Zebre Parma end URC drought with stunning win over Munster while Bulls and Lions also claim scalps
Zebre Parma number eight Giovanni Licata.
Zebre Parma ended a 14-game losing run in the United Rugby Championship as they came from behind to beat Munster 42-33 at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday.
Jacopo Trulla (2), Alessandro Fusco (2), Giovanni Licata and Geronimo Prisciantelli crossed for the Italians, with Giovanni Montemauri and Giacomo Da Re adding kicks.
Gavin Coombes (2), Mike Haley, Bryan Fitzgerald and Shay McCarthy scored for Munster but a dismal second period cost them back-to-back wins to the start the season.
Zebre Parma will be thrilled by this showing as they found back from 28-15 down at the break to seal a famous URC victory that will do their confidence a world of good.
Bulls come out on top against Edinburgh
Elsewhere, the Bulls beat Edinburgh 22-16 in a see-saw United Rugby Championship match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Ross Thompson’s penalty had Edinburgh ahead in the 15th minute but the hosts hit back when Jannes Kirsten crossed and Jaco van der Walt converted.
Van der Walt’s try then extended the advantage to 12-3 before Ewan Ashman touched down and Thompson’s conversion reduced the gap to two points at the turnaround.
Thompson’s penalty seven minutes after the restart edged the Scottish side ahead and lifted hopes of their first win of the campaign at the second attempt.
However, Bulls took control with Canan Moodie’s try, converted by Boeta Chamberlain, before Chamberlain’s penalty stretched the lead to 22-13.
Although Thompson reduced the deficit with his third penalty of the contest, Edinburgh’s hopes of a late rally were not helped when Ashman picked up a second yellow card.
The Bulls held on to ensure victory in their first match of the campaign, although Sean Everitt’s men picked up a losing bonus-point.
Lions see off Ulster in Johannesburg
In the first game of the day, Ulster fell to a 35-22 loss to Lions in Johannesburg but could take some encouragement from a point on the road in the United Rugby Championship.
The Lions dominated the first half, taking the lead 10 minutes in through Rabz Maxwane before Kade Wolhuter kicked a penalty to make it 8-0 five minutes later.
The hosts’ powerful maul paid dividends again late in the first half as Francke Horn made it 15-0, but Ulster got on the board just before the break, with John Cooney touching down after the clock had turned red.
The visitors cut the deficit to 15-10 three minutes after the restart through Aidan Morgan but Lions responded quickly.
They put their maul to good use once again to allow Franco Marais to touch down, before Quan Horn broke four tackles to help set up Henco van Wyk moments later as they went 27-10 up.
Werner Kok’s first Ulster try cut the deficit on the hour mark and a late score from Corrie Barrett earned the bonus point, but Wolhuter had the final say for Lions at the death.