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Connacht secured the first win of their Pro12 campaign when they beat Italian newcomers Zebre in Parma on Friday.

The Irish province scored three tries through Tiernan O'Halloran, George Naoupu and Mike McCarthy.

Miah Nikora kicked three penalties and three conversions and Connacht prevailed despite having Rodney Ah You sin-binned in the second half.

Zebre trailed 13-0 at half-time but Dries van Schalkwyk and Samuele Pace tries saw them reduce their deficit.

Luciano Orquera added a penalty and two conversions for the home side.

The win will come as a boost for Eric Elwood's side after their 13-9 defeat by Cardiff Blues in their opening fixture of the campaign last weekend.

Zebre lost to the Dragons in their first game of the Pro12 since they replaced Aironi as the second Italian team in the competition.

Zebre: Sinoti, Venditti, Benettin, Garcia, Pace, Orquera, Chillon, van Schalkwyk, Bergamasco, Cristiano, Sole, Geldenhuys, Ryan, Festuccia, Perugini.

Replacements: Giazzon, De Marchi, Redolfini, Caffini, Belardo, Tebaldi, Chiesa, Trevisan.

Connacht: G Duffy (capt); T O'Halloran, E Griffin, M Fifita, F Vainikolo; M Nikora, K Marmion; D Buckley, E Reynecke, R Loughney; M Swift, M McCarthy; J Muldoon, J O'Connor, G Naoupu.

Replacements: A Flavin, R Ah You, N White, D Gannon, W Faloon, F Murphy, M Jarvis, R Henshaw