Zebre 34 Connacht 51

Connacht’s Pro12 roadshow continued in Italy with a six-try bonus-point win over Zebre to regain top spot in the table and maintain their push for Champions Cup rugby next season.

Top try scorer Matt Healy bagged a hat-trick, fellow winger Niyi Adeolokun struck for two in the second half, and scrumhalf Kieran Marmion completed the try-fest, ensuring Connacht’s 10th league victory – level with last year’s tally.

Both sides revelled in the dry conditions, although there were a host of errors in a loose game. The home side, having sat on Connacht’s coat-tails throughout, were rewarded with a four-try bonus point.

“We got the outcome with the five points, but certainly there were a lot of lessons and work-ons,” said Connacht coach Pat Lam. “ We are learning team, and there was a lot of learnings to take from it. Yes, we are pretty proud of the outcome when we haven’t played well, but we are not getting carried away.”

Connacht had opened with a fourth minute Craig Ronaldson penalty– a trademark Marmion break with a supporting John Muldoon setting up field position before quick recycling forced the home outfit off side.

But Zebre showed their willingness to put the ball through the hands, with backs and forwards combining to make yardage. When Connacht were pinged at the breakdown, Italy outhalf Kelly Haimona had no difficulty levelling the score after 12 minutes.

Connacht looked like they had struck a blow to the home side’s hopes with two tries in five minutes. Slick passing from Bundee Aki and Tiernan O’Halloran resulted in Healy scorching two defenders to cross in the 16th minute with Ronaldson adding the extras. And Marmion and Ali Muldowney played crucial roles in the lead-up the second try before the scrumhalf touched down in the 21st minute, diving over the line from a quick tap penalty. Ronaldson’s conversion put the visitors into a 17-3 lead.

Zebre, having dominated possession and territory in the opening half, created several chances, but they lacked the finishing power to add to the scoreboard until the 37th minute. Connacht, having kept them at bay, then lost possession from the lineout and when the Zebre backrow combined to drive over, openside Johan Meyer claimed the touchdown and Haimona converted to close the gap to 10-17 at the break.

Although a Ronaldson penalty hit off the post in the first action after the interval, Connacht continued to push forward. And when AJ MacGinty slipped through the cover, he found a willing Healy on his shoulder to finish off for his ninth try this season.

Still Lam’s side struggled to shake off their hosts who countered with a 45th-minute try from Haimona, who also converted before Healy claimed his third try from MacGinty’s chip, wrapping up the bonus point.

Connacht will not be happy to have gifted Zebre a try from an intercept and the big No 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk had the legs to race the length of the pitch to score in the 52nd minute, once again closing the gap to just four pints.

Adeolokun eventually put the game beyond Zebre’s reach with two tries in the 58th and 65th minute, both of which MacGinty converted, while adding a penalty.

Still Zebre refused to give up and struck through replacement Federico Ruzza to gain a consolation bonus point before Connacht signed off with a 72nd-minute MacGinty penalty.

CONNACHT: T O’Halloran; N Adeolokun, B Aki, C Ronaldson, M Healy; AJ MacGinty; K Marmion, D Buckley, F Bealham; B Marshall, A Muldowney; J Muldoon (capt), J Heenan, E Masterson.

Replacements: E Masterson for Heenan (25 mins), G Naoupu for Masterson (45 mins) for Ronaldson, P Robb for Ronaldson (49 mins), C Blade for Marmion, Ah You for Bealham and R Loughney for Buckley (all 59 mins),D Heffernan for Marshall (60 mins), D Poolman for O’Halloran (72 mins).