Connacht bag hard-fought win over Zebre

MATCH REPORT: Connacht concluded an underwhelming United Rugby Championship campaign with a 22-12 victory over Zebre in Parma.

Captain Cian Prendergast and wing Shayne Bolton claimed first half tries to put the Irish province on course for a first win in six URC games.

Zebre flanker Bautista Stavile crossed and flyhalf Giovanni Montemauri added the extras to leave the Italian hosts 7-12 down at the break.

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Loose forward Shamus Hurley-Langton went over with an hour played to stretch Connacht’s lead, with JJ Hanrahan adding the second of his successful conversions.

A score from Zebre fullback Jacopo Trulla and a yellow card for Connacht’s replacement scrumhalf Matthew Devine set up a tense finale.

Flyhalf Hanrahan slotted a late penalty to help the visitors over the line and claim a 13th-placed finish.

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Scorers:

For Zebre:
Tries: Stavile, Trulla
Con: Montemauri

For Connacht:
Tries: Prendergast, Bolton, Hurley-Langton
Cons: Hanrahan 2
Pen: Hanrahan

Yellow card: Matthew Devine (Connacht 69′)

Teams:

Zebre: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Davide Ruggeri, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Danilo Fischetti (captain).
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Paolo Buonfiglio, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Guido Volpi, 20 Giacomo Ferrari, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Luca Morisi, 23 Enrico Lucchin.

Connacht: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Shayne Bolton, 13 David Hawkshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Finn Treacy, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitléar, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Cathal Forde, 23 Piers O’Conor.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Filippo Russo (France), Clara Munarini (Italy)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

Image credit: @GettyImages