United Rugby Championship: Benetton hammer Glasgow Warriors to open season in style

Benetton got their season off to an ideal start with a dominant 33-11 triumph over Glasgow Warriors at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Friday.

Franco Smith was taking charge of his first competitive Warriors match – coincidently against his former club – but the Italians proved to be far too strong for the Scots.

After an error-strewn start, which saw Rhyno Smith and George Horne trade penalties, Edoardo Padovani and Gianmarco Lucchesi touched down to give the hosts a 13-6 lead at the break.

Marco Bortolami’s men would then take that momentum into the second period and Ignacio Mendy crossed the whitewash to add to Glasgow’s woes.

Further three-pointers from Smith increased that advantage even further and effectively ended the match as a contest, despite Zander Fagerson’s consolation score.

Benetton then deservedly had the final word when Mendy completed his brace and the team’s bonus-point with an opportunistic try.

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Full-back Smith put the home side in front from the tee in the 13th minute.

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Horne levelled matters with a penalty soon after, but Padovani crossed for the first try of the URC season as the match entered the second quarter.

Manuel Zuliani’s steal deep in Glasgow territory had Benetton applying pressure on the Warriors’ five-metre line, and Giacomo Da Re’s superb floated pass found Padovani in space on the right wing.

Lucchesi then touched down from a driving line-out in the 37th minute and, although Benetton failed to add the extras to either of their first-half touchdowns, they took a seven-point lead into the break, with Horne sending over a routine penalty for the Warriors in the final act of the opening period.

Benetton had their third try three minutes into the second half, when Mendy stepped off his wing and darted between two Glasgow defenders, with Smith nailing the conversion out wide.

Ignacio Mendy that is exceptional 🤯#BKTURC #URC | #BENvGLA | @BenettonRugby pic.twitter.com/Hrze1v9Hgh

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) September 16, 2022

Smith added a further three points to the home side’s tally and Glasgow were reprieved when Benetton had a potential bonus-point try ruled out for a knock-on.

The gap was 20 points when Smith added another penalty, but there was a glimmer of hope for Glasgow when Fagerson barged his way over on the hour.

Tom Jordan’s miss from the tee limited that breakthrough’s impact on the deficit and Mendy snatched the bonus point at the death, with Smith again on target with the conversion.