Munster A 9 - 3 Ayr: Hopes of progress vanish as Munster outmuscle Scots
The Scots cannot now make the last eight of the competition for the second year in a row.
JJ Hanrahan kicked all of Munster’s points as Ayr were left to rue some poor goal kicking from fly-half Robbie Ferguson early on. And deep into added time they almost forced a win when the camped out on the Munster line for the last eight minutes. With Paddy Butler already in the sin bin, referee Rhys Thomas flashed a yellow card to Munster’s replacement hooker James Rael after five reset scrums. But it proved a blessing in disguise for Munster, as earlier injuries to front rows Duncan Casey and Christy Condon resulted in uncontested scrums and Munster held solid.
The home side led by 6-3 at the break, with Ross Curle’s penalty keeping the Scots in touch, but Hanrahan sealed the win with a 48th-minute penalty.