Zebre off the mark against Edinburgh

Edinburgh had won their first four games in making their best-ever start to a PRO12 campaign but Berryman's close-range effort and 14 points from the boot of Carlo Canna saw the Italians home 19-11.

Hamish Watson did go over on the stroke of half-time to give Edinburgh a two-point lead at the interval but in truth Zebre were good value for their victory.

Zebre headed into the game having lost their last ten PRO12 matches and it was Edinburgh who got on the scoreboard first in Parma with a Nathan Fowles penalty.

But after that early setback, the Italians grew into the contest and Canna soon levelled proceedings with a penalty of his own.

As the hosts continued the press, Canna failed to slot a drop goal but Edinburgh's indiscipline at the breakdown gave the 23-year-old the chance to add two more three-pointers from the tee by the half-hour mark, which he duly did.

Rory Sutherland demonstrated his considerable strength with a storming break from halfway on 36 minutes and after Zebre were pinged, Fowles narrowed the deficit to 9-6.

And on the stroke of half-time they retook the lead as Sutherland once again barrelled forward, Phil Burleigh made a scything break and fed Watson who went over in the corner.

The missed conversion meant the formerly unbeaten visitors had just an 11-9 lead at the break and Zebre pressed forward after the interval as they sensed an opportunity to record a first PRO12 win of the campaign.

Canna sliced a 54th-minute penalty attempt but just two minutes later, the home pressure was rewarded.

Man-of-the-match George Biagi fed Berryman and he crossed by the posts, Canna's conversion making it 16-11.

That became 19-11 soon after as the flyhalf slotted his fourth penalty, although with their 100 per cent record on the line, Edinburgh pressed on.

But a glorious opportunity just five metres from the Zebre line saw them pinged for being off their feet before Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and debutant Blair Kinghorn both missed late penalties as the visitors failed to leave with even a losing bonus point.

The scorers:

For Zebre:

Try: Berryman

Con: Canna

Pens: Canna 4

For Edinburgh:

Try: Watson

Pens: Fowles 2

Teams: 

Zebre: 15 Kayle Van Zyl, 14 Dion Berryman, 13 Michele Visentin, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 7 Johan Meyer, 6 Jean Cook, 5 George Biagi (captain), 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Andrea Manici, 1 Andrea Lovotti.

Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Andrea De Marchi, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Valerio Bernabò, 20 Jacopo Sarto, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Guglielmo Palazzani, 23 Edoardo Padovani.

Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Tom Brown, 13 Will Helu, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Damien Hoyland, 10 Phil Burleigh, 9 Nathan Fowles, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Mike Coman (captain), 5 Fraser McKenzie, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 John Andress, 2 Neil Cochrane, 1 Rory Sutherland.  

Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Alex Toolis, 20 Cornell Du Preez, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Dougie Fife, 23 Blair Kinghorn.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Elia Rizzo (Italy), Luca Trentin (Italy)

TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)

Ospreys 16-21 Connacht

An all-action performance from Bundee Aki inspired Connacht's first away victory over the Ospreys since 2004 as their brilliant early-season form continued.

Dan Baker crossed early on for the Ospreys but a Matt Healy effort put Connacht ahead of half-time after Jack Carty had outscored Sam Davies from the tee by six points to three.

Both kickers had missed a flurry of chances, and it was left for Aki to stretch Connacht's lead out further with an effort that Craig Ronaldson converted.

Returning international Justin Tipuric crossed for the hosts after coming off the bench, but Davies sent the conversion wide and Connacht held on.

It took until Round Four before Ospreys notched their first PRO12 win of the season, 25-22 over Treviso, while free-scoring Connacht had started the campaign with three wins from four.

But Connacht had only beaten the Ospreys once in their last 14 encounters and the hosts enjoyed the early going, Davies firing over a penalty after an infringement at the breakdown.

The Irish province then pinned Ospreys back in their own territory, but after Eoghan Masterson made a menace of himself in the ruck, Carty knocked his own penalty wide right.

Pat Lam's men continued to probe – with scrumhalf Kieran Marmion causing trouble among the Ospreys ranks – before Connacht settled for a penalty and this time Carty made no mistake.

Ospreys then clicked into gear with their first sustained attack as Eli Walker prised open the space before No.8 Baker barged over – the try standing after the TMO checked for a forward pass.

Davies failed with the conversion and soon after Carty missed another penalty, albeit from a difficult angle, for Connacht.

Outside centre Aki then bolted deep into the Ospreys' 22 and was held up just before the line. After a series of pick-and-goes no try came but Josh Matavesi was sin binned for a professional foul.

The resulting penalty saw Carty reduce the deficit to two points, though Davies could not convert an opportunity to respond from the tee after Connacht went off their feet.

Connacht were having little trouble causing mayhem with ball in hand and in the 26th minute, following a Marmion break off the back of a five-metre scrum, wing Matt Healy was there to take the offload and cross over.

Carty's conversion drifted wide but despite Ospreys being back to their full complement, the Connacht surge continued.

Only a huge defensive effort kept out the away side, who were pinged at the breakdown just before half-time to give Davies a shot at goal – but the 22-year-old was wayward again.

Connacht did break through a matter of minutes into the second-half though Aki charging over after receiving the offload from Craig Ronaldson – who was on target with the conversion.

Ten points down, Ospreys brought on Wales internationals Paul James and Tipuric for the last half hour but Aki proceeded to show off his defensive skills by forcing two knock-ons.

The Ospreys were by no means out of it and Davies shaved the gap down to seven points with a penalty, though misjudged another after his side won a scrum against the head.

Connacht shot themselves in the foot when they were penalised for crossing following an attacking line-out – and the resulting penalty gave Ospreys their own line-out, which led to a try in the corner for Tipuric.

Crucially Davies missed the touchline conversion, leaving Connacht in front and some excellent reaguard work led by Denis Buckley kept the Ospreys out.

Ronaldson relieved some of the pressure in the 76th minute with a penalty before Lam's troops secured another impressive win.

The scorers:

For Ospreys:

Tries: Baker, Tipuric

Pens: Davies

For Connacht:

Tries: Healy, Aki

Con: Ronaldson

Pens: Ronaldson, Carty 2

Teams: 

Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Ben John, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Sam Underhill, 7 Dan Baker, 6 James King, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Lloyd Ashley (captain), 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Ryan Bevington.

Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Paul James, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Joe Bearman. 21 Justin Tipuric, 22 Tom Habberfield, 23 Dan Evans.

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran (captain), 14 Darragh Laeder, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Eoghan Masterson, 7 Nepia Fox-Matamua, 6 Eoin McKeon, 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Shane Delahunt, 1 Denis Buckley.

Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Conan O'Donnell, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 John Muldoon, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Rory Parata, 23 Niyi Adeolokun.

Referee: Andy Brace (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), Aled Evans (Wales)

TMO: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)