Benetton squash stalling Sharks in Treviso while it’s derby delight for Scarlets away from home
Split with Benetton and Cardiff v Scarlets
Benetton claimed a dominant 38-10 bonus-point win over a Sharks side that failed to get going in Round Four of the United Rugby Championship.
The hosts scored five tries in the Treviso clash with Paolo Odogwu, Rhyno Smith (2), Ignacio Mendy and Leonardo Marin all crossing. Jacob Umaga was accurate off the tee kicking four conversions and a penalty.
John Plumtree’s Sharks managed a late consolation try through Ntuthuko Mchunu while Siya Masuku kicked one penalty and Lionel Cronje a conversion.
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The hosts were first on the scoreboard as Umaga kicked a penalty after 10 minutes which was a good reward for their decent start. The three points would be cancelled out by Masuku after 17 minutes before Benetton really took hold of the game.
It started through a lovely Odogwu try in the 23rd minute before Smith scored his first just six minutes later with Umaga nailing the extras on both occasions. The fly-half would kick another conversion before half-time as Mendy crossed just before the interval to give Benetton a commanding position at the break.
The Sharks grew into the game a great deal, getting more of the ball and territory, but somehow the Italian side fronted up and kept the South Africans out. Benetton got reward for their trojan-like defence as Marin ran in for a late score.
Mchunu would cross for the Sharks in the last play of a game that will give Plumtree more questions than answers as the side heads back to Durban.
Scarlets hold on despite going to 13 men late on
Scarlets produced a stunning defensive display to claim their first United Rugby Championship win of the season by beating Cardiff 25-19 in the capital.
Gareth Davies scored two tries at the Arms Park for the second successive season as Scarlets secured a fifth straight win at that venue.
A pair of Ioan Lloyd penalties handed Scarlets an early 6-0 lead but Harri Millard’s converted score saw Cardiff edge ahead in a scrappy opening.
Davies bagged a brace of tries either side of Millard’s second before Johnny Williams went over for Scarlets.
Cardiff were awarded a penalty try but failed to take advantage of Scarlets having 13 players for nearly 10 minutes as the visitors bravely held on.
Scarlets, triumphant on their travels just once since last December, went ahead in the eighth minute through a penalty from Lloyd.
The visitors were then reduced to 14 players shortly afterwards after referee Craig Evans yellow-carded Sam Lousi for a croc-roll on Efan Daniel, but extended their lead with another penalty from Lloyd.
Cardiff moved ahead in the 22nd minute when Millard went in under the posts after a fantastic offload by Dan Thomas, with Tinus de Beer adding the extras.
Scarlets responded with a try of their own 10 minutes later, Davies pouncing after Lloyd and Marnus van der Merwe had driven their team to within a few metres of the line.
Lloyd missed the conversion to end his 100 per cent record from the tee this season at the eighth attempt.
Millard claimed his second try of the game with the clock in the red, diving over in the corner after prolonged pressure from Cardiff, although Callum Sheedy missed his kick.
Scarlets went back in front six minutes into the second half with Davies going over for his second try after a fine run from Lloyd, who added the extras to put his side 18-12 ahead.
A third try came the way of the visitors on the hour when Williams ran through under the posts, with Lloyd making no mistake with the conversion.
But two yellow cards in as many minutes for Scarlets looked to have turned the game on its head.
Tom Rogers was sin-binned for a deliberate knock on and Cardiff immediately took advantage as they were awarded a penalty try, which saw Josh Macleod also forced to sit out for 10 minutes.
Blair Murray produced a stunning try-saving tackle on Gabe Hamer-Webb as Scarlets held on.