Tom Bowen scores twice as Cardiff beat Zebre 40-27 for second URC win

Cardiff made it two wins from two in the United Rugby Championship with a 40-27 victory over Zebre at the Arms Park. According to BBC Sport's match report, Tom Bowen scored twice as the hosts collected a try bonus point, although three late Zebre tries reduced a lead that had reached 40-8 midway through the second half.

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Teddy Williams, Javan Sebastian, Taine Basham and Alex Mann also crossed for Cardiff in front of 7,231 spectators. The result followed their opening win against Scarlets and brought their points total to nine. BBC Sport Wales reported that Cardiff were second in the standings after two rounds, while fellow Welsh side Dragons were sixth and also unbeaten.

Zebre opened the scoring through a Tommaso Allan penalty before Williams finished a move supplied by Mann. Sebastian then scored from a tap-penalty move, with hooker Dafydd Hughes providing the pass. Francisco Minervino responded for Zebre, but Basham crossed from an attacking scrum and Mann secured Cardiff's fourth try in the 36th minute. The hosts went into the interval leading 26-8.

Bowen added both of Cardiff's second-half tries. His first followed a Callum Sheedy kick of a loose ball, while scrum-half Johan Mulder set up his second. The match also marked a senior Cardiff debut for 18-year-old hooker Tom Howe, who came on from the bench. Evan Lloyd was another replacement, covering the back row when he took over from Basham.

Zebre's recovery came through tries from Giacomo Ferrari, Giulio Bertaccini and Giacomo Da Re in the final 21 minutes. Da Re's score followed a break by Giovanni Montemauri and secured the visitors' try bonus point. Cardiff coach Corniel van Zyl subsequently acknowledged that his side's loss of concentration needed attention, telling BBC Sport Wales that the problems involved matters the team could control.

Cardiff's afternoon also included an injury that forced prop Scott Sio off before half-time; the report did not specify its severity. Josh McNally captained the side in Liam Belcher's absence, while James Botham earned the player-of-the-match award. Cardiff next face defending URC champions Leinster in Dublin, having completed their opening two fixtures with victories over Scarlets and Zebre.