Bowen double helps Cardiff beat Zebre 40-27 despite late fightback

Cardiff scored six tries to beat Zebre 40-27 at the Arms Park and claim a second successive United Rugby Championship victory. According to BBC Sport's match report, Tom Bowen crossed twice as the Welsh side added a home bonus-point win to their opening-round success against Scarlets, although Zebre's late recovery also earned the visitors a try bonus point.

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The hosts had established a 26-8 half-time lead and stretched that advantage to 40-8 before conceding three tries in the final 21 minutes. A crowd of 7,231 watched Cardiff take control through their forwards before Bowen's second-half double. Zebre, beaten 47-13 by Bulls in their first match, recovered sufficiently to finish with four tries of their own.

Zebre initially went ahead through a Tommaso Allan penalty, but Teddy Williams put Cardiff in front after receiving Alex Mann's pass. The score marked Williams' first competitive home appearance since a serious foot injury at the Arms Park in October 2025. Javan Sebastian then crossed from a tap-penalty move, with fellow front-rower Dafydd Hughes providing the pass, before Francisco Minervino replied for Zebre.

Cardiff reasserted themselves when Taine Basham scored from an attacking scrum. Mann followed in the 36th minute to secure the home side's fourth try and bonus point, with Ben Thomas and Hughes involved in the build-up. After the interval, Callum Sheedy's grubber kick directed a loose ball towards Bowen for his first score, and scrum-half Johan Mulder later supplied the wing for his second.

Cardiff's changes included a senior debut for 18-year-old hooker Tom Howe, while Evan Lloyd came off the bench to cover the back row in place of Basham. The visitors then reduced the deficit through Giacomo Ferrari and Giulio Bertaccini. Giacomo Da Re completed their recovery with the bonus-point try after a break by full-back Giovanni Montemauri, leaving the final margin at 13 points.

James Botham, recalled to Cardiff's starting line-up, was named player of the match. Josh McNally captained the side in Liam Belcher's absence as Cardiff maintained their winning start, but their substantial lead had narrowed considerably by the finish. Their next assignment is an away match against defending champions Leinster in Dublin next Saturday, BBC Sport reported.