Munster Rugby share spoils with Premiership champions Bath in pre-season fixture

MUNSTER Rugby played out a 28-28 draw with Premiership champions Bath Rugby in their final pre-season fixture at Virgin Media Park in Cork on Friday night.

The game was played as an extended fixture with 90 minutes of game-time. Instead of a half-time break, there was be a 10-minute break after 30 minutes and a 10-minute break after 60 minutes.

New Munster head coach Clayton McMillan gave gametime to 37 players against Johann van Graan's charges.

READ NEXT: Limerick man Conor Murray calls time on distinguished rugby playing career

The game was Munster's final work-out before their United Rugby championship opener away to the Scarlets on Saturday, September 27.

New signings JJ Hanrahan, Dan Kelly and Conor Ryan played their first home games for Munster on Friday since joining the province in the summer.

Munster were forced into a change after just three minutes when Diarmuid Kilgallen picked up an unfortunate knock and he was replaced by Shay McCarthy.

Home side Munster took the lead after 17 minutes when Andrew Smith dotted down in the corner. Hanrahan superbly nailed the touchline conversion to put Munster 7-0 up.

Just before the break, Munster increased their lead when the home side was awarded a penalty try after Bath infringed in trying to haul a rampaging Munster scrum from crossing their tryline. 

With Munster leading 14-0 at the end of the first 30-minute period, a new front-row of Max Clein, Mark Donnelly and Conor Bartley joined the fray to begin the second period.

Mid-way throug the game Munster made wholesale changes as ‘Team 2’ entered the fray.

Visitors Bath hit back when Miles Reid notched a try on the hour mark with Ciaran Donoghue notching the conversion for 14-7.

However, a resilient Munster side restored their 14 point advantage seven minutes into the third period when Michael Milne crashed over from close range. Tony Butler added the conversion to leave the home side 14 points ahead 21-7.

Munster then extended their advantage when Mike Haley produced some excellent footwork to get through a gap in the Bath defence and score under the posts. Butler’s conversion put Munster 28-7 in front with just over 15 minutes remaining in the match.

However, Bath finished the contest strongly as Henry Arundell dotted down followed by five pointers from Francois van Wyk and Bernard van der Linde. Tom de Glanville converted one of the tries with Ciaran Donoghue adding two conversions to tie the scores.

MUNSTER (Team 1): Shane Daly; Andrew Smith, Seán O’Brien (Gibbons 60′), Dan Kelly (Wood 60′), Diarmuid Kilgallen (Shay McCarthy 3′); JJ Hanrahan, Ethan Coughlan (Patterson 35′); Jeremy Loughman (Donnelly 30′)), Niall Scannell (C) (Clein 30′)), Oli Jager (Bartley 30′); Evan O’Connell, Tom Ahern; Ruadhán Quinn (Edogbo 35′), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

MUNSTER (Team 2): Mike Haley; Ben O’Connor, Fionn Gibbons, Gordon Wood, Thaakir Abrahams; Tony Butler, Craig Casey (C) (Patterson 76′); Michael Milne (Donnelly 71′), Lee Barron, John Ryan (Bartley 60′); Conor Ryan, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.

Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Donnelly, Conor Bartley (Foxe 76′), Ronan Foxe, Michael Foy, Seán Edogbo, Paddy Patterson, Shay McCarthy.

BATH: Austin Emens (Tom de Glanville 30); Joe Cokanasiga, Louie Hennessey (Chris Harris 30), Will Butt, Charlie Griffin (Henry Arundell 30); Ciaran Donoghue, Tom Carr-Smith (Bernard van der Linde 51, Tom Carr-Smith 90); Scott Kirk (Francois van Wyk 30), Jasper Spandler (Tom Dunn 30), Kieran Verden (Mikey Summerfield 30, Kieran Verden 67); Harvey Cuckson (Quin Roux 30), Ewen Richards (capt) (Ross Molony 30); Ethan Staddon, George Timmins, Arthur Green (Miles Reid 30).

REFEREE: R Jenkinson.