Late try flurry saves Connacht

By JOHN FALLON

Zebre …………… 34

Connacht ……..57

Hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin became the fourth Connacht player in a row to score a hat-trick but they still needed a flurry of late scores from replacements to prevent an embarrassing loss.

Tierney-Martin completed his hat-trick in 27 minutes and when winger Diarmuid Kilgallen crossed for their sixth try just after the break to lead 38-13, they seemed to be coasting to victory.

But Connacht lacked organisation and leadership and lowly Zebre, without a win since April, clawed their way back despite a malfunctioning lineout and a plethora of errors.

They struck for three converted tries from centre Enrico Cronje, lock Josh Furno and a second of the match from winger Simone Gesi to cut the gap to just four points with 18 minutes remaining.

But the Italians lacked the guile to carve out a badly needed win from ample possession and Connacht saved their own blushes when winger Adam Byrne, scrum-half Kieran Marmion and debutant hooker Eoin de Buitléar came off the bench to seal the win and keep their knockout hopes alive.

Such a strong finish hardly looked like it would be needed when three penalties to the corners resulted in Tierney-Martin finishing each time in the opening half hour.

Then experienced fullback Tiernan O'Halloran caught out a sleepy Zebre defence with a quick lineout to push the lead out to 24-3 and while Connacht were guilty of poor defending to allow Gesi to get his first, scores either side of the break looked to be more than enough to secure the honours.

But their lack of killer instinct almost proved catastrophic and the despondent manner in which they trooped off Stadio Lanfranchi after a nine tries to four win told its own story.