The best of the GUINNESS PRO12: Round Nine

Munster rose to the top of the GUINNESS PRO12 table for the first time this season but they were indebted to a late missed conversion by Ian Humphreys in a dramatic 21-20 victory over Ulster.

After Nick Williams touched down for a 79th-minute try, fly-half Humphreys saw his kick slide narrowly wide at Thomond Park to hand the hosts their fifth consecutive victory of the campaign.

Humphreys kicked the Ulstermen into a 12-0 lead only for Anthony Foley's side to score 21 unanswered points through the boot of Ian Keatley and tries for Robin Copeland and Duncan Williams before the late drama.

Previous leaders Ospreys fell to back-to-back GUINNESS PRO12 defeats as they were edged out 18-12 by Leinster in a scrappy encounter at the RDS Arena.

Ian Madigan and Sam Davies landed three penalties each with the score level at 9-9 by the interval before Jimmy Gopperth was forced to take over kicking duties from the injured Madigan.

And the fly-half kept his nerve to slot over three penalties, including two inside the last ten minutes, cancelling out another success for Davies to ensure Leinster bounced back from last weekend's draw with Benetton Treviso.

Zebre inflicted a third consecutive defeat to Italian opposition on Edinburgh for the first time in the Scottish side's history as tries from Giulio Bisegni and Michele Visentin secured the hosts an 18-10 triumph at Stadio XXV Aprile.

The visitors were seemingly in control, leading 10-6 thanks to Roddy Grant's converted try, before WP Nel knocked on in attack and Zebre stormed up the other end for Bisegni to finish under the posts.

Andrea Cavinato's side then wrapped up their second GUINNESS PRO12 victory of the season when Visentin surged clear to touch down in the corner just before he was bundled into touch.

Zebre's triumph lifted them above Newport Gwent Dragons in the table, despite Lyn Jones' side collecting a losing bonus point in a 19-15 defeat to high-flyers Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun.

A nervy first-half from the hosts saw them trail 9-6 at the break with Dragons full-back Geraint Rhys Jones landing three penalties to Warriors fly-half Duncan Weir's two.

But after the restart the Glasgow scrum won a penalty try that Weir converted before the Scotland international added two further penalties to deny the visitors, despite six more points from the boot of Jones.

A debut try from Argentine international Joaquin Tuculet helped Cardiff Blues secure their second GUINNESS PRO12 win of the season with a 36-25 bonus-point victory over Treviso at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.

Despite Tuculet and scrum-half Lloyd Williams both crossing over early on, Joe Carlisle scored a converted try and two penalties to give the visitors a 13-12 lead at the interval.

Richard Smith and Kristian Dacey touched down to put the hosts clear and although a double from Francesco Minto brought the Italians back into contention, Rory Watt-Jones went over late on to ensure the win.

And Matt Healy's stunning solo try proved vital as Connacht maintained their unbeaten home record in the GUINNESS PRO12 this campaign with a 14-8 triumph over Scarlets at the Sportsground.

The hosts were behind early on as they let the ball bounce for Scarlets fly-half Steve Shingler to run onto and fire a pass that sent Harry Robinson over the line.

Jack Carty landed two penalties to edge Pat Lam's side within two points before Healy kicked and chased from the half-way line, surging away from the covering defence to touch down in the corner.

TRY OF THE WEEKEND

Connacht's home winning run was in the balance as a fired-up Scarlets led 8-6 at the Sportsground until a moment of individual brilliance by Matt Healy in the 49th minute.

The winger was fed the ball out wide after a turnover, chipped ahead from the half-way line and showed searing pace to collect his kick ahead of the covering defenders and touch down.

BREAK OF THE WEEKEND

Munster were struggling 12-3 in arrears at home against Ulster before Ronan O'Mahony burst through the visitors' line to help set up Robin Copeland's try and ignite the Thomond Park crowd.

A deft no-look reverse pass by scrum-half Duncan Williams found O'Mahony scything a brilliant line through midfield before he stepped past a covering defender with Munster staying patient to put Copeland over in the corner.

PLAY OF THE WEEKEND

Edinburgh were driving up towards the Zebre 22 in search of more points to extend their 10-6 advantage but it was the Italian side who seized the lead in thrilling style just moments later.

WP Nel knocked on and the hosts spread the ball wide to run from deep, with Michele Visentin carrying the ball to the Edinburgh 22 before releasing Giulio Bisegni, who held off Dougie Fife to score under the posts.

PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND

Zebre secured an historic victory over Edinburgh for only a second GUINNESS PRO12 win of the season and their comeback triumph was inspired by a sublime showing from replacement Michele Visentin.

The winger raced clear from deep to set up Giulio Bisgeni's crucial go-ahead try before making sure of the result with a brilliant finish in the corner despite the close attentions of the covering defence.

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