Zebre 34
Connacht 51
A MATT HEALY hat-trick helped Connacht return to the top of the Guinness Pro12 table this evening but the Irish side didn’t have things all their own way against a determined Zebre.
Pat Lam’s men ran in no fewer than six tries in a 51-34 victory over the Italians at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi ensuring they go top of the league for 24 hours at least.
Healy crossed the whitewash for the first time after 16 minutes after Craig Ronaldson and Kelly Haimona exchanged early penalties. The score came at the end of a fine move involving Bundee Aki and Tiernan O’Halloran with Ronaldson adding the extras.
After Haimona knocked over his second penalty, Zebre were undone by Kieran Marmion whose quick tap penalty saw him cross for Connacht’s second score. Ronaldson’s conversion made it 17-6 after 21 minutes.
Johan Meyer scored Zebre’s first try of the game, the South African born backrow’s score ensuring the Italians went into half-time just four points down, 13-17.
The visitors third try came soon after the half-time interval, however, with Healy again putting his name on the scoresheet after getting on the end of an AJ MacGinty pass to take the score to 24-13.
Zebre refused to be beaten though and Haimona had their second try within a minute, converting his own score to once again reduce the score to four.
Worse still for Pat Lam, it was in trying to prevent this try that Masterson looked to be seriously injured and had to be removed on a stretcher.
The smiles were soon back on the faces of the visitors when Healy crossed for his hat-trick — and a bonus point — in the 48th minute to extend Connacht’s lead to 11.
Though Zebre scored twice more through Dries van Schalkwyk and Federico Ruzza, Connacht were not to be denied with Niyi Adeolokun adding two tries of his own to complete a 17-point win.
Scorers for Connacht
Tries: Matt Healy (3), Niyi Adeolokun (2), Kieran Marmion
Cons: Craig Ronaldson (3), AJ MacGinty (3)
Pens: AJ MacGinty (2), Craig Ronaldson
Scorers for Zebre
Tries: Kelly Haimona, Dries van Schalkwyk, Federico Ruzza
Cons: Kelly Haimona (4)
Pens: Kelly Haimona (2)
Connacht XV
15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Bundee Aki
12. Craig Ronaldson
11. Matt Healy
10. AJ MacGinty
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ben Marshall
5. Aly Muldowney
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Jake Heenan
8. Eoin McKeon
Replacements:
20. Eoghan Masterson for Heenan (21)
19. George Naoupu for Masterson (45)
22. Peter Robb for Ronaldson (49)
21. Caolin Blade for Marmion (59)
17. Ronan Loughney for Buckley (59)
18. Rodney Ah You for Bealham (59)
16. Dave Heffernan for Marshall (60)
23. Danie Poolman for O’Halloran (67)
Zebre XV
15. Mils Muliaina
14. Giulio Toniolatti
13. Giulio Bisegni
12. Matteo Pratichetti
11. Kayle Van Zyl
10. Kelly Haimona
9. Luke Burgess
1. Bruno Postiglioni
2. Oliviero Fabiani
3. Dario Chistolini
4. Gideon Koegelenberg
5. Marco Bortolami (captain)
6. Emiliano Caffini
7. Johan Meyer
8. Andries Van Schalkwyk
Replacements:
22. Ulrich Beyers for Muliaina (50)
18. Pietro Ceccarelli for Chistolini (55)
23. Tommaso Boni for Bisegni (57)
19. Federico Ruzza for Caffini (57)
17. Andrea De Marchi for Postiglioni (59)
20. Filippo Cristiano for Van Schalkwyk (65)
21. Matteo Panunzi for Burgess (67)
16. Emiliano Coria for Fabiani (74)
Referee: Gary Conway.
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