Sport

Munster open up gap

Cardiff Blues 16 Munster 18 Fifteen points from the boot of former Cardiff outhalf Paul Burke extended Munster's lead at the…

Sat Nov 05 2005 - 00:00

Cardiff Blues 16 Munster 18Fifteen points from the boot of former Cardiff outhalf Paul Burke extended Munster's lead at the top of the Celtic League. Burke set up victory against his former club as Munster gained their sixth victory in seven games in a dire game at the Arms Park last night.

Both sides were without 11 first-choice players - with eight of the Munster squad away with Ireland, secondrow Paul O'Connell, hooker Frankie Sheahan and flanker Alan Quinlan all injured.

Tempers flared in the 10th minute at a scrum with Scottish referee Peter Allen speaking to Munster's Italian tighthead prop Federico Pucciariello and Blues loosehead Martin Jones.

When tempers had calmed, Munster came more into the game and Burke opened the scoring with a 14th-minute penalty after the Blues were penalised for coming in illegally at the side of the ruck.

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An outside break from Cardiff outhalf Lee Thomas then led to his team's opening points in the 20th minute. Burke and Thomas landed two more penalties each before the break - to leave the scores tied at nine points each.

Munster backrow David Wallace, captain Stephen Keogh, John O'Sullivan and secondrow Trevor Hogan combined for the first meaningful attack of the second half with home lock Deiniol Jones harshly penalised for coming in at the side of a ruck. Burke landed his fourth penalty.

And it was a burst from Wallace that led to Burke kicking his fifth - just before he was replaced by Shaun Payne.

Pucciariello was sinbinned in the 57th minute, but Cardiff failed to take advantage and conceded another penalty, with Jeremy Manning taking over the kicking duties in Burke's absence.

Cardiff finally scored the first try of the game in the 70th minute when Marc Stcherbina glided over on the left-hand touchline.Thomas added the conversion to close the deficit to 18-16.

CARDIFF BLUES: R Warren (D Dewdney 67); R Williams (capt), J Robinson, M Stcherbina, C Morgan; L Thomas, R Powell; M Jones, G Williams, B Evans, J Goode (C Quinnell 62), D Jones, K Schubert, A Powell, M Molitika (M Lewis 75).

MUNSTER: J Manning; J Kelly, G Connolly, T Halstead, A Pitout; P Burke (S Payne 56), O'Leary; F Roche, J Flannery, F Pucciariello, T Hogan, M O'Driscoll, J O'Sullivan (T Buckley 60-69), S Keogh (capt), D Wallace.

Referee: P Allan (Scotland).