RaboDirect PRO12: Scarlets win thriller in Treviso
The Scarlets secured a bonus point with a thrilling 41-33 victory over Treviso in Italy on Saturday.
Last Updated: 08/02/14 3:26pm
A penalty try and score from wing Frazier Climo gave the Welsh region a 13-9 lead at the interval, while the hosts responded via three Mat Berquist penalties.
Berquist added his fourth three-pointer in the second period, but Climo and Gareth Davies touchdowns took the away side clear after the break.
Treviso mounted a late revival as Robert Barbieri, Meyer Swanepoel and Ludovico Nitoglia went over, but scores from Kristian Phillips and Jordan Williams sealed the win.
Although the visitors went into the game in seventh position, they started 17 points behind fourth-placed Leinster and with very little chance of reaching the play-offs.
However, they opened this game on the front foot and a penalty from Aled Thomas kicked them into a 3-0 lead. The stand-off missed another opportunity from the tee to extend their advantage before Berquist levelled matters after 19 minutes.
Dominant
Parity didn't last long, though, as the Welsh region scored the first try of the afternoon when a dominant driving maul ended in a Penalty Try.
Benetton hit back and reduced the arrears through the boot of Berquist, but Simon Easterby's men looked dangerous with ball in hand and a well worked move was finished by Climo.
Despite conceding two tries, the hosts continued to battle and another three-pointer by their stand-off gave them hope at the break.
That was almost immediately extinguished at the start of the second half as Climo went over to take them 20-9 ahead.
Berquist kicked his fourth penalty of the afternoon to give them brief respite before the Scarlets secured the bonus-point after good work from Phillips sent Davies across the whitewash.
To their credit, the Italian outfit didn't give up as Barbieri drove over, but Phillips' try four minutes later looked to have put the match out of the home side's reach.
That was until Swanepoel and Nitoglia touched down late on for Treviso, but Williams' late score denied Benetton the losing bonus-point.
