Munster surge late to score bonus win over Treviso
Last Updated: 15/11/15 7:46pm
Munster eventually conquered terrible conditions to score a 32-7 bonus point victory over Treviso in the Champions Cup at Thomond Park.
The Reds led 10-3 at the break as both teams struggled in extremely testing conditions which blighted the contest throughout.
BJ Botha bruised his way through the wind and rain to score after just five minutes but a flood of tries didn't immediately follow the flood from the heavens.
The veteran South African prop Botha came within a whisker of doubling his tally minutes later but the video referee correctly ruled that he lost control of possession in the try area.
There was no cause for concerns however as the early signs suggested that many more chances would follow.
Only the contest settled down into an a scrum and lineout dominated affair featuring a glut of penalties as Treviso switched between careless and composed defending.
But it was their No 8 Abraham Steyn who scored next, clipping through a charge down to touch down with just inches to spare before the ball went dead.
The hosts were on level terms and the worsening conditions suggested Munster were now in for a torrid evening.
They emerged from the break with the wind at their backs and while Conor Murray and Ian Keatley dictated possession and field position, they struggled to convert those gains on the scoreboard.
When they did find continuity, captain for the night CJ Stander burst his way over for the second try and Munster were halfway to that vital bonus point.
Injured hooker Mike Sherry had made way for Duncan Casey by this point and he rumbled over from a lineout with 10 minutes to go.
Treviso were then penalised for persistent infringements in defence and when Matteo Muccignat was sent to the sin bin the Reds ramped up the pressure.
And against the testing conditions Munster conjured a play of some skill involving Andrew Conway, Keatley, Murray and James Cronin before Murray sent Simon Zebo over down the short side for that vital bonus score.
It was a tough night for Munster, who proved patient in the downpour and in the end they got the try deluge they needed.
