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Benetton seal victory over Bath with late try
By Ian Cameron
Benetton Rugby claimed a memorable European scalp after defeating Bath Rugby 22-21 in a dramatic Champions Cup clash at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.
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The Italians led for most of the match before showing tremendous resilience to seal victory with a late try, keeping their knockout stage hopes alive.
Bath were reduced to 14 men after Louis Schreuder copped a yellow card and Benetton wasted no time capitalizing, scoring on the eight-minute mark through Rhyno Smith, who cut open the Bath defence off an offload from Onisi Ratave.
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They heaped more misery on the visitors when Louis Lynagh crossed the whitewash to make it 10-0 after 15 minutes.
Bath replied through Niall Annett, who powered over from close range, but their ill-discipline continued to cost them. Benetton struck again before the break when Smith bagged his second after intercepting an Orlando Bailey pass before running it home from 75 metres. Albornoz’s subsequent conversion sent Benetton into halftime with a 17-7 lead.
Bath came out firing in the second half, dominating possession and territory. Scotland back-row Josh Bayliss scored in the 52nd minute to cut Benetton’s lead to 17-14 after a well-executed offload from Miles Reid.
Bath pressure continued to mount and the damn broke again just five minutes later. A 57th-minute Thomas du Toit carry busted open the home side’s defence to put Bath in the lead for the first time in the match. Orlando Bailey’s conversion made it 17-21 and it seemed the visitors were on the verge of a stunning comeback.
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Unfortunately for Johann van Graan’s side, Benetton hadn’t read that script.
Despite being under near-constant pressure from the Gallagher Premiership finalists, the Italians’ defence held firm and they would take advantage of the English side’s indiscipline. The visitors were reduced to 14 men with Max Ojomoh receiving a yellow card in the 67th minute.
With time winding down Benetton scored through Bautista Bernasconi to make it 22-21, sealing a famous victory.
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Lads the maths isn’t mathing, read your report again seriously, either you’re reporting the score wrong or incapable of crediting the winning try scorer because a penalty isn’t 5 points. Do the words proof reading exist in anyone’s heads here.