Bonus-point win for Connacht who move into Champions Cup place
Last Updated: 10/05/15 7:53pm
Connacht their hopes of European Champions Cup qualification alive with a 40-10 bonus point win over Zebre.
Their 10th win of the season - a season's best for Pat Lam's men – took the Irishmen to level with Scarlets in the all-important sixth place, which would secure a place in Europe's elite knockout competition for next season should they finish there after the last round.
Scrum-half John Cooney scored two first-half tries to put the Irishmen on their way to a 10th successive win over the Italian minnows.
Brendon Leonard pulled a try back for the home side in the 26th minute and Luciano Orquera closed the gap by converting the try before adding a penalty.
Winger Matt Healy went over next, with Jack Carty kicking his third successful conversion to make it 21-10 at half-time.
Loose forward Eoghan Masterson then went over in the 54th minutes to hand Connacht the bonus point.
With the secure, Connach were able to pull away from their hosts, adding further tries through Tiernan O'Halloran and Shane O'Leary in the final ten minutes of the encounter.
The Italians were at that point well and truly beaten, despite the inspired leadership of veteran Italy International Mauro Bergamasco in his final home game.
Bergamasco, who recently turned 36, is bowing out after 18 years of club rugby at Petrarca Padova, Benetton Treviso, Stade Francais, Aironi and Zebre and will finally hang up his boots after this autumn's World Cup.
