South Africa's Southern Kings continued their poor start to their inaugural Pro14 campaign with a 43-17 home loss to Italian side Zebre at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Zebre picked up a first win of the season after outscoring their hosts six tries to two to earn a bonus point victory.

For the Kings it was a fourth defeat from four matches this campaign, one which has proven a steep learning curve after losing a host of players at the end of the Super Rugby season.

Zebre were always in control and had established a 19-3 lead just past the midway point of the first half.

Captain Tommaso Castello beat a number of home defenders to open the scoring, and a minute later Mattia Bellini added a second after Carlo Canna's fine break.

The Zebre forwards put in some hard yards before Renato Giammarioli finished off out wide for the visitors' third try.

Zebre extended their lead after the break with a fourth score when Bellini broke the defensive line before feeding Tommaso Boni for the bonus-point try.

The home side rallied with two tries to briefly suggest a comeback may be on the cards.

Dries van Schalkwyk intercepted the ball for the Kings and his grubber set Godlen Masimla away to score their first try, and Luvuyo Pupuma bagged their second as he broke through the visitors' defence from a line-out.

But their joy was short-lived. The Italian side would not be denied and they made the points safe with two tries as Canna finished off out wide, before Serafin Bordoli sealed the win with an easy score in the corner.

The Kings return to Europe to face the Newport Gwent Dragons next Saturday, while Zebre host Ulster on the same afternoon.