The best of the GUINNESS PRO12: Round 16

Munster resisted a spirited second-half fightback in the top-of-the-table clash with Glasgow Warriors to triumph 22-10 and move to the GUINNESS PRO12 summit for only the second week this season.

In a scintillating first half Anthony Foley's men crossed the whitewash twice through Jack O'Donoghue and Eusebio Guinazu, before Keith Earls capped a man-of-the-match performance with a superb finish and CJ Stander secured the bonus point win.

The visitors were not left tryless as Rossouw de Klerk crossed to haul his side back into the contest, but the Warriors - missing a host of players to international duty - were not able to weather an imperious Munster tide.

But there were no such problems for Zebre at the other end of the table, who despite missingten of their Italian superstars were able to overcome Newport Gwent Dragons 23-17 in Parma and close the gap at the bottom of the league.

The hosts made a fast start at the Stadio Lanfranchi, going in at half-time 13-10 to the good when Mirco Bergamasco added two penalties to Jacopo Sarto's try, after T. Rhys Thomas and Jack Dixon had put Newport in front.

And some poor kicking from Tom Prydie cost the Dragons after Nic Cudd and Matteo Pratichetti exchanged early second-half scores, the winger hitting just one successful kick from five attempts in the game to allow Zebre to cling on and record their third GUINNESS PRO12 victory of the season.

Meanwhile Ospreys remained outside the top-four after a last-gasp Jimmy Gopperth penalty earned a scrappy Leinster their second draw of the season.

Gopperth and Ospreys stand-in fly-half Sam Davies exchanged nine points with the boot each in an otherwise scoreless affair, which halted a run of nine consecutive wins for Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.

Ulster's superb run of form continued as their fourth win in a row moved them level on points with second-placed Glasgow, just one point off the top of the GUINNESS PRO12 table.

Neil Doak's men managed a 25-20 home victory over Scarlets thanks to a second-half comeback inspired by Ruan Pienaar, who scored the game's decisive try and added ten points from the tee.

Elsewhere, Cardiff Blues earned their first league win since New Year's Day, beating Edinburgh Rugby 21-15 thanks to scores from man-of-the-match Lloyd Williams, Rhys Patchell and Ellis Jenkins.

And in the final game of the weekend, Connacht routed Benetton Treviso at the Sportsground, running in seven tries while Craig Ronaldson racked up 18 points from the tee for a 53-5 win.

TRY OF THE WEEKEND

No doubt about this week's winner, with Keith Earls' sensational piece of skill at Thomond Park an easy pick.
Ian Keatley spotted space on the right after Munster moved the ball quickly from the scrum, and in inch-perfect grubber kick from the fly-half was gratefully snatched up by the former British and Irish Lion, whose audacious chip into his own hands before touching down was pure class.

BREAK OF THE WEEKEND

Craig Gilroy's try for Ulster lit up the Kingspan Stadium and brought the Irish province roaring back into their clash with Scarlets.
After a wayward clearance from the visitors, Gilroy collected the ball well before dancing his way past five Scarlets tackles and finishing in the corner to complete a fantastic try, and swing the momentum in the hosts' favour.

PLAY OF THE WEEKEND

With the clock ticking down at the Liberty Stadium for Leinster, Jimmy Gopperth's crunch penalty was enough to earn his side a draw against Ospreys.
With all the pressure on his shoulders, the 31-year-old Kiwi's well-struck effort from out wide shaved the left post on its way over to level the scores.

PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND

Craig Ronaldson produced a kicking master-class at the Sportsground, slotting eight kicks from nine attempts for 18 points, but the performance of the weekend belonged to Ruan Pienaar.
The wiley South-African veteran pulled the strings in midfield to inspire Ulster's second-half fightback against Scarlets, and touched down with the decisive try as well as adding ten points from the tee himself.

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