Match Report: Brive 16-18 Zebre

Brive 16-18 Zebre, Stade Amedee-Domenech
Scorecard

Carlo Canna kicked two decisive penalties in the final 15 minutes as Zebre edged out Brive in the second round of the European Challenge Cup at Stade Amedee-Domenech.

This is Zebre's second win from as many games as they move to the top of the table with six points while Brive are in the bottom half after losing both their matches.

Brive drew the first blood in the fourth minute when Guillaume Galletier dotted down and Tedo Abzhandadze kicked the conversion but Zebre went on to level the scores in the 14th minute after Marcello Violi crossed over with Canna improving it.

Another penalty kick from Abzhandadze in the 17th minute put the French side at top but it was short-lived as Mesake Doge was sin-binned in the 29th minute and immediately Zebre made use of the numerical advantage with Pierre Bruno scoring their second try in the 33rd minute as the teams went into the break with a 10-12 scoreline.

Brive regained the lead in the 11th minute after the restart with Abzhandadze slotting another penalty goal and with his third three-pointer in the 66th minute the scoreline became 16-12.

Nevertheless, Canna kept Zebre in a striking distance with a penalty kick in the 66th minute and then held his nerve to kick the decisive three-pointer in the 79th minute to hand Brive a heartbreak.

The two teams will once again meet on 16th January in the third round of the tournament.