RaboDirect Pro12: Treviso far too strong for out-of-form Connacht
Connacht were handed a fourth straight loss in the RaboDirect Pro12 as Treviso recorded a comfortable 23-3 win in Italy.
Last Updated: 04/10/13 10:19pm
Alberto di Bernardo gave the hosts the edge with three first-half penalties before Alessandro Zanni and Luca Morisi both ran in converted tries after the break.
Connacht, who have not won since the opening weekend of the season, could only muster a solitary penalty from the boot of Dan Parks.
The result leaves Connacht stuck in the bottom two of the standings on four points, the same as last-placed Edinburgh who are in action on Sunday.
Connacht's hopes suffered an early blow when Paul O'Donohoe - making his first start of the season at scrum-half - was sin-binned just seven minutes in for hands in the ruck.
Di Bernardo slotted over the resulting penalty to open the scoring and two more three-pointers from the Italy international saw the home side, who had lost just once at home in their last eight matches, leading 9-0 at the break.
Parks, having missed his only penalty chance of the first half, reduced the deficit to 9-3 with a 51st-minute kick but within 60 seconds Benetton crossed for the first try when Zanni touched down.
Tobias Botes added the extras to make it 16-3 and, although the home side lost Robert Barbieri to a yellow card in the 68th minute, Connacht could not capitalise and Benetton added another converted try through Morisi late on.
