Match Centre: Munster 28-10 Scarlets

Munster 28-10 Scarlets, Thomond Park
Scorecard

Munster scored three first half tries as they outplayed Scarlets with a 28-10 victory in the latest round of Pro14 at Thomond Park.

Munster had already booked their place in the Pro14 final last week and this is their 13th victory from 15 games while Scarlets' search for a win that will seal them the third spot and a berth in the Heineken Champions Cup next season continues.

The wet and windy conditions at Thomond Park made it tough for the players as they looked for early breakthrough. The opening points in the game came just at the end of the first quarter when Gavin Coombes went over for his ninth try of the season and Joey Carbery making his first start since January improved it making it 7-0.

Scarlets hit back through a 25th minute penalty kick from Angus O'Brien but the home side doubled their tally when Shane Daly gathered a kick from Carbery and brushed away a tackle from Tyler Morgan to dot down in the 26th minute. Carbery made no mistake with the conversion making it 14-3.

As the half-time was nearing, Scarlets lost Aaron Shingler to sin-bin for an early challenge on a lineout and Munster immediately punished the visitors when Niall Scannell crossed over at the back of the maul and Carbery kicked the extras from wide to finish the opening half with a 21-3 lead.

Indiscipline costed the Welsh side dearly as Tevita Ratuva became their second player to be yellow-carded in the 58th minute for collapsing a maul with this time Kevin O'Byrne scoring to complete the bonus point for Munster.

Scarlets had some consolation in the closing stage as James Cronin's late sin-bin allowed Steff Evans to go over the line after grabbing an offload from Sam Lousi but Munster went on to complete a 28-10 victory.

Team line-up:

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Damian de Allende, JJ Hanrahan, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery, Nick McCarthy; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Fineen Wycherley, Jack O'Sullivan, Gavin Coombes.

Reserves: Kevin O'Byrne, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Thomas Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Darren Sweetnam.

Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl; Tom Prydie, Tyler Morgan, Steff Hughes, Steff Evans; Angus O'Brien, Dane Blacker; Steffan Thomas, Marc Jones, Pieter Scholtz, Morgan Jones, Sam Lousi, Aaron Shingler, Jac Morgan, Sione Kalamafoni.

Reserves: Taylor Davies, Kemsley Mathias, Alex Jeffries, Tevita Ratuva, Uzair Cassiem, Will Homer, Johnny Williams, Paul Asquith.