Munster Rugby suffer defeat to Bath in pre-season friendly

MUNSTER Rugby opened their pre-season series of friendly fixtures with a narrow 21-24 defeat to Premiership side, Bath Rugby, at the Rec on Saturday afternoon.

Visitors Munster scored three tries in the first half from John Hodnett, Shay McCarthy and Diarmuid Barron to lead 21-12 at half-time.

However, the Johann van Graan-coached Bath side scored 12 unanswered points in the second period as both sides rang the changes from the replacements bench to edge Munster out.

Diarmuid Barron captained a 30-player Munster squad for the game.

New signings Billy Burns and Tom Farrell both started on their first Munster appearances with a mixture of senior, Academy and club players included.

Among the replacements, new signings Bryan Fitzgerald and Diarmuid Kilgallen made their first Munster appearances along with Academy players Ronan Foxe and Jack Oliver, and club players Conor Ryan (UCC) and Luca Cleary (UL Bohemian). Ryan came up through the ranks at Clonakilty RFC with Cleary from Ennis RFC.

Full-back Patrick Campbell returned to action after a long-term shoulder injury.

Visitors Munster led the game 21-12 at half-time. The URC side had tries from John Hodnett, Shay McCarthy and captain Diarmuid Barron, with debutant Billy Burns converting all three.

Munster didn't manage to score in the second period, while Bath racked up 12 points to seal a hard fought victory.

John Hodnett went over for the opening try of the game for Munster on six minutes, with Burns converting to score his first points for the province.

Bath hit back when Emens went over for a try in the 13th minute, converted by Orlando Bailey.

Munster's Gavin Coombes was yellow carded in the 19th minute and almost immediately Spandler benefited from a Bath rolling maul to crash over and give his side a 12-7 advantage.

The visitors rallied and went back in front with a converted Shay McCarthy try on 27 minutes before adding their third score just before half-time through captain Diarmuid Barron, making the score 12-21 at the break.

With a different 15 taking the field in the second half to provide further pre-season minutes across the squad, Bath reduced the arrears when Coetzee scored in the 43rd minute.

Within five minutes, Offiah raced over for his debut score in Bath colours, Finn Russell adding the extras off the tee to put the hosts 24-21 up.

It proved to be the final score of the contest.

Munster continue their pre-season fixtures with a home meeting with another Premiership side, Gloucester Rugby, on Friday next, September 6 at Virgin Media Park at 7pm.

SCORERS: Bath Rugby: Austin Emens, Jasper Spandler, Jaco Coetzee, Tyler Offiah try each, Orlando Bailey, Finn Russell con each. Munster Rugby: John Hodnett, Shay McCarthy, Diarmuid Barron try each, Billy Burns three cons.

BATH RUGBY: 1 Arthur Cordwell, 2 John Stewart, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Ewan Richards, 7 Thompson Cowan, 8 Miles Reid (c), 9 Louis Schreuder, 10 Orlando Bailey, 11 Ruaridh McConnochie, 12 Will Butt, 13 James Short, 14 Austin Emens, 15 Ciaran Donoghue. Replacements: Niall Annett, Jasper Spandler, Kepu Tuipulotu, Ioan Emanuel, Archie Stanley, Mikey Summerfield, Francois van Wyk, Charlie Ewels, Will Jeanes, Quinn Roux, Jaco Coetzee, Ted Hill, Arthur Green, Ethan Staddon, Tom Carr-Smith, Ieuan Davies, Finn Russell, Louie Hennessey, Max Ojomoh, Joe Cokanasiga, Tom de Glanville, Luke Graham, Tyler Offiah, Jack Woods.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Patrick Campbell (Mike Haley ‘50); Liam Coombes (Seán O’Brien ’63), Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien (Bryan Fitzgerald ’51), Shay McCarthy (Diarmuid Kilgallen ’56) ; Billy Burns (Tony Butler ‘40), Ethan Coughlan (Jack Oliver ’51, Luca Cleary ‘71); Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley ’49), Diarmuid Barron (Niall Scannell ’49, Max Clein ’74), John Ryan (Stephen Archer ’49, Ronan Foxe ‘74); Gavin Coombes (Yellow ’20), Fineen Wycherley (Conor Ryan ’59); Ruadhán Quinn (Jack Daly ’14), John Hodnett (Alex Kendellen ’40), Jack O’Donoghue.