Carlo Canna’s 22 points guided Zebre to a stirring bonus-point win over Kingsley Jones’ Newport Gwent Dragons at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi and ensured they pipped Italian rivals Benetton Treviso to next season’s Champions Cup spot. Zebre recovered superbly from a 70-10 loss to Glasgow Warriors last time out to leapfrog their compatriots into 11th place in the Guinness PRO12 table after Treviso lost out to Leinster at the RDS Stadium. Young fly-half Angus O’Brien, starting just his fifth Guinness PRO12 game of the season, had initially put Dragons ahead, but Zebre responded in emphatic fashion through Andrea Lovotti and Kayle van Zyle before Canna knocked over two penalties just before half-time to leave Dragons with a mountain to climb. Rynard Landman put the Dragons back in contention with a score just after half-time, but Leonardo Sarto, Bruno Postiglioni and Kelly Haimona all ran in scores for the Italians as they cut loose in Parma. Landman and Hallam Amos did grab further scores late on, but it was a red-letter day as Marco Bortolami waved farewell to Zebre with a superb win. O’Brien grabbed the first points of the match with a sweetly-struck penalty, but Zebre were in no mood to let the visitors settle and Italian international Lovotti was on hand to crash over after seven minutes. Canna added the conversion to put Zebre 7-3 ahead and then added three more points from the tee to further extend their lead moments later. South African winger Van Zyl then continued Zebre’s flying start when he crossed five minutes later, Canna adding two more to put Zebre 17-3 ahead after just 18 minutes. And it was the young Italian fly-half, along with half-back partner Guglielmo Palazzani, who took the game by the scruff of the neck and ensuring Jones’ young Dragons side struggled in Parma. Palazanni and Canna both missed drop-goals before Canna was on target with two penalties just before half-time extending the hosts’ lead to 23-3 at the break. The 23-year-old playmaker was again on song with the shoe five minutes into the second-half as he notched three more points. Dragons gave themselves hope when Landman crossed after 53 minutes, with Rhys’ Jones’ conversion taking them to 26-10 – but Zebre were not about to let their lead slip, cutting loose in one of their finest ever attacking performances. Italy wing Sarto responded with a try of his own three minutes later and Canna added two more points from the tee. Postiglioni then put the game beyond any doubt, sealing a bonus point for Zebre with 20 minutes remaining, Canna continuing his excellent kicking form with another conversion before substitute Haimona found himself in space and galloped home for Zebre’s fifth try. Landman grabbed his second of the afternoon late on, while Amos grabbed another consolation score for the Dragons.
