Lightning-fast wing Charlie Walker grabbed a double in Parma as Zebre got their second win of the Guinness PRO14 season in swashbuckling style.

The Toyota Cheetahs started well but were largely second best for the rest of the 80, with Johan Meyer, Josh Renton and Giulio Bisegni the other tryscorers and Carlo Canna adding 14 points with the boot.

Key Moments

Fresh from their break over the Christmas period the Cheetahs started on the front foot in Parma and after a spell of pressure crossed from close range through hooker Wilmar Arnoldi.

Zebre were in no mood to take it though on home turf and fired back on 13 minutes, passes swung along the line inside the 22, Rabz Maxwane drawn in and Walker diving in down the right.

They followed it up with two Canna penalties for a 13-5 lead, the South Africans pulled a penalty back but crucially just before the interval Michael Bradley’s men struck again, Meyer forcing his way over off the back of a catch-and-drive.

The score read 20-8 at the break and the hosts set about extending the lead when play resumed, scoring a lovely try on 52 minutes as scrum-half Renton dummied to ghost in next to the posts.

The Cheetahs knew something had to be done but couldn’t quite put enough composure into the phases, and it took until 62 minutes for Tian Meyer to get in down the left.

Just as the comeback was on Bradley’s men snuffed it out within minutes, the ball being spun out wide and Walker barging over the last of the defenders for his second.

Zebre led 34-13 heading into the final 15 and finished with an exceptional flourish as Bisegni crossed.

Man of the Match – Junior Laloifi

Zebre full-back Junior Laloifi was a clear winner in this regard, picking up the gong for a fantastic, composed, all-round display.

Laloifi set up one try and beat five defenders on his way to 65 metres but perhaps more importantly was a steady hand under the high-ball all afternoon in Parma.

Moment of the Match

The key moment, and touch of class, came just after the interval when both the crowd and neutrals suspected a Cheetahs fightback may come, but Zebre got on the front foot on resumption of play.

The class came from Renton, showing he could break the defensive line all on his own with a delightful dummy and burst of pace for the third try.