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Mathewson double helps condemn Cardiff to fourth defeat in a row

Alby Mathewson chipped in two tries to help Munster win at Cardiff (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Munster moved to the top of Guinness PRO14 Conference B with a convincing 33-23 victory over Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park. The visitors outscored their opponents by four tries to two to send Blues to their fourth league defeat in a row.

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That record leaves Cardiff 11 points behind Scarlets in the third play-off place, leaving them with much to do if they are to retrieve their season. Alby Mathewson scored two tries for Munster, with Chris Cloete and Calvin Nash adding the others. JJ Hanrahan kicked three penalties and two conversions.

Corey Domachowski and Nick Williams touched down for Blues’ tries while Jarrod Evans chipped in with three penalties and a conversion. Jason Tovey also added a conversion. Cardiff took a seventh-minute lead when Evans fired over a penalty after the visitors had infringed at a scrum.

With the wind in their faces, Munster were forced to run the ball at almost every opportunity and a powerful burst from Nash took them into the home 22 where Hanrahan tied up the scores with a penalty.

They were not level for long, though, as straight from the restart the Irish were penalised, allowing Evans to put the hosts back in front. However, Munster continued to trouble the Blues defence, with Darren O’Shea and Arno Botha combining skilfully to punch a hole in it before Matthew Morgan managed to drag down the latter to prevent a certain try.

(Continue reading below…)

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It mattered little as minutes later O’Shea and Jeremy Loughman made holes in a porous defence for Cloete to force his way over. Hanrahan converted and added a penalty as his side continued to dominate with their expert ball retention in the difficult conditions, but Cardiff struck back when Domachowski rewarded a sustained period of pressure by forcing his way over to make it 13-13 at the interval.

After the restart, Blues continued their rally and were rewarded with a third penalty from Evans, but the visitors again demonstrated their superb handling skills when Kevin O’Byrne and Botha set up a try for Mathewson. The scoring scrum-half then turned provider with a neat pass sending Nash over and Blues looked in trouble trailing 25-16 going into the final quarter.

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Munster saved the best for last when a superb run from replacement Rory Scannell saw him supported by Mathewson and Dan Goggin before Mathewson was on hand to collect the scoring pass. Hanrahan missed the conversion but succeeded with a late penalty before a try from Nick Williams gave Blues some respectability.

– Press Association 

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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