European Challenge Cup
Benetton (34) 74
Tries: Izekor, Ratave, Fekitoa, Odogwu 2, Umaga 2, Lynagh 2, Marin 2 Cons: Umaga 8 Pen: Umaga
Dragons (7) 21
Tries: Burrows, Dyer, Lewis-Hughes Cons: de Beer 2, Lloyd
Dragons face a must-win game against Newcastle Red Bulls to progress in the Challenge Cup after being overpowered by Benetton in Treviso.
The Italians ran wild against Filo Tiatia’s men at Stadio Monigo, securing their bonus point in the first half on their way to 11 tries.
Flanker Alessandro Izekor, destructive wing Onisi Ratave, centres Malakai Fekitoa and Paolo Odogwu and fly-half Jacob Umaga went over to put Benetton 34-7 up at the break.
Further scores came from wing Louis Lynagh (two), Odogwu, Umaga and Leonardo Marin (two) for the Italians, who cruised to a third straight win in the Challenge Cup to show they are serious contenders for the trophy.
Hooker Oli Burrows, wing Rio Dyer and number eight Shane Lewis-Hughes crossed for Dragons, but it was a humiliating defeat, the third heaviest in their history.
Nonetheless, Tiatia’s men still have a shot at making the last 16 when they host Newcastle on Friday, 16 January (20:00 GMT).
Dragons headed into the game in high spirits thanks to three wins from their last four games, although all of the successes were in Newport.
Tiatia’s men had not won on their travels since Newcastle in December 2024, and it quickly became clear that it would be a 13th successive loss.
Benetton’s strong running, offloading and bulk was simply too much for Dragons, who trailed 34-7 after a chastening first half.
Flanker Izekor finished powerfully in the 15th minute after a flowing attack featuring an equally dominant carry by wing Ratave.
Ratave hammered over himself in the 19th minute and plenty of hard carries led to Fekitoa going over for a third.
Benetton had their four-try bonus secure in the 38th minute when Ratave went on the rampage down the left to set up a run-in for centre Odogwu.
A fifth followed with the clock in the red when Umaga was on the shoulder of wing Lynagh to go over by the sticks.
Dragons’ score came when Burrows went over from close range to score for a fourth game on the spin.
Benetton kept their foot down after the break with scores by Lynagh and Odogwu before a rare attacking foray saw Dyer race over untouched down the left approaching the hour.
A four-try bonus in a heavy defeat would have helped the bid for knockout rugby, but the next score came at the other end when Umaga picked off Jac Lloyd’s pass.
He was followed over by Lynagh and Leonardo Marin as Benetton showed no mercy.
Lewis-Hughes was put over by replacement flanker Thomas Young with two minutes to go, but Dragons could not sneak a fourth try.
In fact, Benetton opted against kicking the ball off with the clock in the red and scored an 11th through replacement Marin in an impressive show of strength.
Dragons have no margin for error in round four when they host Newcastle and Tiatia held a host of big names back against Benetton because of the six-day turnaround.
He will hope that talisman Aaron Wainwright, Ben Carter, Harri Keddie, Angus O’Brien, Che Hope and Fine Inisi can return to help get the job done for a fourth straight win on home soil.
Victory would take them temporarily above both Perpignan and Lions, who meet in France on Saturday afternoon.
Only a draw at Stade Aime Giral would put the Dragons at risk of elimination on points difference if they beat Newcastle.
The English side, who edged out Perpignan 26-19 at Kingston Park on Saturday, have won all three group games and travel with the aim of earning a high seeding for the knockout stages.
The wisdom of Tiatia’s decision to ring the changes for Treviso will be dictated by the result in Newport.
Benetton: Gallagher; Lynagh, Odogwu, Fekitoa, Ratave; Umaga, Uren (capt); Spagnolo, Gasperini, Ferrari, N Cannone, Ruzza, Izekor, Zuliani, L Cannone.
Replacements: Bernasconi, Chaparro, Zilocchi, Scrafton, Snyman, Lamaro, Garbisi, Marin.
Dragons: Anderson; E Rosser, Richards, Westwood, Dyer; de Beer, R Williams (capt); Martinez, Burrows, Dlamini, Douglas, Screech, Woodman, Beddall, Lewis-Hughes.
Replacements: Coghlan, Morris, Hunt, Langton-Cryer, Young, M Lloyd, J Lloyd, Owen.
Referee: Benoit Rousselet (Fra)
Assistants: Pierre Bru (Fra), Thomas Chereque (Fra)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
