Error strewn Munster well-beaten by the Sharks at Thomond Park

MUNSTER ended the first block of games in the URC with a disappointing 15-3 defeat to the Sharks at Thomond Park.

The loss for Clayton McMillan’s side was their second in the space of a week with the Sharks full value for their victory.

JJ Hanrahan’s penalty towards the end of the first half was all that McMillan’s men could muster in a poor 80 minute performance.

Munster will now take a break from games for Ireland’s Autumn Internationals. Their next game is against Zebre on December 5.

The home side made a positive start to the game after earning a penalty that saw JJ Hanrahan kick to the corner.

The maul went close to the maul but a knock on spoiled their first chance of the game. However, another penalty came but another handling error cost Munster once again.

The Sharks were soon down in Munster territory with a maul of their own bringing the South African side close to the try line.

Just as it looked like they got the ball down for the opening score, referee Ben Connor went to the TMO and no try was awarded with Hanro Jacobs adjudged to have made a double movement.

Munster’s resolute defence fell down moments later after Zekhethelo Siyaya made a superb break and then kicked through.

The home side should have dealt with the bouncing ball but both Hanrahan and Ben O’Connor missed the ball and Gianni Lombard got the try for the Sharks.

An error strewn first half continued with mistakes from both sides due to the wet weather causing problems.

Siyaya was at it again after 20 minutes with a searing break into the Munster half and another grubber through.

However, with the try at his mercy, the impressive full back was unable to gather the ball. It hit off his knee and the ball went over the end line.

A spell of pressure followed from Munster with both van der Merwe and Fineen Wycherley edging towards the line.

The Sharks defence held firm though with scrum half Jaden Hendrikse forced a turnover and another Munster attack fell flat.

Munster did get on the board in the final minute of the half with a Hanrahan penalty that left the score at 5-3 in the Sharks favour at the break.

The South African side were on the front foot at the beginning of the second half but a strong effort from the Munster defence ensured that their lead stayed at three.

However, the Sharks did stretch out their lead to five with a Lombard penalty after Munster were penalised at a scrum.

Munster were then given some hope when the Sharks were reduced to 14 men after Ox Nche hit Jeremy Loughman off the ball.

A promising attack followed for Munster following the resultant penalty but yet another knock on cost them once again.

The Sharks took full advantage of Munster’s errors and extended their lead on the hour mark with their second try.

A rampaging run by Nick Hatton brought them close to the try line and Ivan van Zyl got over after a snipe from the base of the ruck. Lombard nailed the conversion to bring the Sharks lead to 12.

Munster’s mistakes continued in the final 20 minutes with the Sharks defence topping the home sides’ attacks with relative ease to come away with the victory.

MUNSTER: Ben O’Connor; Shay McCarthy, Gordon Wood, Alex Nankivell, Rob Russell, JJ Hanrahan (Charlie O’Shea, 62 mins), Ben O’Donovan (Jake O’Riordan, 55 mins); Josh Wycherley (Jeremy Loughman, 47 mins), Marnus van der Merwe (Lee Barron 62 mins), Kieran Brookes (Michael Ala’alatoa 58 mins); Evan O’Connell (Edwin Edogbo, 47 mins), Fineen Wycherley; Sean Edogbo, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson (Gavin Coombes, 47 mins).

SHARKS: Zekhethelo Siyaya, Edwill van der Merwe, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ethan Hooker, Jaco Williams, Gianni Lombard, Jaden Hendrikse (Ivan van Zyl, 59 mins); Ox Nche, Ethan Bester (Esethu Mnebelele, 67 mins), Hanro Jacobs (Thomas du Toit, 53 mins); Jason Jenkins (Stephen Lewies, 53 mins), Emile van Heerden (Darrien Landsberg, 63 mins), Tino Mavesere (Vincent Thsituka 53 mins), Nick Hatton.

Referee: Ben Connor (WRU).