HIGHLIGHTS | Munster earn bonus point win in Benetton epic

Graham Rowntree’s side picked up a third successive URC win since the turn of the year to move into sixth in the table.

Munster secured a vital bonus-point win in Italy after a rip-roaring URC round 13 clash against Benetton that finished 30-40 in Treviso.

Paddy Patterson, Jack O’Sullivan, John Hodnett, Jean Kleyn, Antoine Frisch and Joey Carbery were the Munster try-scorers as the province recovered from a strong Benetton start.

Benetton raced into an early 12-0 lead after some scintillating attacking play. England international Jacob Umaga offloaded for Marco Zanon to score in the left corner with Umaga unlucky to see his conversion attempt come back off the post.

The Italian side were in for their second try when Rhyno Smith made a break after a reverse pass and fed winger Ignacio Mendy to score in the right corner. Umaga was on target this time.

Munster responded when Joey Carbery whipped a pass out to Calvin Nash on the right wing and he chipped over Smith. After waiting patiently for the ball to pop up, Nash passed inside for Patterson to side step a defender and score under the posts after 16 minutes. Carbery converted to make it 12-7.

Munster hit the front for the first time on 30 minutes as Ben Healy’s flat pass put John Hodnett through a gap and he popped for O’Sullivan on his shoulder to score. Carbery’s conversion made it 14-12.

Umaga’s first penalty made it 15-14 to Benetton at the break with the game firmly in the balance at the half.

Munster made the perfect start to the second half as Hodnett crossed in the left corner for a superb score. Good hands from Daly, Healy, Carbery and Coombes gave Hodnett space on the left wing and he dummied a pass inside to Patterson before finishing brilliantly. Carbery’s conversion moved Munster 21-15 in front.

Jean Kleyn got in for the bonus-point try on 50 minutes with the dancing feet of Roman Salanoa making great ground in the lead up. Carbery landed the tough conversion superbly to make it 28-18 with half an hour to play.

Benetton took advantage of the extra man this time with Mendy in for his second try in the right corner after quick hands got the ball to the edge. Umaga’s touchline conversion was wide as Munster led 28-23 with 20 minutes to go.

Replacement Academy lock Cian Hurley blocked a Benetton kick in our 22 and Patterson kicked the clearance into the Benetton 22. Rhyno Smith got there first but Daly got in over the ball to win back possession and Healy’s perfectly judged crossfield kick for Frisch to score gave Munster some breathing room.

Carbery couldn’t land the touchline conversion but Munster led 33-23 with seven minutes to go.

There was still time for two more tries as Healy’s delayed pass over the top gave Carbery a simple run-in with Carbery also converting before Mendy completed his hat-trick in the final play to give Benetton a four-try bonus-point.

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