Benetton Rugby, the comeback is not enough: the Ospreys win in Treviso

TREVISO. Bitter defeat for Benetton Treviso in the match against Ospreys, which ended 26-29 despite a great comeback by the green-and-whites.

Ready, go and a great “50-22” kick from Coetzee pushes Treviso forward. The Lions are immediately disruptive, earn a penalty and go into touch in the Welsh five meters. From the drive Gianmarco Lucchesi is formidable and at 5 ‘unhinges the last guest defender, crushing the first half of the afternoon. Albornoz transforms. Benetton Rugby continues to attack, and at 13 ‘Morgan is booked for a voluntary forward.

In numerical superiority the Lions are close to the goal, but Ioane touches the bottom line when the oval is supported and her goal is not valid. The green-and-whites fail to exploit the extra man and Morgan returns to the field. The Ospreys want to get back in a draw and in the fray they win a precise punishment. The guests then develop an interesting action and go to goal with Nagy. Myler doesn’t convert. The green-and-white formation is stunned and within two minutes collects another mark. The Ospreys still score, this time with Roots. Myler now converts from the pitch and the Welsh are above 7-12, a result with which we go to the changing rooms.

The two teams return to the field and Benetton Rugby puts in Duvenage, Negri, Smith for Braley, Favretto and Albornoz. But the Lions do not start the recovery well and in the 42nd minute the Ospreys go to the goal for the third time with Webb. Myler is accurate. The Welsh continue to attack, Benetton fails to get in the way, Webb scores a brace and Myler leads the Ospreys on 7-26. Enter Nemer, Traoré, Nicotera and Herbst for Chaparro, Lucchesi, Pasquali and Cannone. The Lions try to react and Rhyno Smith with a great personal action shortens the distance by crushing the second half of the green-and-whites. Coetzee transforms. The home men want to get back into the game even more and at 60 ‘Smith makes a sumptuous serpentine on the outside, serves Monty Ioane who overtakes the last Welsh defender and stamps the marking. Coetzee does not convert now. The Ospreys feel the blow, Cuthbert is booked for high tackle against Lamaro.

With the extra man the Lions still press hard, they have a melee on the five meters guests and the oval goes out towards Smith who serves Tommaso Menoncello who sets the goal of the offensive bonus. Coetzee hits the posts and the score is 26-26. Then the Ospreys have a free kick from a favorable position, but Myler does not capitalize. At 76 ‘another penalty against the Lions, this time Myler is on time and it will be the three points that make the Ospreys 26-29 win. At Benetton Rugby two bonus points, one defensive and one offensive.

Marcature: 5 ′ meta Lucchesi tr. Albornoz, 32 ′ meta Nagy, 37 ′ Roots tr. Myler; 42 meta Webb tr. Myler, 48 ′ meta Webb tr. Meyler, 51 ′ meta Smith tr. Coetzee, 60 ′ meta Ioane, 66 ′ meta Menoncello tr. Coetzee, 76 ′ p. Myler;

Notes: 13 ‘yellow card to Luke Morgan (OSP), 63’ yellow card to Alex Cuthbert (OSP). Transformations: Benetton Rugby 3/4 (Albornoz 1/1, Coetzee 2/3); Ospreys 3/4 (Myler 3/4). Free Kicks: Ospreys 1/2 (Myler 1/2). Man of the match: Giovanni Pettinelli (BEN).

Benetton Rugby: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Tommaso Menoncello, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Joaquin Riera, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Tomas Albornoz (40 ‘Rhyno Smith), 9 Callum Braley (40’ Dewaldt Duvenage), 8 Riccardo Favretto (40 ‘Sebastian Negri), 7 Michele Lamaro, 6 Giovanni Pettinelli, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone (52 ′ Irné Herbst), 3 Tiziano Pasquali (48 ′ Ivan Nemer), 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi (49 ′ Giacomo Nicotera), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro ( 49 ′ Cherif Traoré). Available: 23 Tommaso Benvenuti. Head Coach: Marco Bortolami.

Ospreys: 15 Max Nagy, 14 Alex Cuthbert (71′ Mat Protheroe), 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams (62′ Joe Hawkins), 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Rhys Webb (c) (65′ Reuben Morgan-Williams), 8 Ethan Roots (65′ Rhys Davies), 7 Sam Cross, 6 Olly Cracknell (55′ Morgan Morris), 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tomas Francis (62′ Tom Botha), 2 Elvis Taione (62′ Ifan Phillips), 1 Rhodri Jones (55′ Nicky Smith). Head Coach: Toby Booth.