Zebre 16 Benetton Treviso 26
Treviso ended their wait for a first victory of the season in any competition by winning the all-Italian Guinness Pro 12 battle with Zebre. Treviso emerged 26-16 winners at Zebre's Stadio XXV Aprile home after previously failing to score in more than 160 minutes of rugby.
Tries from Henry Seniloli and Francesco Minto in either half, as well as 16 points from the boot of Jayden Hayward, secured Treviso their maiden victory of the campaign and took them to within one point of Zebre in the Pro 12 table.
Zebre had dominated the early stages for winger Giovanbattista Venditti to cross after only four minutes and Kelly Haimona converted. Hayward and Haimona exchanged two penalties apiece before scrum-half Seniloli's 29th-minute converted try levelled matters.
Treviso led 16-13 at the break following Hayward’s third successful kick but Haimona again levelled before Zebre were reduced to 14 men when back rower Dries van Schalkwyk was yellow carded.
The game became 14-a-side when Treviso winger Simone Ragusi was sent to the sin bin on 56 minutes and Hayward and Haimona showed their kicking prowess once more before flanker Minto's 73rd-minute try provided the visitors with precious breathing space.
ZEBRE: Daniller; Venditti, Bisegni, Pratichetti, L Sarto; Haimona, Leonard; Lovotti, Manici, Chistolini; Geldenhuys, Biagi; Van Schalkwyk, Mauro Bergamasco, Vunisa. Replacements: Orquera for Bisegni, De Marchi for Lovotti (both 51 mins), Bortolami for Biagi, Bernabo for Vunisa (both 59 mins), Toniolatti for Venditti (71 mins), Chillon for Daniller (77 mins). Not used: Fabiani, Redolfini. Sin Bin: van Schalkwyk (50 mins).
BENETTON TREVISO: Hayward; Ragusi, Campagnaro, Bacchin, Nitoglia; Christie, Seniloli; Zanusso, Giazzon, Muccignat; Pavanello, Van Zyl; Barbini, Minto, Budd. Replacements: Fuser for Barbini, Favaro for Muccignat (both 49 mins), Ambrosini for Seniloli (71 mins), Pratichetti for Nitoglia (76 mins), Swanepoel for van Zyl (77 mins), Novak for Zanusso (79 mins), Anae for Giazzon (80 mins). Not used: Rae. Sin Bin: Ragusi (59 mins).
Referee: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland).
