Connacht ran in seven tries as they began their European Problem Cup marketing campaign with a snug 43-12 victory over Zebre in a wind-swept Galway.
The Italian guests had been first on the scoreboard with a strive from Bautista Stavile Bravin strive earlier than Connacht seized management.
Chay Mullins went over twice on his Connacht debut and Dylan Tierney-Martin added a 3rd attempt to assist the Irish facet to a 17-5 lead on the break.
Tries from Paul Boyle, Mullins and Santiago Cordero stretched Connacht’s benefit within the second half.
Alessandro Fusco touched down for Zebre’s second strive earlier than Boyle accomplished his double late within the sport.
Connacht had the wind at their backs within the first half however Zebre had been rewarded for his or her early strain as Stavile Bravin went over on the nook on six minutes.
The situations had been powerful for kickers – Giovanni Montemauri missed the conversion and a penalty.
Mullins additionally touched down within the nook for his opener and added a transformed strive six minutes later.
Tierney-Martin went over from a lineout maul earlier than Zebre’s Rusiate Nasove was yellow-carded earlier than the interval.
Boyle, who was notching up his one centesimal Connacht look, sealed the bonus level by going over from a scrum.
Mullins introduced up his hat-trick and Cordero additionally touched down earlier than Fusco took Zebre into double figures.
Boyle accomplished the try-scoring on an evening when Jack Carty and Sean Naughton every kicked two conversions for the hosts.
Connacht: Jennings; Mullins, Hawkshaw, Forde, Cordero; Carty, Blade; Duggan, Tierney-Martin, Aungier; Murray, Dowling; Murphy, Hurley-Langton, Boyle.
Replacements: De Buitlear, Lasisi, Barrett, O’Connor, McCormack, Devine, Naughton, Ralston.
Zebre: Montemauri; Bozzoni, Drago, Lucchin, Gesi; Da Re, Dominguez; Buonfiglio, Bigi (capt), Hasa; Canali, Krumov; Milano, Stavile Bravin, Ferrari.
Replacements: Ribaldi, Rizzoli, Nocera, Nasove, Andreani, Fusco, Bianchi, Gregory.