Cardiff launched their URC campaign with a sloppy four-try bonus point victory over their determined Italian guests at Cardiff Arms Park.
Despite a great start in the first half, the Welsh side was sloppy for most of the second half allowing Zebre to score two late tries to reduce the host lead to 22-17.
There were first-half tries from full-back Cam Winnett, wing Iwan Stephens and flanker Dan Thomas with the first two created by the boot of Man of the Match Callum Sheedy to go into the second half leading 17-03..
Just before the hour mark, Cardiff second-row Josh McNally ploughed over off a lineout won by wing Mason Grady to secure maximum points.
To their credit, Zebre weren’t about to lie down and delivered a fine try, with a delayed pass from Giacomo Da Re, releasing centre Giulio Bertaccini who scythed his way through to the line from 40 metres out.
The visitors from Parma had the final word when flanker Samuele Locatelli went over in the final play to earn a deserved losing bonus point.
Scorers:
Cardiff Rugby: Tries: Cam Winnett, Iwan Stephens, Ben Thomas, Josh McNally. Conversion: Callum Sheedy:
Zebre Parma: Tries: Giulio Bertaccini, Samuele Locatelli. Conversions: Giacomo Da Re (2). Penalty: Giovanni Montemauri.
Teams:
Cardiff Rugby: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Ben Donnell, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 James Botham, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Liam Belcher (c), 1 Danny Southworth. Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Alun Lawrence, 21 Johan Mulder, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Harri Millard.
Zebre Parma: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Ben Cambriani, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Jacopo Trulla, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Ratko Jelic, 8 Giovann:i Licata (c), 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Davide Ruggeri, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Luca Rizzoli. Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Giacomo Ferrari, 21 Rodrigo Patricio, 22 Francesco Ruffolo, 23 Giacomo Da Re.