempted tackle, before grounding the ball under Gavin Coombes.

Wolhuter landed the conversion to make it 7-7 before his penalty just four minutes later handed a slim half-time advantage to the South Africans, who had lost away to Leinster last time out.

But Munster hit back two minutes into the second half to reclaim the lead, Abrahams using turnover ball to surge down the right before sending Daly over.

Driven on by player-of-the-match Jack O’Donoghue, Munster moved 17-10 ahead when Kendellen, with support from Ryan, burrowed over in the 53rd minute, although Burns was off target again with his conversion attempt.

The Lions’ best chance to respond came early on in the final quarter, as they took Munster through 13 phases before Paddy Patterson got his boot to the ball to break up the attack.