Stacey Ili stars in Connacht victory over Zebre in the Champions Cup

Stacey Ili bagged three tries on his first Connacht start as the Irish province romped to a 52-7 Champions Cup victory over Zebre in Parma.

The Italian side had to play the remainder of the match with 14 men after hooker Oliviero Fabiani was sent off for an apparent bite approaching the half-hour mark.

And Connacht took full advantage, leading 14-0 at half-time and then dominating the second period, as they went above their next opponents Wasps at the top of Pool 2.

The visitors were on top from the off and scored their first try in the ninth minute when winger Ili touched down in the corner after a delightful kick behind the defence from Jack Carty.

And fly-half Carty then scored himself, racing under the posts at the other end of the pitch after a fine tackle by Peter Robb on Carlo Canna forced a turnover and led to the ball running loose.

Connacht then lost Sean O'Brien to the sin-bin when he knocked the ball out of scrum half Marcello Violi's hands at a ruck.

However, Zebre did not capitalise and Fabiani saw red after allegedly biting Quinn Roux, ref Mathieu Raynal making the decision after consulting with TMO Eric Gauzins.

Zebre full-back Edoardo Padovani badly missed a subsequent penalty before the break, and Connacht reasserted themselves upon the resumption.

After good initial work by Kieran Marmion and Cian Kelleher, Carty's inch perfect cross-field kick set up Kiwi Ili for his second try.

Craig Ronaldson converted and also added the extras to a 50th-minute penalty try, awarded after Tommaso Castello was binned for playing the ball on the ground and Connacht upped the ante at scrum time.

Two more tries followed in the next five minutes as Kelleher and replacement prop Carey both scored, while Danie Poolman made an impact off the replacements bench.

But Zebre then managed to open their account when Tommaso D'Apice snuck over from a line-out maul as Connacht's intensity dropped.

However, the visitors regained their poise and Kelleher scored his second try with six minutes remaining, thanks to a fine break and offload from Shane O'Leary.

And Ili iced the cake for Connacht, showing great determination in the final minute to force his way over for his third try, which took his side over the 50-point mark.