Munster reclaim top spot

RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE: NG Dragons 9 Munster 20MUNSTER CAPTAIN Mick O'Driscoll insists the Magners League title race will go down to the wire despite regaining pole position with a hard-earned victory at Newport.

The European champions secured four more vital points on the road to cut short Leinster’s stay at the top of the table and open a three-point lead.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Leinster secured a telling 13-8 win against the Ospreys that struck a serious dent to the Welsh region’s title hopes.

However Munster, who have not won the Magners League in six years, are looking in the most favourable position, ahead of Leinster and six points clear of the Ospreys with games remaining, against both, at Thomond Park.

But O’Driscoll is expecting many more twists and turns as the title race nears the final straight.

“We’re sitting pretty at the top of the table right now but it’s very tight in the league and I’m sure the title race will go down to the wire,” he said.

“Leinster got a great result at the Ospreys and we have to play both those teams at Thomond Park. Neither of those teams are going to just lie down for us.

“There are a lot of tough games to go, but as long we keep picking up the four points, then it’s in our own hands.

“But if we want to win this league, then we need to start winning and performing on a more consistent level. We’ve got three weeks before going to Glasgow to get things right.”

Another potential dynamic to the title race is that all three contenders also still have European ambitions in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals while the Ospreys also have the “distraction” of an EDF Energy Cup to defend, having already qualified for the semi-finals.

By the final weekend of domestic competition on May 15th-17th, the league could be overshadowed by a European final for one of these teams, or represent the final chance of silverware.

But following a damp display, albeit it in heavy conditions, O’Driscoll knows there are more immediate concerns.

“The main goal was to get four points. This is tough place to come so we are delighted to get the win, if not in the manner in which we got it,” he said.

“Our performance could have been a lot better. But we showed a lot of heart and our defence won us the game and that’s what counts at the end of the day.

“We have to improve collectively in the lineout. It’s not down to individuals, as a unit we have wavered in that area all season. But the two sin-binnings didn’t help us either.

“We spent 20 minutes of the second-half with only seven forwards.”

Darragh Hurley and Alan Quinlan were the guilty pair, both shown yellow cards for desperately ill-timed challenges as the Dragons sniffed the chance of a win. Tries from Ciaran O’Boyle and his replacement Anthony Horgan, in either half, proved enough, though it was Munster’s resolute defence during the 20-minute suspension that earned the win.

Rival fly-halves Paul Warwick and James Arlidge exchanged penalties before Munster carved open the game’s first try in the 13th-minute, full-back Denis Hurley causing the damage before his pass released O’Boyle for the line.

Warwick failed to capitalise on a yellow card to Dragons flanker Richard Parks after missing goal twice before half-time and Munster were forced onto the back foot immediately after the break following cards for Hurley and then Quinlan.

Arlidge reduced the lead to 13-9 on the hour but after the outside-half was charged down by Niall Ronan, O’Boyle’s replacement Horgan settled the tie just three minutes later.

O’Driscoll was twice involved as Munster looked to hammer a hole before Warwick sent Horgan diving over in the corner for the decisive score.

NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: J Tovey; K Morgan, R Sidey, A Smith, M Thomas; J Arlidge (G Maule, 68), W Evans (R Lewis, 68); N Hall, T Willis (capt), R Thomas (G Robinson, 72), S Tomes, A Hall, J Bearman, G Webb (L Evans, 70), R Parks (D Lydiate, 46).

MUNSTER: D Hurley; K Lewis, K Earls, L Mafi, C O'Boyle (A Horgan, 49); P Warwick, P Stringer; D Hurley, D Fogarty, T Buckley (T Ryan, 56); M O'Driscoll (capt), D Ryan, A Quinlan (B Holland, 71), N Williams (T Ryan, 52-56, N Ronan, 56), D Leamy.

Referee: A Lewis (Ireland).