The derby ends 34-27 and Treviso is at the top of the standings: Garbisi doesn’t miss a beat, Halafihi and Ioane are lethal
TREVISO. Fantastic Lions, at the top of the Rainbow Cup. In Monigo for the third round of the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup, Benetton beat the Zebre 34-27 in the return of the derby after the one a week ago in Parma. Kieran Crowley’s men had returned from two victories in the first two rounds, the last one refers to the first leg derby won by 20-25. and in the end the green-and-whites rejoice for the final 34-27 and for the third success in three rounds of the Rainbow Cup.
Ready, go and Hayward with a long throw repels the offensives of the Ducals. The Zebras would have a free kick from a sidereal distance, but the former Rizzi does not hit the posts. The Lions try to design important attacks, but due to some gestural errors they are unable to worry the guests. Then the Parma people find the right passage with the newly entered Canna, but a forward from Violi blocks the Zebras. Halfway through the first half Alongi is injured and has to leave the field for Riccioni. The hosts’ match does not take off and there is a green-and-whites penalty on a throw-in in favor of the Zebras. From the resulting foul Canna is precise and unlocks the result.
The Lions have to remove some rust from the game and at 35 ′ they finally express their best game with the oval in hand. Duvenage unleashes Hayward, then there is the rapid overturning in front and a magical offload from Negri delivers to Toa Halafihi – third consecutive goal for the number 8 of the hosts – the ball to crush for the first goal of the Treviso evening. Garbisi transforms from a tight angle. Benetton Rugby’s second marking arrives at the gong of the first half. Monty Ioane regains possession and with a football from the teacher overcomes Fusco and is formidable to go to goal thanks to a personal invention. Garbisi converts again and the first half ends with the Lions ahead 14-3.
At the end of the interval the Zebras immediately find the goal that reopens the match with D’Onofrio. Kieran Crowley then decides to include Herbst, Favretto and Lucchesi for Cannone, Ruzza and Els. Just Gianmarco Lucchesi immediately sets to work. First he wins a turnover in the 22 of the Ducals, then he leads the following overflowing maul and at 46 ‘marks the third half of the green-and-whites. Garbisi is accurate for the third time from the pitch. A couple of turns of hands go by and Parma have a new favorable punishment. Canna fattens the spoils of the guests by three points and the score says 21-13 for the Lions.
It is time for Braley’s entry for captain Duvenage, but above all it is time for Benetton Rugby to sanction the fourth goal of Monigo’s evening, valid for the offensive bonus point. There is a multiphase of the Lions who have an advantage, but continue to attack, the oval arrives at Brex that picks Edoardo Padovani, ex of the day, quick at 55 ‘to slip away from the Parma defenders and mark the heavy scoring, the second spun in the derby. The opening half of the Lions adds two more points to his. After that Ruzza must return to the field in place of Favretto, the victim of a blow to the head. The green-and-whites are now masters of the match and in the 65th minute they take advantage of a penalty from the guests, with Paolo Garbisi taking the Treviso lead from the pitch 31-13.
Ten minutes from the end Tavuyara enters for Padovani. A few seconds later Biondelli finds the second goal of the Zebras, Canna transforms. The Ducali do not give up and set another mark thanks to a quick action finished by Violi, Canna converts again and the guests come back down on 31-27. The Lions, however, defend strong in the last minutes and Hayward with a portentous slalom earn a vital punishment. Paolo Garbisi finishes a perfect evening of football and signs the free kick which is worth the 34-27 final in favor of Benetton Rugby.
For the Lions it is the third victory – tonight’s is worth 5 points considering the additional offensive bonus point – over three days of the Rainbow Cup. Benetton Rugby is now at the top of the Northern Hemisphere of the competition with 14 points.
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