RaboDirect Pro12: Benetton Treviso beat Zebre in Italian derby
Benetton Treviso secured bragging rights in Italian rugby with a much-needed 20-15 victory over bottom side Zebre.
Last Updated: 28/12/13 4:39pm
First-half tries from Cornelius van Zyl and Manoa Vosawai and 10 points from the boot of Matt Berquist won it for the home side at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo, while Marco Bortolami and Dries van Schalkwyk crossed over for the visitors with Luciano Orquera adding the extras.
Benetton, who had lost three of their previous four games, just managed to hold on to take the points against their struggling opponents, who have won just one match all season.
It was the basement side that took the lead after 12 minutes through former Italy captain Bortolami, who crossed over for a try. Orquera missed the conversion but put the visitors further ahead six minutes later with a penalty kick.
Opening try
Treviso hit back immediately and Van Zyl scored his side's opening try with Vosawai claiming one of his own minutes before the break - Berquist added the extras to give the home side a 14-8 half-time lead.
Zebre came out strongly in the second period and edged in front just minutes in following Van Schalkwyk's try and fly-half Orquera was successful with the goal as they went ahead for the second time in the match.
Berquist missed the chance to put his side in front 10 minutes after the break with a missed penalty, but the New Zealander kicked one over as the game neared the hour mark to put the hosts back in the lead with just two points in it.
After two more penalty misses, Berquist scored with a late effort to take his points tally to 10 in the match before Quintin Geldenhuys and Filippo Ferrarini were sin-binned in the dying moments for Zebre as their frustrations became apparent.
