PRO12: Munster 24 Ulster 10

Ulster’s unbeaten run came to an end last night with Munster recording a comfortable 24 – 10 victory at Thomond Park.

Ulster’s scores came from a Niall O’Connor penalty and a late try from the impressive Ali Birch with, O’Connor’s replacement, Stuart Olding adding the conversion with the last kick of the game.

I’d predicted a narrow win for Ulster in my preview but it became obvious fairly quickly that this was going to be a difficult game for the visitors with Munster determined to be the first side to record a league victory against the Belfast side and things could have been much worse if the home team had fielded anything other than a decidedly average back line.

As it was the Munster pack had enough grunt up front to win the game on their own and when the home side took an early 3 – 0 lead, thanks to a Keatley penalty, it looked as though it was going to be a long night at the Turnip Patch.

Despite being out-muscled in the scrum Ulster managed to work their way back into the game and for large periods of the first half they played . . .