Dragons endure another pointless trip after six-try Benetton boost play-off bid

THE Dragons suffered another miserable United Rugby Championship game on the road after being beaten 36-19 by Benetton in Treviso.

The Italian play-off hopefuls, who are also in the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup, got the five points they needed after crossing six times at the Stadio Monigo.

The Dragons endured another torrid and pointless trip despite head coach Dai Flanagan urging them to show the same fight that they do at Rodney Parade.

They did finish with a sniff of a four-try bonus after scores by wing Jared Rosser and scrum-halves Dane Blacker and Che Hope but came up short, frustratingly missing touch with a penalty with the final play of the game.

They have two more chances to break their away duck for the season – against the Ospreys in Swansea and Scarlets at the Judgement Day double-header.

Before that they must show much more accuracy, intent and desire - they were meek in the first half - when they face Connacht and the Stormers on home soil as they bid to avoid the embarrassment of propping up the URC.

Onisi Ratave on the charge (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Benetton should have hit the front after a line break by full-back Rhyno Smith but Leonardo Marin lacked composure in the 22 and rushed an offload.

However, there was no escape in the seventh minute when a slick move put Smith over in the left corner, the defence sloppily allowing him to go to the posts to make Tomas Albornoz's conversion an easy one.

The Dragons kicked to the corner to hunt a response and it looked likely when they worked an overlap only for Taine Basham's pass towards the unmarked Rio Dyer to be picked off by wing Onisi Ratave.

Benetton almost struck again with another dazzling break in the 18th minute when they countered with Ignacio Brex offloading for ex-Bristol scrum-half Andy Uren to go into the 22, but the Dragons scrambled and won a penalty to clear.

The Italians blew ANOTHER big chance after 23 minutes when Albornoz flung a wild pass when right winger Marin had a clear run to the line.

However, they got the second try that their efforts deserved on the half hour when a penalty was kicked to the corner, a drive went on and hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi burst through and reached out to make it 12-0.

That became 19-0 in the 35th minute when aggressive defence put the Dragons under pressure and led to centre Aneurin Owen unwisely attempting to flick on bad ball.

Uren picked off the pass and raced under the sticks for Albornoz to enjoy a simple conversion.

However, the Dragons got a lift with a copy of that score just two minutes after the restart when Rosser intercepted and raced away for his 30th for the club, Cai Evans converting.

Ratave responded for Benetton from a cross-kick but then the visitors got a second breakaway score in the 52nd minute when scrum-half Blacker snaffled a knock-on and raced away from his own 22.

Full-back Evans converted to make it 24-12 and that’s how it stayed until a late flourish by the Italians.

First young scrum-half Hope was charged down in the 71st minute by the face of Edoardo Iachizzi, who then won the race to the loose ball over the line.

That was followed by Italy captain Michele Lamaro going over, with the help of a dummy, before the Dragons scored their third late on.

They attacked patiently in the 77th minute before Dyer was put through and he drew the last man for the rapid Hope to go under the posts.

The Dragons then had a chance to strike again for a bonus with the clock in the red but Will Reed missed touch with his penalty.