URC: in Belfast Benetton scores 5 tries but it’s not enough. Ulster wins 38-34

The 15th matchday of URC opens with the defeat of Benetton: Ulster wins 38-34 at the Kingspan stadium. Five tries for Marco Bortolami’s team who, after a good start to the match and a good half hour of play, fell into defense and left too much space to their opponents who took the match and five fundamental points for the race to the playoffs.

The Venetian franchise plays well at times but suffers for too long from the suffocating defense of the Northern Irish and their possession of the ball. In the second half the Lions reacted and at the turn of the 60th minute they recovered the result thanks also to Tomas Albornoz’s positive evening. It was the Argentine who reduced the deficit at the end and allowed Benetton to take home an offensive and a defensive bonus point.

For Treviso two fundamental points thanks to the five tries by Tommaso Menoncello, Jacob Umaga, Toa Halafihi, Ivan Nemer and Tomas Albornoz. In the general classification Benetton and Ulster find themselves tied on 44 points, awaiting Saturday’s matches. Next weekend Marco Bortolami’s team will be involved in the Challenge Cup semi-final against Gloucester, before flying to South Africa for the 16th matchday of Urc.

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Benetton starts strong. On the first possession the Treviso players keep the ball for several minutes, the action is very long and there are over twenty phases of play. The home defense defends well but, after yet another acceleration, Rhyno Smith plays 2 against 1 for Tommaso Menoncello who scores the first try with the flag. 0-5.

Ulster does not stand by and responds with the same coin: the Northern Irish game is also fast and effective. John Cooney collects the ball from a ruck and runs into the space left undefended by Benetton. He in hand for Tom Stewart and a try under the posts. 7-5.

Benetton are in the evening, they are aware of their capabilities and play well in attack against a solid but sometimes undisciplined defence; in the 25th minute Jacob Umaga hits the posts from a free kick, 7-8. Ulster hit back again a few minutes later. Touche launched and won in the 22 of the Venetians and Cooney’s advancement is once again decisive. The hosts form a meeting point on the edge of the Benetton goal, which defends the pick-and-go but can do nothing about Reuben Crothers’ attempt which goes over. 14-8.

Benetton’s defense drops and doesn’t apply the same pressure as in the first 20 minutes. Ulster, however, does not slow down their attack and Stuart McCloskey invents a great play. Kick to go over the center, Jacob Stockdale recovers the oval, breaks two tackles and scores the third try for the home team. At halftime the result is 21-8.

The second half opens again with Ulster on attack but in the 47th minute the home team loses the ball in their own 22m; Andy Uren is quick to recover the oval and serve the onrushing Jacob Umaga who scores the second try for Benetton. 21-13.

The hosts are fierce and in the 50th minute they score the fourth try, the offensive bonus. The Northern Irish advanced with the ball in hand, Billy Burns moved the ball to the right for fullback Mike Lowry who with a long pass fed Will Addison who made it 28-13.

The guests took advantage of a small drop in Ulster tension and in the 57th minute they scored the third try with a long action made up of many phases. Tommaso Menoncello receives the ball, discards a defender and makes a long pass to Toa Halafihi who scores undisturbed to make it 28-20.

Benetton returned to playing good rugby and put pressure on Ulster with a deep kick from Jacob Umaga. Mike Lowry recovers the ball on the goal line but the advance of the Venetians forces the home team to suffer the push of the Treviso players. In the 63rd minute Ivan Nemer snatches the ball from an opponent’s hands and scores the fourth try of the match to make it 28-27 after Tomas Albornoz’s conversion.

Ulster shows up again in the Benetton area, many i pick and go which allowed the Belfast team to take the ball forward and Cormac Izuchukwu to score the fifth try for 35-27 after John Cooney’s fifth conversion. In the 74th minute John Cooney’s foot is still precise and he hits the posts with an easy free kick. +11 for Ulster.

The ending is exciting. Benetton attacks and Ulster defends the result as best they can even with a few too many fouls. In the 80th minute the referee Sam Grove White shows a yellow card for a voluntary advance, Tomas Albornoz quickly plays the free kick and scores the try surprising everyone. After the Argentine’s conversion, the final score is 38-34.

The Ulster-Benetton scoreboard

Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 Will Addison, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 David McCann, 7 Reuben Crothers, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Alan O’Connor (C), 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Eric O’Sullivan
Available: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 James French, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Greg Jones, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 Luke Marshall, 23 Ethan McIlroy

Tries: Stewart (16′), Crothers (34′), Stockdale (40′), Addison (50′) Izuchukwu (67′)
Conversions: Cooney (17′, 35′, 40′, 51′, 68′)
Free kicks: Cooney (74′)

Benetton: 15 Jacob Umaga, 14 Leonardo Marin, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Rhyno Smith, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (C), 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Edoardo Iachizzi, 4 Scott Scrafton , 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Thomas Gallo
Available: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, Ivan Nemer, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 Toa Halafihi, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Filippo Drago

Goals: Menoncello (6′), Umaga (47′), Halafihi (57′), Nemer (63′), Albornoz (80′)
Transformations: Albornoz (58′, 64′, 81′))
Free kicks: Umaga (25′)

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