Thunder has game stopped in Parma
CHAMPIONS Connacht are still looking for their first points in the defence of their Pro12 title after their clash in Parma last night fell victim to the weather.
A biblical thunder and lightning storm just before the interval resulted in the game being called off as the conditions deteriorated rapidly in Parma.
Connacht coach Pat Lam, whose side were trailing by three tries to one, said the correct call made by the referee as the heavens opened and the pitch flooded.
“It was the correct decision, safety is the first priority. Nobody expected the lightning and the rain and the hail and then once it went past 20 minutes, it is out of the control of both teams,” said Lam.
Zebre coach Gianluca Guidi said that while he was disappointed that the match was called off with his side in such a commanding lead, he understood the decision.
“The safety of the players must always come first. Of course, we are disappointed it was stopped when we were in such a good position, but there was nothing which could be done,” he said.
Welsh referee Ian Davies kept the teams in the changing rooms for over half an hour before calling off the match as the pitch continued to flood.
They needed to go 60 minutes for the result to stand and a date for a refixture will be decided by Pro12 officials in due course.
An added complication is that the sides are in the same pool in the Champions Cup and will meet back in Parma next month in round two of the competition.
Tries from Tommaso Boni, Jacopo Sarto and Maxime Mbanda, with Tiernan O’Halloran responding for Connacht, had Zebre in a good position to get their first win over Lam’s men in 13 meetings.