Munster snatch late bonus point as Ulster topple Cardiff Blues

Arno Botha scored in the last minute to secure a bonus-point 28-12 win for Munster in their Pro14 clash with Ospreys on Friday.

Munster edged a cagey first half 7-6 after a James Cronin try, but the Irish side swiftly took the game away from their Welsh visitors after the interval.

Having been reduced to 14 men when Sam Cross was sin-binned, Ospreys crumbled early in the second half – Rhys Marshall driving over.

Ospreys hit back through Luke Price’s penalty, but Mike Haley’s try saw Munster swiftly regain control.

Another Price penalty saw Ospreys move into double figures, yet even as Cross returned, there was no let-up from the home side as they searched for a bonus point to give them a cushion over Scarlets at the top of Conference B.

The try came in the dying embers of the match – Munster’s pack driving forward in the maul with Botha pouncing over with seconds remaining.

Super performance from Man of the Match @MikeHaley_1 tonight! #MUNvOSP #SUAF   pic.twitter.com/vOZczzqj8s

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) October 25, 2019

Ulster ran out 23-14 winners over Cardiff Blues in Friday’s other encounter.

Luke Marshall got Ulster up and running inside two minutes, with Billy Burns going over for a second try soon after as John Cooney clocked up points with the boot.

Marshall’s yellow card handed Cardiff a reprieve, with Aled Summerhill and Will Boyde hauling the Blues back into contention.

But the visitors’ hopes of a comeback were extinguished as Cooney’s penalty bolstered Ulster’s advantage.

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