Benetton Rugby hosted a disrupted Vodacom Bulls on Friday at 20:35 (SA Time) at the Stadio Monigo. The Vodacom Bulls struggled after having to replace four players before the start of the match and edged Benetton 17-15, taking the lead for the first time in the match with minutes to go.
Two early penalties conceded by the Bulls led to a conversion by flyhalf Tomas Albornoz and fullback Rhyno Smith each, after just four minutes of play to lead 06-00.
Despite dominating possession and territory, the Bulls could not convert their dominance into points. Benetton still led 06-00 at the end of the first quarter.
Keagan Johannes converted a penalty following twenty-three minutes of play in the first half to cut Benetton's lead to three points.
With seven minutes in the first half to play, Benetton's flyhalf Tomas Albornoz converted his second penalty to extend Benetton's lead to 09-03, which was also the halftime score.
Following several opportunities that the Bulls failed to convert into points, Tomas Albornoz converted his third penalty to extend Benetton's lead to 12-03.
Reinhardt Ludwig scored the Bulls' first try of the match to reduce the host's lead to two points and ten minutes to play in the second half.
With seven minutes to play, Tomas Albornoz converted his fourth penalty to extend Benetton's lead to 15-10.
With minutes left to play, the Bulls kicked to the corner, and Akker van der Merwe scored the Bulls' second try from the back of a five-meter lineout-maul to edge Benetton 17-15, taking the lead for the first time in the match.
Scorers:
Benetton Rugby: Penalty: Tomas Albornoz (4), Ryno Smith
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Reinhardt Ludwig, Akker van der Merwe. Conversions: David Kriel (2). Penalty: Keagan Johannes.
Teams:
Benetton Rugby: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Paul Odogwu, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannon, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Alexander Izekor, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Mirco Spanish. Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Enzo Avaca, 19 Eli Snyman, 20 Sebastian Blacks, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Andy Uren, 23 Jacob Umaga
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw (c), 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Barend Smit, 23 Harold Verster.
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