The Irish outfit travelled to northern Italy on the back of a narrow loss at home to Saracens in Round One but were convincing winners against their PRO12 counterparts.

A try in either half from No8 George Naoupa and replacement Mata Fifita saw Connacht jump to joint second in the table, although they were made to work far harder than the scoreline suggests.

Former Scotland fly-half Dan Parks was in outstanding form for the visitors as he contributed 23 points with the boot. Parks missed just once from the tee all day in slotting seven penalties and a conversion at the Stadio XXV Aprille.

His first strike came with just over a minute gone but it was Zebre who dominated much of the first period. Luciano Orquera levelled the scores with a penalty of his own after five minutes but that was all his side had to show for their efforts for the remainder of the half.

Parks restored the three-point advantage two minutes later and Connacht then defended resolutely to ensure Zebre were unable to turn pressure into points.

The game swung well and truly Connacht’s way in the final 10 minutes of the half as Naoupoa powered over and Parks kicked a further eight points.

Naoupoa’s try came direct from a close-range lineout  after he and hooker Sean Henry caught the Zebre pack napping. Henry’s short throw expolited a gaping hole between loose-head prop Matias Aguero and skipper Marco Bortolami, with the New Zealander showing impressive strength and awareness to stretch for the line.

Parks added the extras from 10 metres to the left of the posts and Connacht were suddenly  13-3  up against the run of play.

Zebre never recovered and  Connacht were as good as home and dry at the break as Parks struck two more penalties after 34 and 37 minutes to take the lead out past two converted tries at 19-3.

Zebre hinted at a comeback immediately after the restart but, again, their early territorial dominace failed to bring its deserved rewards.

Aguero was held up over the line before front row colleague Tommaso d’Apice had a try chalked out after referee Ian Davies wasn’t happy with the spot where scrum-half Brendon Leonard had taken a quick tap penalty.

Orquera did at least reduce the arrears somewhat with a second penalty eight minutes in but Connacht turned the screw after that as Parks landed further three pointers after 58, 61 and 64 minutes.

Fifita then put the result beyond any semblence of doubt when he peeled around the blindside of another close-range lineout with nine minutes remaining. Parks finally failed from the floor as his touchline conversion hit the far post but Connacht were 27 points to the good and cruising.

Pat Lam’s men never looked like picking up a try scoring bonus point but tallying 33 points and claiming a first away win in any competition since April would no doubt have been pleasing enough.