Leinster trail Pro12 leaders Connacht by just a one point after a late Dan Leavy try secured a 27-10 bonus-point win at beleaguered Zebre on Sunday.

Leo Cullen's men headed to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on the back of nine wins in their previous 10 matches and maintained their impressive form with another victory over a side they hammered 52-0 just a fortnight ago,

An early Luke McGrath try set the tone and a fine converted try from Dominic Ryan stretched their lead to 12-3 at half-time. Adam Byrne added a third as Zebre failed to contain the three-time European champions and Isa Nacewa converted after also slotting over a penalty.

Man-of-the-match Federico Ruzza went under the posts to give Zebre their first try of the match, but Leavy had the final say when he went over following a powerful maul to leave Leinster just a point behind the leaders with a game in hand.

Leinster are four points better off than third-placed Scarlets, who slumped to a 24-23 defeat at Edinburgh.

Scarlets looked on course for victory when they led 23-13 just before half-time following tries from Hadleigh Parkes, James Davies and Steffan Evans.

Phil Burleigh had scored the opening try of the game for the home side and Blair Kinghorn's second penalty just before the break reduced the deficit to 23-16.

Kinghorn added another three-pointer, then Ben Toolis bundled his way over for the decisive try 12 minutes from time and missed the chance to win it for Aled Thomas with a penalty as Edinburgh ended a run of three successive defeats.

Ulster also slipped up as they were beaten 23-13 at Cardiff Blues having been in front in the closing stages, while an Ian Keatley penalty five minutes from time gave Munster a 16-13 win over bottom side Treviso.