Bennetton scored a 79th-minute try to deny the visiting Scarlets a gutsy victory on the opening weekend of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championships in Treviso.
Scarlets clawed their way back into the game from a 12-0 first-half deficit to lead going into the final minutes. However, despite some heroic defence on their own line, they couldn’t prevent Benetton's wing Onisi Ratave from diving over in the corner.
It was the home side who took early control, dominating possession and territory. After dominating the early exchanges the pressure eventually brought the opening try after 22 minutes and the second ten minutes later to lead 12-00. A last-minute try by the Scarlets' Macs Page cut the hosts' lead to 12-07 at the halftime break.
Umaga extended Benetton’s lead to 15-7 before the Scarlets flanker scored a try and centre Ioan Lloyd added two converted penalties within fifteen minutes of play to push the Scarlets 20-15 ahead, however, after giving away a breakdown penalty, the Scarlets spent the final seven minutes camped on their own line.
Time and again they repelled Benetton attacks, but eventually, Ratave squeezed over far out before Umaga pulled his conversion attempt to leave it 20-20 at the close.
Scorers:
Benetton Rugby: Tries: Onisi Ratave (2), Rhyno Smith. Conversions: Jacob Umaga. Penalty: Jacob Umaga.
Scarlets: Tries: Macs Page, Jarrod Taylor. Conversions: Ioan Lloyd (2). Penalties: Ioan Lloyd (2).
Teams
Benetton Rugby: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Eli Snyman (c), 4 Scott Scrafton, 3 Nahuel Tetaz, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Spanish Mirco. Replacements: 16 Marco Manfredi, 17 Destiny Aminu, 18 Riccardo Genovese, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Sebastian Negri, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Paolo Odogwu.
Scarlets: 15 Tom Rogers, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Macs Page, 12 Ioan Lloyd, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies (c),8 Vaea Fifita, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Max Douglas, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Sam Wainwright, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Kemsley Mathias. Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Jac Price, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Efan Jones, 22 Johnny Williams, 23 Jac Davies.