Dion Berryman’s second-half try helped a resilient Zebre to a first GUINNESS PRO12 triumph of the season as they ended Edinburgh’s 100 per cent start to the campaign at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. Edinburgh had won their first four games in making their best-ever start to a GUINNESS PRO12 campaign but Berryman’s close-range effort and 14 points from the boot of Carlo Canna saw the Italians home 19-11. Hamish Watson did go over on the stroke of half-time to give Edinburgh a two-point lead at the interval but in truth Zebre were good value for their victory. Zebre headed into the game having lost their last ten GUINNESS PRO12 matches and it was Edinburgh who got on the scoreboard first in Parma with a Nathan Fowles penalty. But after that early setback, the Italians grew into the contest and Canna soon levelled proceedings with a penalty of his own. As the hosts continued the press, Canna failed to slot a drop goal but Edinburgh’s indiscipline at the breakdown gave the 23-year-old the chance to add two more three-pointers from the tee by the half-hour mark, which he duly did. Rory Sutherland demonstrated his considerable strength with a storming break from halfway on 36 minutes and after Zebre were pinged, Fowles narrowed the deficit to 9-6. And on the stroke of half-time they retook the lead as Sutherland once again barrelled forward, Phil Burleigh made a scything break and fed Watson who went over in the corner. The missed conversion meant the formerly unbeaten visitors had just an 11-9 lead at the break and Zebre pressed forward after the interval as they sensed an opportunity to record a first GUINNESS PRO12 win of the campaign. Canna sliced a 54th-minute penalty attempt but just two minutes later, the home pressure was rewarded. Man-of-the-match George Biagi fed Berryman and he crossed by the posts, Canna’s conversion making it 16-11. That became 19-11 soon after as the fly-half slotted his fourth penalty, although with their 100 per cent record on the line, Edinburgh pressed on. But a glorious opportunity just five metres from the Zebre line saw them pinged for being off their feet before Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and debutant Blair Kinghorn both missed late penalties as the visitors failed to leave with even a losing bonus point. To buy tickets for the GUINNESS PRO12 Grand Final click here. Also follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12.
