Gwent Dragons 29 Munster 6: It takes a bit of work to make the Gwent Dragons look good this season, but the 2003 version of the Munster rugby team did it comfortably at Rodney Parade last night.
Coach Alan Gaffney's men crashed to their heaviest-ever Celtic League defeat to the side chosen by many Welsh pundits as the worst in the principality, and the Australian is struggling to compete in this tournament without his World Cup stars.
Gwent outhalf Craig Warlow kicked 19 points as Munster were held scoreless in a rugged clash of two sides desperate for a victory.
"We've worked hard for this," Dragons captain and man of the match Jason Forster said.
"(Coach) Mike Ruddock has worked hard at the basics all season and we're really happy about how things are coming together. We saw Llanelli beat these guys the other week, and we're pleased to have done the same."
The first quarter was all the Dragons, with Munster's inept display prompting former Wales captain Jonathan Davies to say during his television commentary: "I've never seen a Munster side make so many mistakes. I haven't seen a worse performance for a long, long time."
Warlow slotted over two penalties and a conversion - after back-rower Jamie Ringer's try - to give his side a comfortable 13-0 lead on the half-hour mark.
The home side should have been 30-0 ahead by that stage.Winger Ben Breeze "scored" for the Dragons, but was called back for a forward pass that looked level at best.
Munster's outhalf Jeremy Staunton missed his second shot at goal in the 37th minute, and opposite number Warlow punished him with a third penalty to give his side a well-deserved 16-point lead at half-time.
Warlow should have put the match beyond doubt in the 50th minute, but missed an easy shot at goal. It was third time lucky for Staunton as he finally gave visiting fans something to cheer about with a simple penalty.
Warlow hit back with a dropped goal from the next phase of play, before Staunton slotted a second penalty.
Some good work from Dragons resulted in prop Adam Black steaming over the try-line and Warlow's conversion simply twisted the knife as Gwent ended the match as a contest.
Before the end Warlow added another penalty when a wiser man would have gone for a third try to bring a bonus point closer.
GWENT DRAGONS: S Tuipulotu; G Arasa (B Davey 79), H Luscombe, A Marinos (captain), B Breeze; C Warlow, G Baber; A Black, S Jones (P Young 64), C Anthony (R Thomas 76), I Gough, P Sidoli (L Charteris 76), J Ringer, J Forster, R Oakley.
MUNSTER: D Crotty; S Payne (C Casey 77), M Mullins, C O'Sullivan (B Murphy 78), M Lawlor; J Staunton, E Reddan (F Murphy 78); S Kerr, A Long, J Danagher (F Roche 40), T Hogan, D Sheehan (E Halvey 67) (C McMahon 73), S Keogh, D Wallace, J Williams (capt).
