Connacht exit after first-half errors cost them dearly
Leinster will be Ireland’s only participants in the business end of European competition this season after a comedy of errors contributed to Connacht’s downfall at Stadio Monigo in Treviso.
Two weeks ago a fully-loaded Benetton snatched victory at the death in the league, but this time they bossed matters despite Connacht having their Six Nations players Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham back in harness.
Connacht gifted Benetton 14 points in the opening half, allowing the Italians advance to a semi-final in Gloucester.
Connacht got a lifeline just before the end of an opening half that lasted 52 minutes when No 8 Paul Boy le drove over, with JJ Hanrahan’s conversion reducing the interval deficit to 26-14.
Before he scored, Boyle was the guilty party as a try from hooker Dave Heffernan was scratched after he joined the maul ahead of the ball carrier, with loosehead Thomas Gallo pinged for a scuffle with the Connacht hooker on the restart.
They made a bright start when Heffernan scored after just two minutes, with Hanrahan adding the extras for 7-0.
Benetton hit back after Darragh Murray was binned for a head-on-head tackle on win ger Ignacio Mendy, who had to be replaced by Jacob Umaga. They went to the corner with the penalty and Gianmarco Lucchesi scored from a line outtake, with Tom as Al born oz converting after seven minutes.
Front
They hit the front when Tommaso Menoncello finished after good work by Federico Ruzza, with the Benetton lock injured in the move and forced off.
Connacht then gifted Benetton a try when scrum-half Caolin Blade tried to palm a high kick back to Tiernan O’Halloran but home full-back Rhyno Smith intercepted for a converted try to lead 19-7 at the end of the opening quarter.
It got worse for Connacht seven minutes when Albornoz made the most of a similar mistake to run in for a try which Umaga converted for 26-7.
Boyle’s try before the break cut the gap to 12.
Benetton extended the lead to 29-14 when Umaga landed a penalty from 35 metres.
Aki scored in the left corner to give Connacht some hope. Umaga extended the Benetton lead with a penalty to take a 32-19 lead into the final quarter and they sealed the win when Albornoz chipped and chased to race through for his second try, with Umaga’s conversion putting 20 points between them.
Con or Oliver scored 12 minutes from time but that was as close as they got. BENETTON: R Smith; I Mendy (J Umaga 5), T Menoncello, N Brex, O Ratave; T Albornoz, A Garbisi (A uren 77); T Gallo (M Spagnola 46), G Lucchesi (B Bernasconi 57), S Ferrari (S Illo 47); N Cannone, F Ruzza (E Snyman 14); S Negri (R Faveretto 76), M Lamarao (c), T Halafihi (L Cannone 46). CONNACHT: T O’Halloran (T Farrell 53); A Smith, D Hawkshaw (C Forde 63), B Aki, S Jennings; JJ Hanrahan, C Blade (M Devine 57); D Buckley (P Dooley 47), D Heffernan (E de Buitlear 47-60), F Bealham (S Illo 47); J Joyce (N Murray 53), D Murray; C Prendergast, S HurleyLangton, P Boyle (C Oliver 47). REF: Mike Adamson (Scotland).