Details
Date | Time | Competition | Season |
---|---|---|---|
18 February 2023 | 3:05 pm | United Rugby Championship | 2022/23 |
Match Report
Connacht leave Italy with victory in high scoring thriller
Connacht scored nine tries but had to survive a second-half siege from bottom side Zebre as they won a thrilling encounter, by 34-57.
In what would pan out as a game of staggering thirteen tries, Connacht struck early with hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin scoring six minutes in from a maul.
Carty’s conversion and two penalties from Zebre’s Tiff Eden made it 6-7 before another two maul finishes from Tierney-Martin had Connacht 19-6 up by the half hour.
Niall Murray’s clever quick lineout freed full back Tiernan O’Halloran to dot down the BP score before home winger Simeone Gesi produced an equally impressive finish in the corner for Zebre’s first try.
Caoilin Balde sniped over from range before half time leaving Connacht eighteen ahead and seemingly in cruise control.
That relaxed mood was increased when Diarmuid Kilgallen got their sixth try after Carty freed him and converted for 38-13.
Then came a Zebre onslaught from the URC’s bottom side, seeking their first win.
Centre Erich Cronje got his third try this season before experienced Italian lock Joshua Furno was freed by brilliant attacking play from Eden to dot down. Two successful conversions had the crowd euphoric and the visitors only eleven ahead entering the final quarter.
More sublime craft from the fly half allowed Gesi in under the posts for his brace, Connacht severely rattled and under the cosh as the Parma province secured a BP of their own.
A raft of substitutions helped Andy Friend’s men stem the tide as they slowed the game and ruthlessly snuffed Zebre’s second half hopes out. Yet the replacements ultimately won the match.
Replacement Adam Byrne finished off more potent maul work, Kieran Marmion, on for Blade, intercepted a desperate Zebre pass from inside his own half before a sweet moment for debutant, Eoin De Buitlear, the young hooker celebrating his first Connacht cap with his first try.
Four further points from Carty’s conversions prompted the whistle to blow and an almighty puff of the cheeks from the men in green.
Timeline
6' | Dylan Tierney-Martin | |
7' | Jack Carty | |
Tiff Eden | 10' | |
Tiff Eden | 14' | |
24' | Dylan Tierney-Martin | |
28' | Dylan Tierney-Martin | |
29' | Jack Carty | |
32' | Tiernan O'Halloran | |
Simone Gesi | 34' | |
Tiff Eden | 35' | |
38' | Caolin Blade | |
39' | Jack Carty | |
43' | Diarmuid Kilgallen | |
44' | Jack Carty | |
Erich Cronje | 46' | |
Marco Manfredi Giampietro Ribaldi |
46' | |
Tiff Eden | 47' | |
51' | Conor Oliver Shamus Hurley-Langton |
|
Luca Rizzoli Paolo Buonfiglio |
53' | |
Kobus Van Wyk Richard Kriel |
53' | |
Matteo Nocera Muhamed Hasa |
54' | |
Joshua Furno | 56' | |
Tiff Eden | 57' | |
Giovanni Licata Davide Ruggeri |
58' | |
58' | Caolin Blade Kieran Marmion |
|
58' | Diarmuid Kilgallen Adam Byrne |
|
Simone Gesi | 61' | |
Tiff Eden | 62' | |
62' | Dylan Tierney-Martin Eoin De Buitlear |
|
62' | Josh Murphy Darragh Murray |
|
Joshua Furno Janco Uys |
63' | |
63' | Jack Aungier Jordan Duggan |
|
63' | Denis Buckley Sam Illo |
|
Chris Cook Ratko Jelic |
66' | |
66' | Cathal Forde Tom Daly |
|
Lorenzo Pani Antonio Rizzi |
68' | |
73' | Adam Byrne | |
74' | Jack Carty | |
77' | Kieran Marmion | |
78' | Jack Carty | |
80' | Eoin De Buitlear |
Past Meetings
(Round 18)
22 - 20United Rugby Championship
Dexcom Stadium Connacht v Zebre |
(Round 7)
12 - 47PRO14
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Zebre vs Connacht |
Ground
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi |
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Parma, 43122, Italy |