Connacht - 20 Parma - 13: Connacht were given a taste in the Galway Sportsground last evening of what they can expect when they meet the Sicilian side Catania in this season's European Challenge Cup, Michael Bradley's team getting the best of a useful workout against Italian visitors Overmach Parma.
After a sluggish opening half, the Italian side led 6-3, but Connacht struck for a brace of tries in the second half to make it a satisfactory seasonal opener.
Although Connacht never rose above the mediocre, Bradley had the luxury of handing several new caps to the province's development and academy players.
One of those youngsters, Corinthians' Dan Riordan, came close to a dream debut try, but lost the ball shy of the line.
Another new cap, hooker Chris Venter, scored Connacht's second try, which put them two scores ahead and into a commanding position.
With the legendary Eric Elwood no longer directing operations on the pitch but in his first management role as assistant to Bradley, the job of orchestrating matters from outhalf was handed to David Slemen.
He struck Connacht's only points of the first half after 11 minutes, while his opposite number, Alejandro Canale, posted an opening drop goal and a 30th-minute penalty.
However, Connacht upped the tempo, and Venter's try came off a forward drive on 50 minutes after centre Mark McHugh had opened the try tally three minutes after the restart - both of which Slemen converted.
In addition to a 70th-minute penalty, it was enough for Connacht to post a victory, despite conceding a 72nd-minute penalty try to a powerful Parma pack.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 3 mins: A Canale drop goal 0-3; 11: D Slemen pen 3-3; 30: Canale pen 3-6; Half-time: 3-6. 43: M McHugh try, Slemen con 10-6; 50: Venter try, Slemen con 17-6; 58: Slemen pen 20-6; 72: Parma penalty try and con 20-13.
CONNACHT: M Mostyn (capt); C McPhillips, P Warwick, M McHugh, D Riordan; D Slemen, T Tierney; D McFarland, C Venter, A Clarke, D Gannon, C Short, M Swift, B O'Connor, P Rowe. Replacements: J Muldoon for O'Connor (32 mins), J Merrigan for Venter (54 mins), R Loughney for Gannon/Clare (64 mins), K Matthews for Warwick (70 mins), T Richardson for Rowe (74 mins). Sinbinned: Short (32 mins).
OVERMACH PARMA: E Galon; N Mazzucato, P Emerick, A Tuipulotu, G Ghidini; A Canale, J Pellicena; G Fontana, S Busatto, M Coletti, A Giacon, L Tait, L Paascu, P Sciarretta, M Vosawai. Sinbinned: A Tuipulotu (40+2 mins).
Referee: O Trevor (IRFU).
