Munster shocked by lowly Newport

Lowly Newport-Gwent Dragons threw a spanner in the works of high-flying Celtic League province Munster tonight to claim a vital…

Lowly Newport-Gwent Dragons threw a spanner in the works of high-flying Celtic League province Munster tonight to claim a vital victory in their quest to get clear of the basement.

However, the match was marred by a horrible injury to Munster outside-half Jeremy Manning who was carried from the pitch with his neck in a brace.

Medics rushed onto the Rodney Parade field as Manning fell the the ground, having put in a big tackle during a Dragons attack but coming off second best.

The game had got off to an explosive start as Munster, and especially lock Paul O'Connell, stretched the home defence to force a gap that centre Trevor Halstead exploited for a try which was easily converted near the posts by Manning.

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It was just the beginning that the Irish province needed as they looked to secure second place in the league above Leinster whom they play in the already sold-out Heineken Cup semi-final at the end of this month at Lansdowne Road.

The Dragons hit back as the ball was taken to the right corner of the Munster 22 area, international wing Gareth Wyatt flipped the ball inside to his captain Jason Forster for the big flanker to grab his seventh touchdown of the campaign.

The score was wide out and outside-half Craig Warlow scuffed the conversion wide of the uprights.

His defence then let the side down in their own 22 to give away a simple penalty from 15 yards that Manning comfortably kicked.

On the half hour came that worrying moment for Manning before he was taken off.

That seemed to affect Munster more than the Dragons as the home team pounded the opposition line.

Back row men Michael Owen and Forster were at the forefront of the attack that eventually lead to wing Nathan Brew breaking a tackle near the posts and diving over acrobatically.

Warlow's simple conversion gave the Dragons the lead for the first time in the match.

Munster's line-out provided them with chances to break but too often they made silly errors and handed the initiative back to the Dragons.

The Welshmen went further ahead during the long first-half injury time through a magnificent passage of play.

Brew found a gap in midfield and stormed away towards the Munster 22. The ball found its way out left but, following a sweeping move involving centre Ceri Sweeney and full-back Aled Thomas, Wyatt raced home in the corner to put his team seven points ahead.

Munster, via a power-packed move that saw them drive up field via locks Donnacha O'Callaghan and O'Connell plus the excellent Mick O'Driscoll, got a third try when the ball was swiftly sent down the back line and prop Frederico Pucciariello walked under the posts.

Replacement number 10 Paul Burke booted the conversion to square matters at 17-17 only for Munster to take out home centre Hal Luscombe, on his way to English side Harlequins next season, and concede a penalty that Warlow kicked.

Warlow booted another three points on the hour from 35 metres when Munster were caught offside.

The Dragons almost scored another spectacular touchdown when Wyatt chipped over replacement Mike Mullins only to be unable to reclaim the ball inches from the line.

He missed another moments later when Warlow chipped over the Munster defence but, needing only to catch the ball to score, Wyatt lost his balance and fell into touch.

Munster were under the cosh as the minutes ticked down and their inspirational scrum-half Peter Stringer tried to rally.