Munster 29 Newport 21

Newport's Celtic league prospects nosedived as they slumped to their second defeat in Cork last night. It leaves the Welsh cup holders needing to win their remaining two games against Connacht and Neath to make the quarter finals.

Despite playing into the teeth of a very strong wind from the start, Newport deservedly led 13-10 at the interval thanks to the efforts of their fired up pack which was brilliantly marshalled by skipper Simon Raiwalui.

Ronan O'Gara kicked the Irish champions in front with a second minute penalty but it was all Newport for most of the period. Jason Strange levelled after eight minutes with a penalty and he repeated the trick from 25 metres after 16 minutes for a 6-3 lead.

The Welsh were fortunate that O'Gara missed a further three other attempts before Newport grabbed the opening try 6 minutes before the break when Dale Burn squeezed over from close range after good work from Andrew Marinos and Strange, who also converted.

That left Newport 13-3 ahead but Munster responded in typical fashion.

Three minutes into injury time they forced a line out near the visitor's line and hooker Frankie Sheahan barged over for a try which O'Gara converted well from the touchline.

Munster came out a changed team on the resumption as they took control up front forcing Newport on the back foot.

It took them just four minutes to conjure up a brilliant second try as international scrum half Peter Stringer found Anthony Foley with a lovely reverse pass and he raced home from 20 metres with O'Gara converting for a 17-13 advantage.

Strange reduced the deficit to a point with his third penalty 4 minutes later but it was only a temporary respite for Munster attacked in waves again.

Sustained pressure close to the Newport line resulted in the sin-binning of substitute Matt Pini after 56 minutes when Munster looked poised to score a third try.

O'Gara had to be content with a penalty but added two more during the period when Newport where down to 14 players as the home side swept 26-16 in front with a quarter of a hour left.

Newport lost a crucial line out 5 metres from their opponent's line 10 minutes from the end and O'Gara's relieving kick brought play to the halfway line.

Then 3 minutes from time Strange's 40 metre penalty veered the wrong side of the up right as the inevitable home victory loomed.

That was assured when O'Gara kicked an injury time penalty from in front of the posts before Newport grabbed a consolation try from substitute Chris Anthony only for Shane Howarth to miss the conversion.

Munster: D Crotty, J O'Neil, J Kelly, J Holland, A Horgan, R O'Gara, P Stringer, P Clohessy, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M Galwey (capt), M O'Driscoll, A Quinlan, A Foley, D Wallace. Tries - F Sheahan, A Foley; Penalties - R O'Gara (5); Conversions - R O'Gara (2).

Newport: E Lewis, M Mostyn, A Marinos, J Pritchard, M Watkins, J Strange, D Burn, R Snow, J Richards, A Garvey, S Raiwalui, M Voyle, P Buxton, A Powell, G Gravell. Tries - D Burn, C Anthony; Penalties - J Strange (3); Conversion - J Strange.

Referee: I Ramage (Scotland)