RaboDirect Pro12: Edinburgh 29-14 Munster

Lee Jones, one of Edinburgh's try-scorers, escapes the clutches of Munster

Edinburgh stunned top of the table Munster with a convincing RaboDirect Pro12 victory at Murrayfield.

Captain Greig Laidlaw kicked 19 points for the hosts and tries from Matt Scott and Steve Lawrie proved enough to beat the reigning league champions.

Replacement Danny Barnes scored Munster's only try, with fly-half Ian Keatley adding the rest of the points.

The win lifts Edinburgh to mid-table, while Munster now lag behind Ospreys.

Munster were unbeaten before this match but two Laidlaw penalties in the opening five minutes suggested they were in for a tough match.

Edinburgh clearly held the upper hand at the breakdown and, with Munster under the cosh, the penalty count rose steadily.

The visitors duly coughed up another within the range of Laidlaw on the quarter-hour mark, and the home captain dispatched it confidently to widen the gap.

The hosts further hammered home their early dominance when they engineered the space to cross for the game's first try.

The initial break was made by flanker David Denton, who blasted through a weak tackle, the recycled ball finding its way to Scott.

The centre allowed him to break one tackle, before brushing aside a second to cruise over to celebrate his 21st birthday in style, Laidlaw successfully adding the extras.

With a 16-point advantage, Edinburgh appeared to take their foot of the gas, allowing Munster to establish a foothold in the match.

Keatley soon had his side on the scoreboard with an accurate penalty effort.

His drop-goal attempt moments later however proved less accurate, sliding wide of the upright.

Yet two further penalty conversions in the closing minutes of the half from Keatley ensured that the visitors were still very much in contact at the break.

The home side emerged for the second period with a renewed sense of vigour, an early Laidlaw penalty once again extending their advantage.

And their next try followed soon after, thanks to a line break from winger Lee Jones.

Having unlocked the defence, Jones offloaded to the ubiquitous Laidlaw whose outside pass was gathered by hooker Lawrie, who cantered in to touchdown.

Laidlaw was once again able to convert from close range.

Despite their poor performance, Munster were able to construct a period of sustained pressure in the final quarter.

Having passed up numerous kickable penalties, they were finally rewarded with a try, albeit unconverted, when replacement winger Barnes dotted down in the corner.

It was left to Laidlaw to conclude the scoring in the closing minutes, his fifth successful penalty effort rounding off a surprise win for an ecstatic Edinburgh side.

TEAMS

Edinburgh: Thompson, Jones, Scott, King, Visser, Hunter, Laidlaw, Traynor, Lawrie, Niven, Gilchrist, Cox, Denton, Grant, McInally.

Replacements: Hislop for Traynor (63), Walker for Lawrie (70), Knight for Niven (39), Lozada for Gilchrist (61).

Not Used: Watson, Leck, Godman, T. Brown.

Munster: Deasy, Murphy, Gleeson, Mafi, D. Hurley, Keatley, Stringer, du Preez, Fogarty, Hayes, Foley, O'Driscoll, O'Donnell, Ronan, Butler.

Replacements: Barnes for Gleeson (50), Zebo for Keatley (61), Williams for Stringer (73), J. Ryan for du Preez (75), Sherry for Fogarty (50), Archer for Hayes (50), Nagle for Foley (61), O'Mahony for Butler (50).

Attendance: 3,467

Referee: Leighton Hodges