By SAM JACKSON
CONNACHT suffered a shock defeat to Zebre in Parma yesterday in what was only the Italians’ second win of the PRO12 season.
It was the champions who had the better start, with early tries from Stacey Ili and Craig Ronaldson earning a 12-3 lead.
Derick Minnie hit back for Zebre with their first try, and once Carlo Canna knocked over his second penalty on the half-hour mark, the hosts moved into a 13-12 half-time lead.
Tommaso Boni’s try opened a narrow gap over the Irish side, who responded with a John Cooney penalty.
Minnie’s yellow card for repeated infring...