Cardiff Blues edge Zebre in low-scoring clash

Editor

Cardiff Blues cut the gap on the third placed Cheetahs in Conference A of the PRO14 after they beat Zebre 10-7 at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

It wasn't pretty but the Welsh region will be relieved to come away from Italy with four points after their struggles in the country in the past.

It was 10-7 at half-time after Owen Lane was sent over by Rey Lee-Lo, beating Zebre full-back Rory Parata on his way to the try-line. Jarrod Evans would add the two and despite Giovanbattista Venditti responding four minutes before the break. Evans kicked a penalty on the hooter.

That was that in terms of points in the game as the second-half was scoreless throughout, with neither side looking threatening in a PRO14 game that was lacking in entertainment as Zebre missed the chance to close the gap on Ospreys.

The scorers:

For Zebre:
Try: Venditti
Con: Palazzani

For Cardiff Blues:
Try: Lane
Con: Evans
Pen: Evans

Zebre: 15 Rory Parata, 14 Gabriele Di Giulio, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Faialaga Afamasaga, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Serafin Bordoli, 9 Guglielmo Palazzani (c), 8 Derick Minnie, 7 Johan Meyer, 6 James Tucker, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 David Sisi, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Oliviero Fabiani, 1 Cruze Ah-Nau
Replacements: 16 Luhandre Luus, 17 Daniele Rimpelli, 18 Roberto Tenga, 19 Valerio Bernabò, 20 Jacopo Sarto, 21 Riccardo Raffaele, 22 Maicol Azzolini, 23 Matteo Pratichetti

Cardiff Blues: 15 Rhun Williams, 14 Aled Summerhill, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Owen Lane, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Josh Turnbull, 7 Ellis Jenkins (c), 6 Olly Robinson, 5 Damian Welch, 4 George Earle, 3 Anton Peikrishvili, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Rhys Gill
Replacements: 16 Rhys Buckley, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 James Down, 20 Alun Lawrence, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Steve Shingler, 23 Blaine Scully

Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Eddie Hogan-O'Connell (Ireland), Clara Munarini (Italy)
Television match official: Leo Colgan (Ireland)