Munster A 9 - 3 Ayr: Hopes of progress vanish as Munster outmuscle Scots

A BRAVE performance from Ayr was not enough as the home side held on to take the win in Tralee yesterday, writes Declan Rooney.

The Scots cannot now make the last eight of the competition for the second year in a row.

JJ Hanrahan kicked all of Munster’s points as Ayr were left to rue some poor goal kicking from fly-half Robbie Ferguson early on. And deep into added time they almost forced a win when the camped out on the Munster line for the last eight minutes. With Paddy Butler already in the sin bin, referee Rhys Thomas flashed a yellow card to Munster’s replacement hooker James Rael after five reset scrums. But it proved a blessing in disguise for Munster, as earlier injuries to front rows Duncan Casey and Christy Condon resulted in uncontested scrums and Munster held solid.

The home side led by 6-3 at the break, with Ross Curle’s penalty keeping the Scots in touch, but Hanrahan sealed the win with a 48th-minute penalty.