Benetton overcome Zebre in Italian derby

Benetton kept the pressure on the top three in Pro14 Conference B with a 10-8 victory at fellow Italian club Zebre on Sunday.

Ratuva Tavuyara set the ball rolling with a try after 30 minutes for Benetton, who had not previously won away from home since the opening round of the season.

Carlo Canna reduced the deficit from the tee but Ian McKinley responded with a penalty that ultimately put the game beyond Zebre, despite Jamie Elliott touching down after an impressive run from Giulio Bisegni.

Canna missed the conversion and a subsequent penalty, Zebre’s wastefulness in the closing stages proving costly as Benetton held on for a win that closes them to within three points of third-placed Scarlets in Conference B.

Zebre, meanwhile, remain bottom of Conference A after their fourth defeat in a row.