Connacht finish season with victory away to Zebre

Connacht's Finlay Bealham is tackled during the first half at Stade Sergio Lanfranchi

United Rugby Championship: Zebre v Connacht

Zebre (7) 12

Tries: Stavile. Trulla Con: Montemauri

Connacht (12) 22

Tries: Prendergast, Bolton, Hurley-Langton Cons: Hanrahan 2 Pen: Hanrahan

Connacht ended their season with a 22-12 United Rugby Championship win over Zebre at Stadio Serge Lanfranchi on Saturday.

The result saw the Irish province move above Ulster to finish 13th in the URC table, while Zebre ended the campaign 15th.

It was a first win in six URC games for Connacht.

Tries from captain Cian Prendergast and wing Shayne Bolton helped Connacht to a 12-0 lead, JJ Hanrahan converting both scores.

A Bautista Stavile touchdown two minutes from the break reduced the hosts' deficit, Giovanni Montemauri adding the extras.

Back row Shamus Hurley-Langton crossed midway through the second half, Hanrahan again contributing the extra two points.

Full-back Jacopo Trulla scored the home side's second try with Montemauri's conversion reducing Zebre's deficit to 10 points.

A yellow card for Connacht's replacement scrum-half Matthew Devine set up a tense finish but fly-half Hanrahan slotted a late penalty to help his side over the line.

Zebre: Trulla, Gregory, Paea, Mazza, S Gesi, Montemauri, Fusco, Fischetti, Bigi, Hasa, Canali, Krumov, Ruggeri, Stavile Bravin, Licata.

Replacements: Di Bartolomeo, Buonfiglio, Pitinari, Volpi, Ferrari, Garcia, Morisi, Lucchin.

Connacht: Cordero, Bolton, Hawkshaw, Aki, Treacy, Hanrahan, B Murphy, Buckley, Heffernan, Bealham, J Murphy, Joyce, Prendergast, Hurley-Langton, Boyle.

Replacements: de Buitlear, Duggan, Aungier, D. Murray, Jansen, Devine, Forde, O'Conor.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)