Match Report: Pro14: Benetton Treviso 19-26 Dragons

Benetton Treviso 19-26 Dragons, Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Scorecard

Dragons managed to hold off Benetton Treviso win as they made a comeback into the Pro14 tournament with a 19-26 win in the 8th round at Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

The game also saw the Welsh regional side returning to the competition after a four-week absence due to Covid-19 and they now have two wins from five matches while Benetton have lost all their six matches until now.

Dragons had an early setback with Lloyd Fairbrother injured and leaving the field in the opening few minutes but they were the first to open the account with a penalty kick from Sam Davies in the 11th minute.

The response from Benetton came in the 14th minute when Cherif Traore dotted down and Ian Keatley kicking the conversion. Sam Davies reduced the arrears for the visitors with a three-pointer in the 20th minute and they went into the lead with Ashton Hewitt touching down and the fly-half kicked the extras.

The remainder of the first half saw Epalahame Faiva and Jamie Roberts exchanging tries as the scoreline became 14-18.

Davies with a penalty goal in the second half extended Dragons' lead to seven points which became 12 after Rhodri Williams scoring a try in the 55th minute.

Dragons were denied a bonus point try after Owen Jenkins had a foot in touch while scoring but Benetton ensured they had a losing bonus point with replacement Tommaso Menoncello's try in the closing stage.

Team line-up:

Benetton: Jayden Hayward; Angelo Esposito, Joaquin Riera, Tommaso Benvenuti, Leonardo Sarto; Ian Keatley, Dewaldt Duvenage; Cherif Traoré, Hame Faiva, Tiziano Pasquali, Matteo Canali, Federico Ruzza, Alberto Sgarbi, Giovanni Pettinelli, Riccardo Favretto.

Reserves: Tomas Baravalle, Thomas Gallo, Zac Nearchou, Davide Ruggeri, Marco Barbini, Callum Braley, Tommaso Menoncello, Luca Petrozzi.

Dragons: Josh Lewis; Owen Jenkins, Adam Warren, Jamie Roberts, Ashton Hewitt; Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams; Brok Harris, Richard Hibbard, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Ben Fry, Harrison Keddie, Ollie Griffiths.

Reserves: Ellis Shipp, Conor Maguire, Aaron Jarvis, Joe Maksymiw, Taine Basham, Tavis Knoyle, Jack Dixon, Jared Rosser.