| Benetton (3) 17 |
| Tries: Padovani, Halafihi Cons: Da Re 2 Pen: Da Re |
| Connacht (14) 21 |
| Tries: Prendergast, Murray, Tuimauga Cons: Carty 3 |
Connacht wanted a late Tietie Tuimauga attempt to beat Benetton in Italy and maintain alive their hopes of reaching the United Rugby Championship play-offs.
Cian Prendergast and Niall Murray tries helped Connacht set up a 14-3 lead at half-time.
Benetton fought again to guide within the second half although with Edoardo Padovani and Toa Halafihi crossing.
However alternative Tuimauga scored with 5 minutes left to provide Connacht their second away win of the season.
The consequence retains Connacht within the race for a spot within the play-offs as they transfer as much as ninth, 5 factors adrift of the Bulls in eighth.
Seeking to bounce again from heavy defeats by Edinburgh and Leinster, Connacht obtained off to a flier when flanker Prendergast crossed contained in the opening minute, gathering a Jack Carty go earlier than charging house from 40 metres out.
Whereas the hosts obtained on the board with a Giacomo Da Re penalty, Connacht dominated the vast majority of the primary half and crossed for the second time by Murray, who compelled his manner over after Paul Boyle had been stopped quick.
Carty’s conversion put the Irish province 14-3 up at half-time, though coach Andy Good friend would maybe have been disillusioned that his aspect have been unable to show their dominance into additional scores.
Eire wing Mack Hansen made an outstanding try-saving interception inside two minutes of the restart however Benetton obtained their opening attempt when Padovani crossed six minutes later to swing momentum within the hosts’ favour.
With the sport on a knife edge, Connacht have been put underneath extra stress when Prendergast was proven a yellow card simply after the hour and so they failed to hold on as Halafihi’s transformed rating with 10 minutes left put Benetton forward for the primary time at 17-14.
However having been underneath sustained stress, Connacht confirmed spectacular resilience to work their manner up the pitch instantly and restore their lead thanks as Tuimauga dived low over the road for his first attempt for the membership.
Benetton utilized stress within the closing levels however their makes an attempt to grab a match-winning attempt have been repelled by a determined Connacht defence because the Irish aspect claimed an important victory earlier than subsequent week’s European Champions Cup last-16 recreation in opposition to Leinster.
Benetton: Coetzee, Padovani, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane, Da Re, Duvenage (capt); Gallo, Nicotera, Tetaz, Herbst, Ruzza, Lamaro, Negri, Halafihi.
Replacements: Baravalle, Nemer, Pasquali, Cannone, Zuliani, Braley, Marin, Riera.
Connacht: O’Halloran, Porch, Farrell, Arnold, Hansen, J Carty (capt), Marmion; Burke, Heffernan, Bealham, Murray, Fifita, Prendergast, Boyle.
Replacements: Tierney-Martin, McGrath, Tuimauga, Thornbury, Papali’I, Blade, Fitzgerald, Masterson.
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
