Benetton sails into qualification with easy win
MATCH REPORT: Benetton Rugby ensured their qualification for the knockout stage of the Challenge Cup on Saturday with a comfortable 26-7 home victory over rock-bottom Aviron Bayonnais in Pool B.
The Italian side jumped into second place thanks to three tries in seven first-half minutes, including a double from lock Niccolò Cannone, to open up a 19-7 half-time lead before taking their foot off the pedal in the second period.
Bayonne, without a point at the bottom of Pool B before the match and four points adrift, took a shock lead in the 17th minute with a try from full-back Yohan Orabe, which was converted by captain Maxime Machenaud.
However, Benetton then took command with those three tries, the last two of which were converted by Tomas Albornoz.
Wing Ignacio Mendy struck first on the half hour and his effort was followed rapidly by Cannone’s brace in the 33rd and 37th minutes.
The second half was pointless, until wing Onisi Ratave scored a 77th minute try, which was converted by replacement Jacob Umaga.
Benetton now host Stade Français Paris in their final pool match next Saturday, while Bayonne entertain leaders Scarlets.
The scorers
For Benetton
Tries: Mendy, Cannone (2), Ratave
Cons: lbornoz (2), Umaga
For Bayonne
Tries: Orabe
Conv: Machenaud
Yellow: Geoffrey Cridge (for Bayonne, 51)
Benetton: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Giovanni Pettinelli, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Federico Zani
Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Cherif Traore, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 Manfredi Albanese, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Marco Zanon.
Bayonnais: 15 Yohan Orabe, 14 Arnaud Erbinartegaray, 13 Peyo Muscarditz, 12 Eneriko Buliruarua, 11 Bastien Pourailly, 10 Thomas Dolhagaray, 9 Maxime Machenaud (captain), 8 Aïtor Hourcade, 7 Geoffrey Cridge, 6 Jean Monribot, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Manuel Leindekar, 3 Chris Talakai, 2 Thomas Acquier, 1 Pieter Scholtz.
Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Swan Cormenier, 18 Badri Tsikhistavi, 19 Denis Marchois, 20 Mateaki Kafatolu, 21 Michael Ruru, 22 Jason Robertson, 23 Guillaume Martocq.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
Assistant referees: George Selwood (England) & Jonathan Healy (England)
TMO: Dean Richards (England)
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