Munster ‘A’ and Ulster Ravens return to winning ways

Munster 'A' 23 Plymouth 9

Munster A steadied their B&I Cup campaign as tries from Ronan O'Mahony and CJ Stander saw them triumph against Plymouth Albion at the Waterford RSC on Friday night.

Peter Malone’s men needed the win after last weekend’s defeat to the same opposition, but despite the victory they still trail the English Championship side on points difference.

Two first-half penalties from Johnny Holland were cancelled out by Dan Mugford, but O’Mahony’s 25th minute try gave Munster A a 13-6 lead at the break.

Holland continued his kicking battle after the restart with former Munster fly-half Declan Cusack taking over for Albion, but crucially Munster denied their rivals a losing bonus point in the final moments when Stander crashed over following the sinbinning of Albion prop Lloyd Fairbrother.
Scorers: Munster A: R O'Mahony, CJ Stander tries, J Holland 3 pens, 2 con. Plymouth Albion: D Mugford 2 pens, D Cusack pen

Ulster Ravens 38 Ayr 21

Ulster Ravens kept their qualification hopes alive with this six-try, bonus point victory over Ayr at Deramore.

The result not only lifted the Ravens off the foot of the Pool six table but also exacted revenge for last weekend’s shock defeat at Ayr which may yet have done terminal damage to Ulster’s hopes of making the last eight.

The result was pretty much sealed by half-time after tries from Peter Nelson, Conor Joyce, Stuart McCloskey, Ricky Andrew and Michael Heaney put the Ravens 33-7 in front and sealed the bonus point with outhalf James McKinney kicking four conversions

Ravens only managed one further try – from Adrian Hamilton in the 51st minute – as their cause was undermined by the sinbinnings of Paddy Wallace and Conor Joyce. Ayr responded with tries from replacements Gordon Reid and Finlay Gillies which were converted by Scott Wight.