Munster 26 Glasgow 10
Munster ended a five-game losing run with a convincing Celtic League win over Glasgow in Cork tonight. It was sweet revenge for the Celtic League champions who suffered a 19-14 defeat by the Scots in the Celtic Cup three weeks ago.
Munster dominated throughout, but it took them a long time to translate their superiority into points. Glasgow finished strongly, scoring a couple of consolation tries to make the scoreboard look a bit more respectable, but in truth they were comprehensively beaten.
Despite camping in the Glasgow half for most of the opening period it took Munster 37 minutes to edge in front when Jeremy Staunton kicked a penalty. The home side then struck for their opening try in injury-time with Mike Mullins racing in from 30 metres, with Staunton converting for a 10-0 interval lead.
The second half continued in the same fashion with Munster on top in the forwards and they again pinned Glasgow back in their own territory. Three more Staunton penalties increased their advantage to 19-0 after 55 minutes before Glasgow's frustration led to a couple of yellow cards.
At one stage the visitors were reduced to 13 players after Donnie MacFadyen and skipper Paul Dearlove were sent to the sin-bin for killing the ball in rucks. Munster took advantage by scoring a second try after 69 minutes. Lions flanker David Wallace finished off a fine move to score under the posts with Staunton easily adding the extra points for 26-0.
Graeme Morrison and Stuart Moffat crossed for late Glasgow tries but they were little more than consolation efforts.
Borders 21 Leinster 26
Leinster boot-boy Brian O'Meara helped himself to 21 points as rock-bottom Borders hit a new low at Netherdale last night. The Scots literally paid the penalty as dead-eyed O'Meara punished the sloppy home side by firing over seven successful penalties.
The only consolation for the Borders was a brace of touchdowns from centre Jono Stuart which had the home side eyeing a morale-boosting win at one stage. After O'Meara's first trio of kicks, Stuart reduced the deficit by driving over in the corner on the stroke of half-time following a feed from Chris Cusiter.
And hopes of a rare home win were raised on the restart when Stuart conjured-up a carbon copy of his first score as Leinster showed signs of wilting. But on-song O'Meara kept the visitors in touch with another penalty before the Irishmen reclaimed the lead through an Aidan Kearney try.
O'Meara slotted another three penalties to open up a 10-point gap before Campbell Feather notched a consolation try deep in injury-time.
Edinburgh 3 Ulster 41
Edinburgh's Celtic League hopes were dealt a devastating blow as a slick Ulster outfit ran in the tries at Meadowbank. A dour first-half struggle saw the visitors forge ahead through an Adam Larkin penalty before Ryan Constable's converted try on the stroke of half-time gave the score a more realistic look.
However, it might have been different but for three squandered penalty shots from home fly-half Ally Warnock. Instead the Irishmen stepped up a gear after the break and put the issue beyond doubt with a trio of touchdowns in quick succession, all converted by Larkin.
Constable notched his second while wingers Tyrone Howe and James Topping were the other Ulstermen to breach a ragged Edinburgh defence. There was still time for Constable to complete his hat-trick with the best score of the night, converted by Larkin, who rubbed salt in the Gunners' wounds with a late penalty.