Challenge Cup: Pat Lam's Bristol ease past Zebre

Bristol ran in five tries as they recorded a comfortable 35-19 European Challenge Cup victory over Zebre.

The Bears, who won at Perpignan in their opening Pool A fixture last weekend, produced a first-half blitz to lay the foundations for a bonus-point victory at Ashton Gate.

Second row Joe Batley, scrum-half Will Porter and centres Semi Radradra and Ioan Lloyd, who had earlier received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on which resulted in a penalty try, all crossed before the break.

AJ MacGinty converted on each occasion to send the home side in 28-7 to the good at half-time, and he added a fifth kick 15 minutes after the restart following replacement Yann Thomas’ try.

Winger Kobus van Wyk touched down to reduce the deficit and after Batley’s exit to the sin-bin, replacement Jacques du Toit added a third try for the visitors, although Tiff Eden’s conversion left them still 16 points adrift.