Kings run out of puff in gutsy loss to Munster

Cape Town - Munster survived an almighty scare from the Kings to eventually claim a bonus-point win in their PRO14 clash at Outeniqua Park in George on Saturday.

Munster won 39-22 after trailing 15-12 at half-time.

Munster, coached by former Springbok assistant Johann van Graan and captained by SA-born Irish star CJ Stander, grew stronger and stronger in the second half to eventually run in six tries and record their first ever victory in South Africa.

The victory consolidated Munster's second-spot in Conference A.

Only the top three teams in each conference qualify for the six-team playoffs, which include two semi-final qualifiers.

The Kings, despite a valiant effort, recorded their 18th defeat in 19 matches in this, their maiden PRO14 campaign.

In their next match, Munster will travel to Bloemfontein to play the Cheetahs (Friday, April 13 at 19:35), while the Kings welcome the Cardiff Blues to Port Elizabeth (Saturday, April 14 at 19:35).

Scorers:

Kings

Tries: Andisa Ntsila, Stephan Greeff, Michael Makase

Conversions: Masixole Banda (2)

Penalty: Banda

Munster

Tries: Niall Scannell, Calvin Nash, CJ Stander, Dan Goggin, Rhys Marshall, David Kilcoyne

Conversions: Ian Keatley (3)

Penalty: Keatley

Teams:

Kings

15 Masixole Banda, 14 Michael Makase, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Berton Klaasen, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Martin du Toit, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Martinus Burger, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Bobby de Wee, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Schalk Ferreira (captain)

Substitutes: 16 Alandre Van Rooyen, 17 Justin Forwood, 18 Luvuyo Pupuma, 19 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20 Lusanda Badiyana, 21 Rudi Van Rooyen, 22 Ntabeni Dukisa, 23 Luzuko Vulindlu

Munster

15 JJ Hanrahan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Dan Goggin, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Alex Wootton, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 James Hart, 8 CJ Stander (captain), 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Dave O’Callaghan, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 John Ryan, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 James Cronin

Substitutes: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Brian Scott, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Jack O’Donoghue, 21 Jack Stafford, 22 Stephen Fitzgerald, 23 Robin Copeland