Treviso 27-11 Dragons: Italians record first PRO12 win of season
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 23/09/16 9:39pm
Benetton Treviso claimed their first victory of the season at the fourth attempt as they won 27-11 at home to Newport Gwent Dragons.
Last season's wooden-spoon winners moved off the foot of the Guinness PRO12 table thanks to a three-tries-to-one triumph at Stadio Comunale di Monigo.
Dragons fly-half Angus O'Brien missed with an early penalty attempt but opposite number Tommaso Allan made no mistake to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.
Treviso's threatening play was rewarded in the 26th minute when centre Tommaso Benvenuti touched down under the posts, with Allan converting to make it 10-0.
Two minutes later the visitors struck back, O'Brien and Carl Meyer counter-attacking and lock Rynard Landman going over to score an unconverted try.
The Dragons continued to threaten with Charlie Davies going close to a try but they had to settle for an O'Brien penalty on the stroke of half-time to reduce the arrears to 10-8.
Treviso extended their lead with a Filo Paulo try out wide in the 49th minute that Allan converted. The Dragons responded but lost the ball just short of the Treviso line as an attack broke down.
An Allan penalty from in front of the posts extended the lead to 12 points but O'Brien soon replied with a three-pointer of his own.
However Treviso were making the running and it took an excellent Matthew Screech turnover to prevent a third home try.
Screech's heroics proved a temporary measure though as Marco Fuser touched down in the 79th minute and Allan landed his third conversion.