Connacht 54
Zebre 16
John Fallon reports from Dexcom Stadium
ACADEMY SCRUM-HALF MATTHEW Devine crowned his first start for his native Connacht with two tries in the opening half to send them on their way to a valuable URC win as they saw off basement side Zebre by eight tries to two.
Devine, who signed his first professional contract just over a week ago, had impressed in a couple of cameos off the bench and made the most of the opportunity to score two excellent scores.
The bonus-point win was badly needed by Connacht to keep their hopes of a knockout place alive and Devine made his mark when the game was still competitive in the opening half.
Indeed, Zebre hit the front with a drop goal from Lorenzo Pani after 13 minutes while they had the first of three men in the bin after centre Fetuli Paea took 15 minutes for a high hit on John Porch.
But Devine tapped and went through a pile of bodies to score his opening try after 16 minutes, with JJ Hanrahan converting.
However, Zebre hit back and got in for a try from Jacopo Trulla after a grubber bounced horribly for young fullback Shane Jennings after 21 minutes.
It took Devine just two minutes to cancel that when he sniped and broke from deep, escaping two tackles before rounding out-half Geronimo Prisciantelli for an excellent try. Hanrahan converted to make it 14-8 and Connacht never looked back.
They led 21-11 at the break when Niall Murray scored just before the break after an excellent crosskick from Hanrahan and they wrapped up the bonus point six minutes after the restart when Tom Farrell scored after good work from Andrew Smith.
There was no way back for the Italians in front of a crowd of 4,756, with Smith again involved before Sean O’Brien got their fifth try after 52 minutes.
Enrico Lucchin pulled back a try for the Parma side after 65 minutes but they lost replacement hooker Danilo Fischetti to a late tackle and later lock Andrea Zambonin on another frustrating night for them.
Connacht pushed on with Bundee Aki scoring their fifth before Hanrahan crowned a fine display with a try and the rout was completed in the closing stages of a facile win with a penalty try.
Scorers: Connacht: Tries: M Devine (2), N Murray, T Farrell, S O’Brien, B Aki, JJ Hanrahan, penalty try. Cons: JJ Hanrahan (6 from 7).
Zebre: Tries: J Trulla, E Lucchin. Cons: G Prisciantelli (0 from 2). Drop goal: L Pani. Pen: S Gesi (1 from 1).
Connacht: Shane Jennings; John Porch, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Andrew Smith (Cathal Forde ‘6; JJ Hanrahan (Jarrad Butler ’76), Matthew Devine (Caolin Blade ’56); Jordan Duggan (Peter Dooley ’49), Dave Heffernan (Tadhg McElroy ’58-69), Finlay Bealham (Sam Illo ’58); Joe Joyce (Oisin Dowling ’58), Niall Murray; Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Seán O’Brien (Paul Boyle ’53).
Zebre: Lorenzo Pani; Jacopo Trulla, Scott Gregory, Fetuli Paea (Enrico Lucchin ’62), Simone Gesi; Geronimo Prisciantelli (Franco Smith ’25-‘35), Gonzalo Garcia (Thomas Dominguez ’53); Muhamed Hasa (Danilo Fischetti ’53), Giampietro Ribaldi (Danilo Fischetti ’56), Juan Pitinari (Riccardo Genovese ’65); Leonard Krumov, Andrea Zambonin; Guido Volpi, Davide Ruggeri (Iacopo Bianchi ’50), Giovanni Licata (c).
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa).
Don’t go there kid.. Go somewhere where you’ll be appreciated and where you’ll only get better
@Chonky Racoon: spot on I know it’s hard to say no to these huge clubs but better for your future if you went to a smaller club and got plenty of game time clubs like Dortmund or Lyon who have history of bringing players throught
There not holding back anyway
Every country has a Messi these days. Wessi was our Messi!
Is he the first Japanese man to sign for them, first Asian perhaps? Can’t think of anyone else off hand. Lá liga will be delighted either way!
@Hardly Normal: he’s signed for Castilla , it’s Real Madrid’s B team .. it’s a strategic move for Madrid , the player himself may not thrive though. A guy like Odegaard is making a name for himself in Holland but it’s unlikely he’ll ever triumph in Real Madrid . It’s surprising that he didn’t go back to Barca tbh .
@Hardly Normal: As Mr. Madrugada points out, Kubo is signing for Castilla, not Real Madrid (a tehnicality). But Real Madrid (including Castilla and Real Madrid C) have had at least two Asian players before. There was some fanfare a few years back when they signed Chinese Lin Liangming. There was also a Jordanian (Tha’er Bawab) who played for both Real and Barce’s B-Teams back in the early 00s.
@Limón Madrugada: do you think Odegaard will ever make it with Madrid or will just be sold on ??
@Philip Farrell: you hardly rattled that off the top of your head, if you did fair play. So no asain player has played for Real Madrid proper? I’d put money on it this lad will get an opportunity if he shows any bit of promise. The asain market is untapped from a Spanish point of view, interesting move.
@Andrew Tuite: sold on I reckon , he’s done well in Holland and Ajax are looking at him . He’d be useful as part of the deal for de Ligt !! But he needs to make a proper breakthrough for Madrid to see him as first team material.
Great news for la liga