CONNACHT BEAT ZEBRE 48-27 IN UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Connacht beat Zebre 48-27 at Dexcom Stadium in the fourth round of the United Rugby Championship. Stuart Lancaster’s side scored five of their eight tries before half-time and led 33-17 at the break. Giacomo Ferrari opened the scoring for Zebre after a Connacht lineout error gave the visitors an early chance. Finlay Bealham, Sean Jansen, Cathal Forde and Sam Gilbert then crossed for Connacht within 15 minutes. Jacopo Botturi scored Zebre’s second try before Prendergast added Connacht’s fifth and Mirko Belloni crossed for the visitors.

Dave Heffernan, making his first start of the season after injury, scored Connacht’s sixth try on the hour mark. West followed with another try for the home side. Giampietro Ribaldi then scored the try that secured Zebre’s bonus point, their first point of the season. Bautista Staville added Zebre’s fifth try late in the match. Heffernan crossed again from a close-range maul in the closing seconds, and Gilbert missed the conversion.

The result moved Connacht to sixth in the URC table, while Zebre remained bottom. Connacht had beaten Saracens in the Champions Cup six days earlier. Summer recruits Jerry Cahir and Will Connors made their Connacht debuts, with Connors coming off the bench. Ciarán Frawley took over the kicking duties from Gilbert and converted four of six attempts. Andy Farrell had named five Connacht players in his Nations Championship squad earlier in the week.