PRO12: Zebre hammer Dragons 47-22 to clinch Champions Cup spot
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 07/05/16 6:05pm
Zebre hammered Newport Gwent Dragons 47-22 in Parma to qualify for next season's European Champions Cup.
The Italians went into the final round of fixtures sitting bottom of the table but the win lifted them above Benetton Treviso, who lost heavily to Leinster.
It was a meeting between two out-of-form sides, with Zebre looking for a first win since January and the Dragons hoping to avoid extending their record losing run.
The Welsh side, who were without Bath-bound Taulupe Faletau, will head into next season having lost their last 10 PRO12 games.
The visitors drew first blood with a penalty from Angus O'Brien in the opening minute but Zebre soon hit back and after 12 minutes led 10-3 thanks to a try from Oliviero Fabiani and a conversion and penalty from Carlo Canna.
Canna then converted another try from Kayle van Zyl and two more penalties from the fly-half gave Zebre a 23-3 lead at half-time.
Rynard Landman was the first man to cross the tryline for the Dragons in the 53rd minute but five minutes later Leonardo Sarto grabbed Zebre's third.
The Italians were on a roll and with 64 minutes gone their lead was 47-10 after Canna converted further tries from Bruno Postiglioni and Kelly Haimona.
The Dragons finished the game strongly with tries from Landman and Hallam Amos in the final 10 minutes but their chance of victory had long since gone.
