Benetton scored two late tries to beat the Lions in Saturday’s EPCR Challenge Cup match at Ellis Park.
The hosts led 18-11 with 10 minutes remaining only for the visitors to surge to a 26-18 victory. It was a disappointing result for a Lions side that had come into the match on a high having stunned the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus in the URC last weekend.
A cagey first half at Ellis Park quickly settled into a tactical kicking contest, with both sides working for territory rather than tempo.
Benetton struck first when former Sharks and Cheetahs fullback Rhyno Smith gathered a neat short-side movement to score.
Chris Smith replied from the tee, but flyhalf Jacob Umaga’s penalty restored the visitors’ lead as the Lions battled to convert their possession.
Errors and ill-discipline kept the hosts from converting pressure into points until a sharp moment from Springbok fullback Quan Horn cracked the game open. His grubber behind the line bounced perfectly for winger Kelly Mpeku, who flew through to score. Smith’s conversion nudged the Lions ahead 10-8 at the break.
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The hosts carried that momentum into the second half. Sustained pressure inside Benetton’s half earned its reward when flank Ruan Venter powered over to extend the advantage, and a Smith penalty soon pushed the gap to 18-8. At that stage, the Lions looked set to control the contest.
But Benetton refused to fold. A penalty from replacement flyhalf Tomas Albornoz narrowed the margin before a yellow card to Mpeku for a deliberate knockdown shifted the momentum dramatically. The Italians pounced immediately, with centre Leonardo Marin slicing through to level the scores entering the final 10 minutes.
Benetton finished the stronger side. Their phase play became dominant and when the chance came, Marin struck again, finishing off a flowing attack to give the visitors a 23-18 lead.
Although winger Louis Lynagh spilled a try-scoring chance soon after, Albornoz delivered the final blow with a long-range drop goal, sealing Benetton’s comeback, a 26-18 win, leaving the Lions empty-handed.
LIONS – Tries: Ruan Venter, Kelly Mpeku. Conversion: Smith. Penalties: Smith (2).
BENETTON – Tries: Rhyno Smith, Leonardo Marin (2). Conversion: Tomas Albornoz. Penalties: Jacob Umaga, Albornoz. Drop goal: Albornoz.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
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