Zebre Parma bag upset URC win over Edinburgh despite red card

Zebre Parma opened their BKT United Rugby Championship campaign with a dramatic 31–28 win over Edinburgh at the Stadio Lanfranchi.

The hosts flew out of the blocks. After just three minutes hooker Tommaso Di Bartolomeo marked Zebre’s first attack with a powerful finish, Giacomo Da Re converting. By the 12th minute it was 14–0, Juan Pitinari crashing over from close range on his 50th appearance after good work from Alessandro Fusco and Giovanni Licata.

The captain’s afternoon turned sour soon after, however. Licata was sin-binned in the 15th minute and, following TMO review, the yellow was upgraded to red, leaving Zebre down to 14 for 20 minutes.

Edinburgh pounced immediately, Liam McConnell crossing in the 16th and Edinburgh skipper Magnus Bradbury adding another in the 22nd, both converted by Ben Healy to level the game.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Zebre struck again before the break. Bautista Stavile’s turnover and break sparked a counter finished off by Simone Gesi, Da Re’s third conversion restoring the lead at 21–14 at half-time.

Early in the second half vice-captain Fusco darted over for Zebre’s fourth try, Da Re adding the extras for a 28–14 cushion. Edinburgh hit back through Ben Vellacott, and with Pitinari later shown a yellow card the Scots pressed hard. Replacement hooker Patrick Harrison powered over five minutes from time, Healy levelling at 28–28.

But the final word belonged to Zebre. With the clock in the red, replacement fly-half Martin Roger landed a long-range penalty off the post to seal a famous 31–28 victory.

“We are satisfied with the result, but above all with the team’s test of character,” said head coach Massimo Brunello. “Winning at home, in front of your own crowd is satisfying. Doing it like this makes us earn respect in a competition where we will never give up and we will be uncomfortable.”

Licata added: “We deserved a result that is the result of hard work, which also says a lot about the bond that unites us and the positive atmosphere. We feel part of a project that wants to be a protagonist.”