The Newport Gwent Dragons’ awful season hit a new low as they were hammered 29-14 by Zebre in Parma on Saturday.
The defeat means the Dragons are now in real danger of being passed by one – or even both – of the Italian clubs at the foot of the Guinness Pro 12 table.
It was a 15th defeat in 19 league matches for the Dragons who last won a game three months ago.
Zebre are now just two points behind the Dragons, with the gap to bottom-side Benetton Treviso now just five points. All three clubs have three matches left.
After last weekend’s victory over reigning champions Connacht, Zebre recorded consecutive league wins for the first time this term and it took them above Treviso and into a European Champions Cup spot for next season.
Italy fly-half Carlo Canna fired over an early penalty, but the Dragons replied through Wales lock forward Cory Hill and Angus O’Brien converted.
Zebre, though, dominated territory and possession and back-rowers Federico Ruzzo and Derick Minnie scored before the half-hour mark.
Adam Hughes celebrated his 100th appearance for the Welsh region with a 44th-minute try which O’Brien converted.
It was 15-14 at that stage, but Zebre scored two converted tries in as many minutes to bag a rare bonus point.
Full-back Edoardo Padovani powered through after 49 minutes before South African flanker Johan Meyer became the third member of the Zebre back row to cross.
The Dragons were given hope when Zebre replacement Serafin Bordoli was sin-binned 12 minutes from time, but they failed to make their extra man count.
