Lansdowne cut loose as Munsters lack usual bite

With the minutes ebbing away at Lansdowne Road and the home team looking like prospective league runners-up, delighted supporters were contemplating a home draw in the play-offs as further cause for celebration. But emotions were suddenly confused by the news that Terenure had managed a late win over DLSP.

How could Lansdowne feel disappointed after a stunning victory which included seven tries and a personal contribution of 25 points from out-half Barry Everitt? Still, a trip to Lakelands Park for the semi-finals was not a particularly inviting prospect.

In the event, Saturday's teams seem destined to fight decidedly curious battles at this stage of the season. Memories certainly remained fresh for Young Munster of a crucial visit five years ago when they needed to win by about 20 points to ensure Division One survival: they beat Lansdowne 30-0.

But with eight regulars out of action, including the Clohessys, a club noted for their fierce competitiveness was ill-equipped for battle on this occasion. And with only the remotest possibility of sneaking into the last four, ambition was understandably dulled.

So it was that Lansdowne enjoyed their first home league win over rivals who had captured the title at this venue in a play-off win over St Mary's in 1993. Indeed the home side more than doubled their previous biggest victory margin of 27 points, achieved at Greenfields three years ago.

Despite a sparse attendance, the occasion caught the spirit of the holiday weekend. With the East Stand bathed in sunshine, some hardy fans - male, I hasten to add - saw fit to strip to the waist, whereupon they were given a public address reminder that the attendance included women and children. And there was I convinced that rugby was a man's game!

Meanwhile, Lansdowne's backs revelled in a steady stream of possession from their greatly superior pack. And is was an especially rewarding exercise for outhalf Barry Everitt, who landed nine out of nine kicks at goal - seven conversions and two penalties - from every conceivable angle.

For good measure, he scored the fifth try with a fine individual effort under the posts, while his overall footballing skills were beautifully exemplified by the conversion of full back Gordon D'Arcy's try just on half time. When the placed ball fell over, Everitt proceeded to pick it up and drop-kick it between the posts.

This was the try, Lansdowne's fourth, which guaranteed them a bonus point. Appropriately, it came from the best back movement of the match, with the gifted Brian Glennon delivering the final pass.

After that, they eased back on the pedal, which explains why the third quarter was scoreless. Ironically, it was during this period that D'Arcy made a marvellous 60-yard run, which ended only 10 yards from the Young Munster line, where he was bundled into touch.

Scoring sequence: 3 mins: Niland try, Everitt con, 7-0; 7: Everitt pen, 10-0; 20: Everitt pen, 13-0; 25: Niland try, Everitt con, 20-0; 32: S Horgan try, Everitt con, 27-0; 41: D'Arcy try, Everitt con, 34-0; 65: Everitt try and con, 41-0; 70: Glennon try, Everitt con, 48-0; 73: Niland try, Everitt con (55-0).

Lansdowne: G D'Arcy; R Niland, G Hamilton, S Horgan, B Glennon; B Everitt, D O'Mahony; R Corrigan, O Ennis, A McKeen; B Cusack, G Quinn; A McCullen, C McEntee, L Toland. Replace- ments: S Rooney for Toland, S McEntee for Cusack, W Clancy for D'Arcy, E Bohan for Corrigan, C Egan for Ennis, K Becker for O'Mahony (all 60 to 67 mins).

Young Munster: T Cregan; F Hogan, S McCahill, L Doyle, C Casey; M Lynch, M Prendergast; E Hann, M Hayes, M Fitzgerald; M O'Halloran, B Buckley; J Rose, M te Pau, D McDonagh. Replacements: I Ryan for Hayes, J Carey for Cregan, H O'Neill for Doyle (all 40 to 60 mins), P Payne for Fitzgerald, T Lane for Hann (both 75 mins).

Referee: D Tyndall (ARLB).