Early Mark Chisholm key as Munster overcome Zebre

Mark Chisholm scored his first try for Munster to help the Irish province to a 16-12 Guinness Pro12 victory over Zebre in Parma.

Fly-half Ian Keatley kicked the rest of Munster's points - 11 total - as mid-table Munster continued their perfect 100% record against Zebre.

Australian Chisholm's fifth-minute try was awarded after a TMO consultation and Keatley added the conversion to give Munster an early advantage.

Kelly Haimona booted Zebre back into the game with a penalty in the 13th minute after Munster infringed at the scrum.

And moments later Haimona reduced the gap to just a point after Munster conceded another penalty, this time for offside.

Zebre took the lead for the first time on 19 minutes when Italian international Haimona made it three from three attempts with another penalty in front of the posts.

However, the Italians were ahead for only two minutes before Keatley capitalised on Zebre's conceding of a penalty inside their own 22 which the Irish international duly converted to restore Munster's advantage.

In a back-and-forth first half, Haimona made Munster pay yet again with his fourth shot at goal after the Irish side were penalised at the breakdown, but Keatley sent Munster into the break 13-12 up with his second penalty of the game four minutes before the interval.

Haimona was to blink first in the battle of the fly-halves, his first miss of the afternoon comign after Munster were penalised for not rolling away from the tackle early in the second half.

Keatley spurned a penalty opportunity of his own before landing the 71st-minute drop-goal which stretched the Munster lead to four points, but despite the narrow margin, Zebre could not muster a comeback and Munster held on for an important win.