PRO14 wins for Munster, Ulster and Edinburgh

There were wins for Munster, Ulster and Edinburgh on the opening night of the PRO14 season, with Richard Cockerill's tenure starting well.

Munster 34-3 Treviso

Jean Kleyn grabbed the first try of the campaign as Munster stormed out of the blocks early. Tyler Bleyendaal quickly added a second, with a third from Darren Sweetnam swiftly following. Alex Wotton got four as the bonus point was sealed before the break. Andy Conway added number five, with Kleyn's second coming after the break – a break which had already seen the hosts lead 27-3.

Despite a better half from the Italians, they couldn't muster a try and fell to a 34-3 defeat.

After defeat in the PRO12 final last term, Munster were looking to send a message to the rest of the league that they're looking to go one better this time around. And against a Treviso side for whom it could be a tough old season, there was no better way to start.

And they found themselves ahead within 10 minutes. The opening try came courtesy of some heavy pressure, with Kleyn grounding and allowing the conversion to follow from Bleyendaal. Minutes later he failed from a kick, but made up for it with his try moments before. Treviso were being blown aside just 15 minutes into the new season – hardly the ideal start. They did get themselves on the board though, Marty Banks kicking through after the visitors brightest spell of the first 30.

But things really were bleak for Treviso and a third try looked like it had sealed the game. Sweetnam got number three after the hosts played through an advantage, though Bleyendaal missed the two. It hardly mattered the though, because the fourth try was quickly added. Wotton got it following good teamwork, and the extra point was sealed barely half an hour into the evening.

Treviso were in all sorts of trouble and conceded try five hardly a minute after restarting, finishing off a move highlighted by Sweetnam's lovely offload. Munster's 27-3 lead at half-time was always going to be more than enough.

And they got a sixth try 10 minutes into the second half. Kleyn claimed his second of the night, with Treviso losing Francesco Minto to a yellow for an offside in the process. But the visitors did start to pick things up a little, although they weren't troubling the scoreboard despite having pressure and possession.

There was reason for concern for the hosts late on, with a lengthy stoppage as Dan Goggin was treated for an injury. And the final five minutes petered out, as Munster eased to victory 34-3.

The scorers:

For Munster:
Tries: Kleyn 2, Bleyendaal, Sweetnam, Wootton, Conway
Cons: Bleyendaal 2

For Treviso:
Pen: Banks

Munster: 15 Andrew Conway, 14 Darren Sweetnam,13 Chris Farrell, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Alex Wootton, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal (c), 9 Duncan Williams, 8 Jack O'Donoghue, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Sean O'Connor, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 Liam O'Connor 
Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 Brian Scott, 18 Ciaran Parker, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 James Hart, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Dan Goggin

Treviso: 15 Ian McKinley, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Tommaso Allan, 11 Edoardo Gori, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Whetu Douglas, 7 Sebastian Negri, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Marco Lazzaroni, 4 Dean Budd (c), 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Federico Zani 
Replacements: 16 Engjel Makelara, 17 Cherif Traore, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Abraham Steyn, 21 Giorgio Bronzini, 22 Alberto Sgarbi, 23 Andrea Buondonno

Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Gary Conway (Ireland)
TMO: Neil Hennessy (Wales)

Cardiff Blues 10-20 Edinburgh

Blair Kinghorn put Edinburgh ahead with their first try of the new season, but Josh Navidi hit back five minutes before half-time as Edinburgh went in 10-7 to the good. Chris Dean got Edinburgh's second midway through the second half, and that was enough for a 20-10 win, the perfect start for the new coach.

Cardiff Blues had Rey Lee-Lo to call upon after he missed out on pre-season fixtures with injury, whilst Edinburgh were hoping to make a real opening day impact under new Head Coach, Cockerill.

And they did that with the opening try. Magnus Bradbury snuck away from the scrum and fed Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, who in turn provided Kinghorn with his and Edinburgh's first try of the campaign. Duncan Weir added the two and another three put the visitors into a 10 point lead.

The Blues were on top though and Navidi finished off a wealth of pressure from the hosts, finding enough space on the right to go over after Jarrod Evans dink over the top. Evans added the two to reduce the arrears to just three, Cardiff going into the break 7-10 behind.

Evans levelled seven minutes into the second half with a straight forward kick in front of the posts, but Weir reclaimed the lead for his side with an inch perfect kick.

And Edinburgh got a second through Dean. They'd previously blown a chance on the left, but having spread the ball over to the other side, Kinghorn fed in Dean who turned over the line. Weir again made no mistake, Blues going 10-20 behind. Nathan Fowles went within a fingertip of getting a third, but he fell agonisingly short of the line as Edinburgh hunted for a third that would have sealed the win. Not that it mattered, as Cockerill's side sealed the opening victory.

The scorers:

For Cardiff Blues:
Try: Navidi
Con: Evans
Pen: Evans

For Edinburgh:
Tries: Kinghorn, Dean
Cons: Weir 2
Pens: Weir 2

Cardiff Blues: 15 Matthew Morgan, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Aled Summerhill, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Seb Davies, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Matthew Rees (c), 1 Rhys Gill 
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhil, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 vSion Bennett, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Steve Shingler, 23 Tom James

Edinburgh: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Chris Dean, 12 Junior Rasolea, 11 Jason Harries, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Magnus Bradbury (c), 7 John Hardie, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 WP Nel, 2 Stuart McInally, 1 Darryl Marfo 
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Ben Toolis, 20 Cornell du Preez, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Jason Tovey, 23 Glenn Bryce

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Correll (Ireland), Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Ulster 42-19 Cheetahs

Clayton Blommetijes got the Cheetahs first try, but they were quickly pegged back as Ulster's Tommy Bowe snatched the lead. Mazakole Mapimpi put Cheetahs back in front though with 15 minutes of the first half to play. A yellow to Henco Venter allowed Ulster back into the game, Alan O'Connor levelling the try scoring before Stuart McCloskey and Charles Piutau put Ulster further ahead.

Louis Ludik stretched Ulster's lead two minutes after the restart, Sergeal Petersen getting Cheetahs third as the fast pace of the first half continued into the second. Ulster were always in command though and Peter Nelson added another late on, as Ulster sealed a 42-19 win.

Making their PRO14 bow, Cheetahs had the unenviable task of taking on an Ulster side still smarting from an ultimately disappointing campaign last year. They should have struck the first point of the new look league, but William Small-Smith's kick inside the first five minutes missed the sticks.

Instead it was John Cooney who kicked the first three with a straight forward penalty on 10 minutes. But that lead soon disappeared as Cheetahs made PRO14 history with their first try. It came from Blommetijes, who darted inside the left corner. Ulster soon hit back though, Bowe racing clear from the visitors defence.

But although they've had less than a couple of months off, Cheetahs were impressive and got their second try moments after. Mapimpi put the South African side back ahead just three minutes after they fell behind, Small-Smith adding the two for a 14-8 lead. But a yellow for Henco Venter with 10 left to play of the half put Ulster back on the front foot, and they took full advantage thanks to O'Connor. He picked up on a loose ball to dot down, Cooney adding the extras for a single point lead.

McCloskey put the hosts further ahead, going in underneath the posts and the extra man was making a huge difference, as highlighted by Piutau's fourth. There was some lovely handling in the build up as Cheetahs defence was pulled apart, with Ulster's 15 adding the finishing touch as the hosts went into the break 27-14 to the good after a pulsating half.

Ulster burst straight back out for the second 40 and stretched their advantage thanks to Ludik. He powered his way through, with Cheetahs failing to deal with the hosts quick start. They quickly got themselves back into it though. Petersen got Cheetahs third try, the beneficiary of a speedy break from Cecil Afrika.

But discipline was playing a part and Cheetahs lost Johan Coetzee to the sin-bin, penalised for a high challenge on Andrew Trimble. Ulster had the points wrapped up but just to tie up the win, Nelson touched down following more neat work to break the 40 point mark.

The scorers:

For Ulster:
Tries: Bowe, O'Connor, McCloskey, Piutau, Ludik, Nelson
Cons: Cooney 2, Nelson
Pens: Cooney 2

For Cheetahs:
Tries: Blommetjies, Mapimpi, Petersen
Cons: Small-Smith

Ulster: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Tommy Bowe, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Louis Ludik, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 John Cooney, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Chris Henry (c), 6 Jean Deysel, 5 Alan O’Connor, 4 Robbie Diack, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Kyle McCall 
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Callum Black, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Matthew Rea, 20 Sean Reidy, 21 David Shanahan, 22 Peter Nelson, 23 Darren Cave 

Cheetahs: 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan (c), 7 Henco Venter, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Charles Marais 
Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Gerhard Olivier, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Cecil Afrika, 23 Ryno Benjamin

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Simon Rees (Wales), Leo Colgan (Ireland)
TMO: John Sheehan (Ireland)