URC: Spirited Zebre slay limping Lions with last gasp try

The Italian opened the scoring with a wonderful try involving deception, passing and great running, which put flanker Bautista Stavile over the whitewash.

The visitors had to wait until the 17th minute before opening their account via the steady boot flyhalf Chris Smith.

Zebre capped off the first half with another well-worked score. Playing behind their powerful driving maul, hooker Tommaso di Bartolomeo scored a 35th-minute try and the hosts went down the tunnel with a 12-3 lead.

In the second stanza, the Lions found their groove. Better ball retention and discipline put Zebre under pressure, with Samuele Locatelli copping the blame for repeated infringements and being shown a yellow card.

The Lions finally hit back with quick tries. First, winger Angelo Davids assisted a flying SJ Kotze, then Eduan Keyter finished off an attacking move.

Zebre replacement Martin Roger Faria slotted a penalty to regain the lead, but prop Morne Brandon bashed his way over from close range to put the Lions in front.

With a five-point lead and two minutes to play, Ivan van Rooyen's men were in pole position. But wave after wave of close carries from Zebre eventually saw Matteo Nocera fall over the line and Farias slotted the killer blow with the conversion. 

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