Edinburgh v Munster

From the Edinburgh Rugby site.

EDINBURGH 7 - 11 MUNSTER

http://www.edinburghrugby.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=389&Itemid=92

Edinburgh surrendered their unbeaten run with Munster chalking up a narrow 11-7 win at Murrayfield; even though Ben Meyer scored a try to put the home side into a second half lead.

Despite being the outside bet to win the match, Edinburgh started brightly and should have chalked up a 9-0 half-time lead, but unfortunately three uncharacteristic penalty misses from Phil Godman let the much-fancied Irish Province off the hook.

Edinburgh may have enjoyed the upper hand in the first half, but it was Munster who eventually took the lead through a penalty from stand-off Paul Warwick, although it took until the 50th minute for the scoreboard to come alive.

Warwick doubled Munster's advantage five minutes later before Edinburgh staged a fightback led by captain Allister Hogg and scrum half Ben Meyer.

Edinburgh enjoyed the majority of possession during the first half against Munster, but three penalty misses by Phil Godman has kept the scoreline blank.

In a match that has ebbed and flowed, Roland Reid smashed into Doug Howlett early on; setting the tone for a physically challenging encounter between two certified title challengers.

The 17-stone winger then chased his kick and put off the diminutive Peter Stringer, who nervously knocked the ball into touch.

After sustained Edinburgh pressure with line breaks from Ben Cairns, Edinburgh were awarded a straightforward penalty, but Phil Godman unfortunately missed the penalty.

Edinburgh survived a couple of purposeful Munster attacks and then turned up the heat with an eye-catching driving maul deep into the visitors' territory.

The home side started to find some rhythm and, after some quick ball from scrum half Ben Meyer, Hugo Southwell off-loaded to Reid before the move broke down.

Godman saw another two uncharacteristic penalty misses let Munster off the hook, but Allister Hogg kept rattling the Irish Province with some uncompromising tackles.

Hogg, Southwell and Meyer were the men in black and red that caught the eye in an evenly-matched first half.

Ross Rennie produced the break that led to an excellent Edinburgh attack when the 21-year-old broke two tackles to set up a period of concerted pressure in the Munster half.

Right on the stroke of half-time Munster winger Ian Dowling was yellow-carded, but Edinburgh squandered the resultant line-out.

After the break, Reid was sin binned and to heighten Edinburgh's woes, Munster scored the decisive try when Donnacha Ryan powered over from close range, although Warwick, named man of the match by Setanta, missed the subsequent conversion attempt.

Edinburgh Rugby Club squad that played Munster at Murrayfield (Friday 15 February, kick-off 7.30pm)
 
15 Hugo Southwell (MacRae 78)
 
14 Andrew Turnbull
13 Ben Cairns
12 John Houston (De Luca 51)
11 Roland Reid
 
10 Phil Godman
9 Ben Meyer (Laidlaw 51, Meyer BR for Laidlaw 54)
 
1 Augusto Allori (Smith 51)
2 Andrew Kelly
3 Gavin Kerr
4 Matt Mustchin (Pringle 70)
5 Craig Hamilton
6 Alan MacDonald (Cross 66)
7 Ross Rennie
8 Allister Hogg (captain)
 
Substitutes: Craig Smith, Steve Lawrie, Fergus Pringle, Simon Cross, Greig Laidlaw, Nick De Luca, Calum MacRae.