The Dragons failed to capitalise on their opportunities tonight as they lost 9-20 to a clinical Munster side at Rodney Parade this evening.
Munster went ahead in the 5th minute courtesy of a Paul Warwick penalty. The Dragons drew level in the 12th with 3 points from the boot of James Arlidge but Munster pulled away with a 12th minute try from Ciaran O'Boyle converted by Paul Warwick for a 3-13 lead.
Arlidge brought Dragons back into the game with 2 more penalty kicks and at 9-13, the game was open with both sides coming close to scoring. But Anthony Horgan went over the line in the 65th minute and Warwick’s conversion put Munster out of touch.
Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner was clearly frustrated by the match. “We are obviously disappointed with the result, he said. We had opportunities to win the game and we just didn’t take them. Munster were more street-wise and clinical and showed today why they are European Champions.
We were both missing several key players but we just didn’t take our chances. We just lost our way behind the forwards. At 6-13 we had to take our chances and we didn’t. When we got to 9-13 and the game was there for the taking, we made some suicidal decisions.
Having said that, this is still a step up. Our pack play was excellent and I thought Sean Tomes and Nigel Hall both stood out today. We just lost our way behind the forwards.
Munster went ahead in the 5th minute courtesy of a Paul Warwick penalty. The Dragons drew level in the 12th with 3 points from the boot of James Arlidge but Munster pulled away with a 12th minute try from Ciaran O'Boyle converted by Paul Warwick for a 3-13 lead.
Arlidge brought Dragons back into the game with 2 more penalty kicks and at 9-13, the game was open with both sides coming close to scoring. But Anthony Horgan went over the line in the 65th minute and Warwick’s conversion put Munster out of touch.
Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner was clearly frustrated by the match. “We are obviously disappointed with the result, he said. We had opportunities to win the game and we just didn’t take them. Munster were more street-wise and clinical and showed today why they are European Champions.
We were both missing several key players but we just didn’t take our chances. We just lost our way behind the forwards. At 6-13 we had to take our chances and we didn’t. When we got to 9-13 and the game was there for the taking, we made some suicidal decisions.
Having said that, this is still a step up. Our pack play was excellent and I thought Sean Tomes and Nigel Hall both stood out today. We just lost our way behind the forwards.
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