Connacht cruise to win over Zebre in Challenge Cup opener
Zebre centre Enrico Lucchin tackles Connacht's Santiago Cordero in Galway
- Published
European Challenge Cup
Connacht: (17) 43
Tries: Mullins (3), Tierney-Martin, Boyle (2), Cordero Cons: Carty (2), Naughton (2)
Zebre: (5) 12
Tries: Stavile, Fusco Con: Da Re
Connacht ran in seven tries as they started their European Challenge Cup campaign with a comfortable 43-12 victory over Zebre in a wind-swept Galway.
The Italian visitors were first on the scoreboard with a try from Bautista Stavile Bravin try before Connacht seized control.
Chay Mullins went over twice on his Connacht debut and Dylan Tierney-Martin added a third try to help the Irish side to a 17-5 lead at the break.
Tries from Paul Boyle, Mullins and Santiago Cordero stretched Connacht's advantage in the second half.
Alessandro Fusco touched down for Zebre's second try before Boyle completed his double late in the game.
Connacht had the wind at their backs in the first half but Zebre were rewarded for their early pressure as Stavile Bravin went over at the corner on six minutes.
The conditions were tough for kickers - Giovanni Montemauri missed the conversion and a penalty.
Mullins also touched down in the corner for his opener and added a converted try six minutes later.
Tierney-Martin went over from a lineout maul before Zebre's Rusiate Nasove was yellow-carded before the interval.
Boyle, who was notching up his 100th Connacht appearance, sealed the bonus point by going over from a scrum.
Mullins brought up his hat-trick and Cordero also touched down before Fusco took Zebre into double figures.
Boyle completed the try-scoring on a night when Jack Carty and Sean Naughton each kicked two conversions for the hosts.
Connacht: Jennings; Mullins, Hawkshaw, Forde, Cordero; Carty, Blade; Duggan, Tierney-Martin, Aungier; Murray, Dowling; Murphy, Hurley-Langton, Boyle.
Replacements: De Buitlear, Lasisi, Barrett, O'Connor, McCormack, Devine, Naughton, Ralston.
Zebre: Montemauri; Bozzoni, Drago, Lucchin, Gesi; Da Re, Dominguez; Buonfiglio, Bigi (capt), Hasa; Canali, Krumov; Milano, Stavile Bravin, Ferrari.
Replacements: Ribaldi, Rizzoli, Nocera, Nasove, Andreani, Fusco, Bianchi, Gregory.