Zebre Parma 12
Connacht 22
Saturday’s URC basement battle in Italy was never going to change Parma’s position, but it could put a touch of gloss on Connacht if they could finish with a win.
In the end they did enough to grind out a victory, overtaking Ulster to finish in 13th place in this season’s BKT United Rugby Championship.
Neither Connacht nor Ulster will be whooping with joy, but there will be some satisfaction for the men from the west having finished above their Irish opponents if even by a point, while also having endured a difficult season, on and off the field.
As expected the Italians did their best to make life difficult for Connacht, particularly in the second half, but in the end, they came up short, dropping to 15th spot, with only Dragons beneath them.
Connacht led at half-time by 7-12, having dominated possession and territorial control, but both sides lacked clinical efficiency. Zebre spurned an early opportunity when Connacht’s defence repelled their maul, and a poor kick was swiftly followed by Connacht’s first try, Cian Prendergast backing himself as he broke down the left wing, pushing off tacklers in the process to score, with Hanrahan adding the extras.
The hosts, as expected, made it difficult and produced scoring opportunities, thanks in the main to their scrum. But after Joe Joyce forced the turnover to deny them, Connacht responded with a 27th minute try. From a penalty to touch, the pack delivered the necessary set-up before Santiago Cordero sent Shane Bolton through after 28 minutes for a 0-12 lead.
However, Zebre Parma delivered a superb try just before the break. It started from a high kick from outhalf Montemara, but it was fullback Jacopo Trulla who made it happen, kicking over the top, securing possession before finding openside Bautista Staville who ran in to score. Montemara’s conversion added the icing to ensure the home side were just five points in arrears despite having having enjoyed only a third of first-half possession compared to the visitors.
As a result they came out in the second half with greater momentum, but neither side was able to take advantage of several opportunities. Connacht did not help themselves when Matthew Devine was yellow carded after 69 minutes, and the home side capitalised immediately with a try from Trulla, unconverted by the outhalf, giving them momentum heading into the final 10 minutes.
Connacht maintained their composure to win a penalty and relieve the increasing pressure, but the Italians were given another chance due to Connacht indiscipline. However, poor execution let them down, while also conceding a late penalty. It allowed man the match Hanrahan to stretch the lead, and ensured Connacht grabbed their sixth victory in what has been a difficult, but ultimately disappointing season.
Scoring sequence: 16m Prendergast try, Hanranhan con 0-7; 27m Bolton try 0-12; 36m Stavile try, Montemauri con 7-12. HT 7-12; 60m Hurley-Langton try, Hanrahan con 7-19; 69m Trulla try 12-19; 78m Hanrahan pen 12-22.
Zebre Parma: J Trulla, S Gregory, F Paea, D Mazza, S Gesi, G Montemauri, A Fusco, D Fischetti (C ), L Bigi, M Hasa, M Canali, L Krumov, D Ruggeri, B Stavile, G Licata
Replacements: T Di Bartolomeo for Bigi (48m ), J Pitinari for Hasa (53m ), G Garcia for Gregory (56m ), G Ferrari for Ruggeri(59m ), E Lucchin for Mazza (61m ), G Volpi for Canali (66m ), L Morisi for Volpi (74m ).,
Connacht: S Cordero, S Bolton, D Hawkshaw, B Aki, F Treacy, JJ Hanrahan, B Murphy, D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham, J Murphy, J Joyce, C Prendergast (C ), S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle
Replacements: D Murray for Joyce (42m ), C Ford for Hawkshaw and C Forde for Hawkshaw (43 ), J Aungier for Bealham and S Jansen for Boyle (both 52m ), P O’Conor for Treacy and J Duggan for Buckley (both 61m ), M Devine for Murphy (63m ), E de Buitlear for Heffernan (78m ).
Referee: Hollie Davidson.
