Justin Tipuric scored two tries as the Ospreys secured a third straight GUINNESS PRO12 success, 39-22 away to Zebre in Parma.

After a tight first half, two tries in two minutes from Eli Walker and the outstanding Tipuric gave Steve Tandy’s side a sizeable lead, and despite a battling effort from Zebre, the Ospreys ran in five tries in total.

Zebre made a dream start when Dries van Schalkwyk intercepted a ball from the Ospreys in midfield and then sent Kayle van Zyl away for the try. Carlo Canna converted to make it 7-0 to the home side after just three minutes.

The Ospreys had more of the ball though and after some good tactical kicking from Sam Davies set them up in good position, Jeff Hassler showed his power to brush off two tackles on go over on the right. Davies converted to level matters.

With 20 minutes gone Zebre had a great chance when they broke from deep and although that move came to nothing, they had a scrum five minutes out.

They couldn’t find a way over though and were then dealt a major blow when Andrea Manici suffered what looked a serious knee injury after a tackle by Tyler Ardron saw him twist awkwardly.

The Ospreys took the lead for the first time just before the half-hour, and they stretched that advantage before the break.

After some concerted pressure, Ospreys were able to work an overlap and showed their quick hands to spread the ball to Walker on the left.

Davies’ conversion hit the post and the bar before bouncing away but the Ospreys were in control, leading 15-7.

There was still time for the Ospreys to add to their lead before the break as they took advantage of a Zebre error. When the ball was lost by Tommaso Boni in midfield, it was hacked forward and Tipuric showed his pace to chase it down and pounce when Van Zyl failed to control in his own 22. Davies converted from out wide to make it 22-7.

In a thrilling end to the half, Zebre fought back to score their second try. After turning down a shot at goal on 39 minutes, Canna kicked to the corner. The Zebre maul advanced but after finally being slowed, Marcello Violi plucked the ball from the maul and sprinted down the blind side to score. Canna missed the conversion and the Ospreys led 22-12 at half-time.

Zebre made a promising start to the second half and when the Ospreys pulled down a rolling maul, Canna slotted a penalty to cut the deficit back to seven points.

Ospreys responded almost immediately with three points from Davies before Mils Muliaina, on debut, went off following a good 50-minute run-out.

The Ospreys could have scored their bonus-point try only for Dimitri Arhip to knock on just short of the line.

But they didn’t have to wait long for the fourth try, with Tipuric showing a remarkable burst of speed as he burst through in midfield before stepping the last man to grab his second.

Just after the hour the Ospreys ran in their fifth try, with Tipuric again very involved in setting up Jonathan Spratt to go under the posts. Davies converted again to make it 39-15.

Zebre refused to fold though and a second try from Van Zyl, stepping inside the final man, was reward for a strong finish to the game. Edoardo Padovani converted from the touchline however they then lost impressive scrum-half Violi to a knee injury in the closing stages.

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