RUGBY/Munster 27 Warriors 19:MUNSTER MADE it 17 wins on the trot at Thomond Park last night, but even more importantly they leap-frogged the Glasgow Warriors on the Magners League table.

It was nip and tuck for long stages before Munster finally put the vital late points on the scoreboard with Ronan O’Gara being in superb form with the boot.

Twice referee James Jones showed yellow cards to the Warriors while Munster also had to compete with 14 players for a time in the second half.

The estimated 20,000 crowd slow hand-clapped the referee because of the persistent delay in allowing the ball to be put into the scrum by either side.

Those who doubted O’Gara’s recent kicking were given their answer by the Munster skipper who kicked five penalties and a touchline conversion after the physical strength of Jean de Villiers saw him wriggle in at the corner in the second half to clinch the win.

The Warriors came to the Munster fortress with eight of the side who beat Ireland last Saturday in their ranks.

They found themselves eights points in arrears after just 20 minutes.

Munster set the early pace and inside a minute Ian Dowling was hauled down as he tried to force his way in at the corner as he chased a grubber kick by Paul Warwick.

Two minutes later Munster again threatened a try when this time an O’Gara cross-kick was knocked on at the line by the chasing Denis Hurley.

Ominously for Munster, O’Gara missed his first penalty, but the home side went in front following some very crisp handling after 14 minutes.

Alan Quinlan took a quick tap penalty and the ball was moved out the line with Dowling coming in off his left wing to the other side to send Hurley in at the corner.

O’Gara’s conversion from the touchline came back off an upright, but after 20 minutes the outhalf landed a penalty from the same spot from which he missed his first attempt.

Now eight points in front and Munster were further boosted when Graeme Morrison was sent to the bin after 24 minutes for a high tackle on Dowling.

Munster piled on the pressure but a loose pass from O’Gara was intercepted by John Barclay who raced away from his own 22 for a try at the other end which Dan Parks converted to add to his earlier penalty.

But a second O’Gara penalty had Munster 11-10 in front at the interval.

Another Parks penalty nine minutes in to the second half edged Glasgow 13-11 in front, but then O’Gara landed three penalties in rapid succession, and while Parks pulled two penalties back to leave only a point between the sides, Munster had the final say with de Villiers’ try.

Munster’s forwards were powerful in the rucks and mauls with Mick O’Driscoll and Donnacha O’Callaghan comfortably winning their lineouts while Alan Quinlan provided help when required.

Behind the scrum Peter Stringer had a superb game which created the chance for O’Gara to set those outside him into action.

Glasgow paid the price of their two sin-binnings but on the first occasion they put seven points on the board when O’Gara’s pass was intercepted.

Munster had a late change in their frontrow when Tony Buckley had to withdraw due to illness and his place was taken by Julien Brugnaut.

MUNSTER: Warwick; Hurley, Mafi, de Villiers, Dowling; O’Gara, Stringer; Horan, Fogarty, Brugnaut, O’Callaghan, O’Driscoll, Quinlan, Ronan, Coughlan. Replacements: Howlett for Hurley (35 mins), N Williams for Quinlan (58 mins), Varley for Fogarty (61 mins), D Ryan for Brugnaut (65 mins), Holland for O’Callaghan (73 mins), D Williams for Stringer (78 mins). Not used: Gleeson.

GLASGOW: Stortoni; Murchie, M Evans, Morrison, van der Merwe; Parks, Cusiter; Welsh, Hall, Low, Gray, Turner, Brown, Barclay, Beattie. Replacements: O’Hare for van der Merwe, Vernon for Beattie (both 41 mins), Thomson for Hall (53 mins), Tkachuk for Welsh, Barker for Gray (both 61 mins), Gregor for Cusiter (66 mins). Not used: McMillan.

Referee: James Jones (WRFU).