Connacht rebound with commanding performance

Zebre 17 Connacht 30

Eric Elwood’s Connacht rebounded from last week’s defeat to Cardiff Blues with a commanding performance in Italy to see off Zebre and claim their first RaboDirect PRO12 victory of the season.

Miah Nikora led the charge for the Irish side with a 13th-minute penalty to put his side in front and after the opening try from Tiernan O’Halloran, Nikora followed up with the conversion and a second penalty.

Leading 13-0 at half-time, Connacht saw their lead reduced by a converted try from Samuele Pace early in the second half, but a Nikora penalty soon settled nerves.

When George Naoupu squeezed over with Connacht’s second try, which was once again converted by Nikora, Elwood’s side looked to have put the result beyond doubt.

Zebre refused to give up, Andries Van Schalkwyk scoring an impressive try which was converted by Luciano Orquera to give the hosts a glimmer of hope.

That hope was brought to an end in the closing stages of the game when Mike McCarthy crossed over and Nikora rounded off a fine night with his sixth successful kick from six attempts.