Matt Healy scored a hat-trick as both sides threw caution to the wind at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, but it was Connacht who came out on top in a 51-34 thriller. Healy and Kieran Marmion crossed for Connacht and Johan Meyer responded for Zebre just before half-time, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. Connacht – already the GUINNESS PRO12’s top try-scorers with 36 before the game – found more joy through Healy (2), Niyi Adeolokun (2) after half-time. Kelly Haimona – who added two penalties and four conversions – and Dries van Schalkwyk also scored to make sure the Irish province did not have it all their own way. Federico Ruzza also touched down for the hosts but Connacht, who were also helped along by AJ MacGinty’s 12 points, went to the top of the table for at least 24 hours. Connacht had won on their last four trips to Italy but it was Zebre and started brightly here after a surging Kieran Marmion offloaded to Eoin McKeon. McKeon smashed into Zebre’s 22 and drew a penalty, which Craig Ronaldson converted to put the first three points on the board. Zebre responded strongly and set up camp deep into Connacht territory and after a heavy spell of pressure, the visitors were pinged at the breakdown and Haimona levelled the scores. But a magical move involving Bundee Aki and Tiernan O’Halloran saw Connacht cross in the 16th minute, Healy the beneficiary of their fine handling. Ronaldson added the extras before Zebre went back up the field, Connacht were penalised for being off their feet and Haimona kicked his second penalty. Again the Irish province took little time to storm back as the quick-thinking Marmion took a tap penalty and reached over the whitewash. Ronaldson added the extras and Connacht found themselves 17-6 up midway through the half. Inaccuracy was costing Zebre at the other end, as a promising move was ended when the ball was flung out to touch, though they went close shortly after the half-hour mark. But the TMO was consulted following a series of pick-and-goes, and Zebre were ruled to have been held up. They were not to be denied in the 38th minute as Zebre took advantage from a line-out – following a Kayle van Zyl break – and flanker Meyer rumbled over, Haimona converting. Just the four points were in it at half-time and Ronaldson failed to extend Connacht’s lead when the teams came back out after his penalty rebounded off the post. Try number three for Connacht came soon after though, as Healy took a great pass from MacGinty and touched down for his ninth try of the seasons in all competitions. Ronaldson’s conversion took the score out to 24-13. Zebre refused to give up and got a try back within a minute, Haimona stretching out for the dot down before the Italy fly-half converted his own score. In worse news for Connacht, an injured Eoghan Masterson left the field on a stretcher, but Healy restored some smiles in the 48th minute. The wing completed his hat-trick – and the bonus-point try – after latching onto a MacGinty chipm and Ronaldson’s extras extended Connacht’s lead to 11 points. Incredibly the tries kept flowing, first an intercept try for van Schalkwyk who ran the length of the field to score. Three minutes later Adeolokun got in the act for Connacht following a long pass from O’Halloran, and MacGinty converted before slotting a penalty. But the game was surely beyond Zebre when the magical MacGinty teed up Adeolokun for his second try of the game – leaving the score at 48-27 on 66 minutes. Zebre at least ensured they’d take away a try-bonus point when replacement lock Ruzza crashed over. MacGinty then continued his perfect form with the boot by scoring another penalty, and with ten minutes remaining that was the last score of a helter-skelter second half. 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.
