Pro14: Cardiff Blues 25-18 Munster

Aled Summerhill of Cardiff Blues takes on Munster's Stephen Fitzgerald

Cardiff Blues boosted their hopes of qualifying for the 2018-19 Champions Cup with a gritty home win over Munster.

The hosts held on to fourth place in Conference A in which Munster, who took home a losing bonus point, lie second.

Tries from Macauley Cook, Lloyd Williams and Owen Lane helped build a 19-0 home lead.

Munster hit back through Chris Cloete and Stephen Fitzgerald, but Jarrod Evans' kicking ensured the home win.

Blues included Wales squad lock Seb Davies and flanker Ellis Jenkins, but were without international wings Alex Cuthbert, who is recovering after knee surgery, and Tom James, who is not being considered for selection while he is being treated for depression.

Munster were led by Jack O'Donoghue for the first time in a team showing 10 changes from the 33-5 win over Zebre.

Ireland centre Rory Scannell returned to partner Sammy Arnold in midfield with Ian Keatley partnering Duncan Williams at half-back.

Full-back Stephen Fitzgerald and wing Ronan O'Mahony both made their first starts of the season.

Blues had only one change from the previous round's 25-20 win over Toyota Cheetahs with tight-head prop Taufa'ao Filise replacing Anton Peikrishvili, who was in the Georgia squad for the Rugby Europe Championship match against Germany.

Flanker Cook struck first for the hosts, taking Jenkins' lofted pass to go over at the corner.

Blues' explosive start continued as scrum-half Lloyd Williams broke clear and impressive fly-half Evans converted.

When powerful wing Lane followed Williams and Cook to the line for Evans to add the extras, the hosts had scored 19 unanswered points.

Munster hit back

But Munster hit back before the break as flanker Cloete picked and drove over after a line-out surge.

Keatley added a penalty soon after the break and full-back Fitzgerald made the most of an overlap after home hooker Matthew Rees had been sin-binned to go over.

Fly-half Keatley added the conversion to bring the visitors back to within four points.

Opposite number Evans replied with a penalty with 13 minutes left and Munster's indiscipline cost them attacking platforms as they sought to hit back.

Evans calmly added a second penalty to put the hosts 10 points clear before replacement Tyler Bleyendaal earned a losing bonus point for the Irish province to end the contest.

Cardiff Blues: Rhun Williams; Aled Summerhill, Garyn Smith, Rey Lee-Lo, Owen Lane; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Gethin Jenkins (capt), Matthew Rees, Taufa'ao Filise, George Earle, Seb Davies, Macauley Cook, Ellis Jenkins, Nick Williams

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Rhys Gill, Dillon Lewis, Josh Turnbull, Olly Robinson, Tomos Williams, Steven Shingler, Ryan Edwards

Munster: Stephen Fitzgerald; Darren Sweetnam, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Ronan O'Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan, Gerbrandt Grobler, Darren O'Shea, Jack O'Donoghue (capt), Chris Cloete, Robin Copeland.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Dave O'Callaghan, James Hart, Tyler Bleyendaal, Simon Zebo.

Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Dan Jones, Rhys Thomas (both Wales)

TMO: Tim Hayes (Wales)