REDS CLING TO THEIR EX

Depleted Munster keep tie alive with Thomond to come

- ANDREW BALDOCK

EXETER will take a narrow lead to Limerick next week after edging out a badly depleted Munster in a tense Champions Cup round-of-16 clash at Sandy Park.

The Chiefs looked on their way to a sizeable victory after first-half tries by full-back Stuart Hogg (right) and flanker Jacques Vermeulen put them 10 clear.

But injury-hit Munster rallied after Exeter were reduced to 13 men for a quarter of the second period when wing Olly Woodburn and replacement prop Patrick Schickerling received yellow cards in rapid succession.

Wing Shane Daly touched down for Munster, while fly-half Ben Healy kicked a penalty, but it was Hogg’s drop-goal from 45 metres out that could ultimately make a significant difference.

Exeter, looking to win the European Cup for a second time in three seasons, will feel they should have put the game away before indiscipline hit them.