Munster survive late scare

Munster - 38 Swansea - 27:CELTIC LEAGUE: Munster maintained their 100 per cent Celtic League record with a win over Swansea - but they were given a late scare by the Welshman at Musgrave Park last night.

Four late tries for the visitors could not stop Munster, though, who recorded their fourth victory out of four in Pool A.

Munster full-back Jeremy Staunton kicked the home side into a 12-3 lead with four successful penalties in the opening 20 minutes after Swansea had opened the scoring with a second-minute drop goal from Arwel Thomas.

Things got worse for the visitors when hooker Garin Jenkins was withdrawn in the 36th minute, replaced by Christian Balshen.

Mossie Lawlor was first to cross the Welshmen's try line just before half-time, finishing off in the corner after some heavy Munster pressure in front of the posts. Staunton converted and Alan Gaffney's side went in for the half-time break 19-3 ahead.

Gaffney's opposite number, fellow Australian John Connolly, made further changes to his pack at the break and Andrew Farley, a midweek signing from Queensland Reds, was introduced for the restart.

Munster, however, picked up where they left off as Dominic Crotty intercepted a loose Swansea pass on his own 22 and raced up field, cutting inside last man Thomas to touch down for his side's second try of the night.

Staunton missed his conversion attempt, but Crotty added another try on 51 minutes and this time the full-back's conversion went over off an upright to stretch the lead to 31-3.

Swansea showed their fighting spirit when Thomas breached the Munster try-line in the 64th minute, converting his own handiwork.

And there was further hope when Steve Winn crossed over in the 70th minute for an uncoverted try.

The home side had not finished, though, and scrum-half Mike Prendergast's try with two minutes to go all but confirmed victory.

Yet there was still time for Swansea to mount another mini-recovery as first Colin Charvis and then Gavin Henson went over.

MUNSTER: Staunton, Crotty, Mullins, Holland, Lawlor, Keane, Prendergast, Kerr, Sheahan, Laffan, Galwey, M O'Driscoll, Halvey, Leamy, Williams.

SWANSEA: Payne, Henson, Winn, Taylor, Robinson, A Thomas, Cordingley, Morris, G. Jenkins, Evans, Slade, Griffiths, R Jenkins, Charvis, J Thomas.

Referee: R Dickson (SRFU).