Both Irish sides beat English opposition in the group stages of the European Cup today, with Munster cleaning up against Bath and Leinster eliminating champions Northampton. At Thomond Park in Limerick, last season's finalists trounced 1998 Champions Bath 31-9, while Leinster were over the water squaring up to last season's European Champions, Northampton, at Franklin's Gardens. Matt Williams's side ran out 14-8 victors with a heroic performance as Northampton crashed out of the Cup.
A capacity crowd in Thomond Park witnessed two tries from Anthony Horgan and one from David Wallace, plus 16 points from the boot of Ronan O'Gara as Munster maintained their 100% per cent record in this season's competition. Leaving Munster's unbeaten European Cup record at Thomond Park looking even more impregnable.
Bath were in touch until the last 10 minutes but were then hit by a 17-point blitz which included two tries converted by O'Gara, who also added a drop goal. It was a superb second half performance by the Ireland fly-half that steered Munster to a comfortable victory over the former European champions.
At the end of a tight first-half, during which Munster’s Alan Quinlan was sin-binned for stamping, the Provincial champions led 6-3. Bath’s Regan had followed Quinlan to the sin-bin in injury time, also for stamping and O'Gara put Munster ahead for the first time.
With Bath a man down, captain Mick Galwey and his men stepped up the pace after the restart and went further ahead within five minutes thanks to a fine try by left wing Anthony Horgan. The initial dent was made by Australian lock John Langford and it was O'Gara who eventually created the overlap on the left, although he was wide with the conversion.
Bath pulled back three points through Preston 10 minutes later but O'Gara restored the eight-point margin on 63 minutes as his forwards began ominously to get into their stride.
Bath burst into life briefly with a break by Mike Tindall which led to a third penalty for John Preston, but a lapse of concentration from the restart gifted Munster a try for flanker David Wallace from a five-metre scrum.
O'Gara converted and effectively put the game out of reach with a drop goal on 80 minutes. There was still time for Horgan's second try, with a celebration effort under the posts in injury time, and O'Gara fittingly added the conversion on the final whistle.
The two sides meet again next Saturday in Bath and Munster coach Declan Kidney said: “To win at Bath will be a monumental task exceeding anything we've done to date. We were under no illusions that we had to win today.”
On the away campaign trail, Leinster survived an astonishing seven minutes of injury time to end Northampton's defence of the Heineken Cup. Coach Matt Williams’ team had two players sin-binned, prop Gary Halpin and centre Shane Horgan, as they desperately defended their own line, and were fortunate not to concede a penalty try.
The home side made a good start with an eighth minute try from winger Simon Webster, after scrum-half Matt Dawson had opened the Leinster defence with a trademark quickly taken tap penalty.
Leinster, who had a comfortable win against Biarritz a week ago after an opening defeat in Edinburgh, hit back with a brilliant 33rd minute try from winger Dennis Hickie, created with a piece of magic from Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll.
Leinster edged clear on the stroke of half-time with a penalty from full-back Girvan Dempsey, who took over the kicking role from fly-half Eddie Hekenui, who had missed three fairly straightforward kicks at goal.
Leinster came out for the second half with all guns firing and scrum-half Brian O'Meara dropped a goal to leave the Saints trailing 5-11. The European champions then failed to cash in when flanker Trevor Brennan was yellow carded for a professional foul. Leinster survived and went two scores clear with Hekenui's 66th minute penalty.
They then held on snatch the win to boost their qualification hopes, and deny Northampton the victory that would have given them the lifeline they were looking for to make the quarter-final play-offs.
Northampton will now have to salvage some pride in next Friday's return encounter in Donnybrook. Leinster coach Williams vowed: “We will not be taking Friday night's game against Northampton lightly. I do not know what sort of side they will put out but they have a lot of class footballers.
“We are going to enjoy today learn from it but next week is going to be crucial if we can win that we should be top of the group.”
HEINEKEN EUROPEAN CUP Results
Pool 4
Munster 31-9 Bath
HT: 6-3
Pool 1
Northampton 8-14 Leinster
HT: 5-8
OTHER HEINEKEN CUP SCORES:
Pool 2
Stade Francais 40-10 Wasps
Pool 3
Saracens 23-32 Cardiff
Pool 4
Newport 21-20 Castres
Pool 5
Llanelli 46-0 Roma
Filed by Seán Folan
