Late tries help Munster defeat stubborn Gloucester

Investec Champions Cup Pool Two

Munster: (7) 31

Tries: Kelly, Haley, Quinn, Farrell, Beirne Cons: Crowley 3

Gloucester (3) 3

Pens: Barton

Munster got their Champions Cup campaign back on track with a dominant bonus-point win over a stubborn Gloucester side.

After a heavy defeat by Bath in their opening game, Munster kept their composure in a tight first half before pulling away in the second as the amount of defensive work Gloucester were forced into took its toll.

Dan Kelly scored the only try of the first period which saw Gloucester prop Jamal Ford-Robinson yellow-carded for a dangerous clearout on Jack Crowley.

Mike Haley added Munster's second after 49 minutes but it was only when Gloucester's Caio James was sent to the sin-bin with 13 minutes left that the floodgates opened and Ruadhan Quinn, Tom Farrell and Tadhg Beirne all took advantage to seal a deserved win.

More to follow.

Munster: Haley; Daly, Kelly, Nankivell, O'Connor; Crowley, Casey; Milne, Scannell, Ala'alatoa, Kleyn, Beirne, Ahern, O'Donoghue, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Wycherley, Bartley, Edogbo, Quinn, Patterson, Hanrahan, Farrell.

Gloucester: Barton; Hathaway, W Knight, M Knight, Russell; Atkinson, Austin; Bleuler, Innard, Ford-Robinson, Jordan, Clark, Basham, Taylor, Clement.

Replacements: Freeman-Price, C Knight, Fasogbon, Eite, Bokenham, James, Price, Cotgreave.

Yellow cards: Ford-Robinson (32), James (67)

Match officials

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wal)

Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wal) and Adam Jones (Wal)

TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)