Benetton Secures Last-Minute Victory Over Bath in Champions Cup Match

In an Investec Champions Cup match, Benetton secured a 22-21 victory over Bath. Benetton’s points came from tries by Smith (2), Lynagh, and Bernasconi, with Albornoz converting. Bath’s 21 points were scored through tries by Annett, Bayliss, and Du Toit, with Bailey converting three times. Miles Reid led Bath as captain, being one of only four players to maintain their position from the previous loss to La Rochelle. Bath experienced a painful last-minute loss to Benetton, preventing Johann van Graan’s significantly altered team from revitalizing their Investec Champions Cup campaign. Van Graan had selected a heavily modified squad, with just four players from the initial defeat to La Rochelle remaining in the starting fifteen, and nearly achieved an unexpected victory. Benetton, currently ranked 12th in the United Rugby Championship, began the game strongly, scoring two tries in the first half through Rhyno Smith and another via former Harlequins wing Louis Lynagh. During this period, Bath’s scrum-half Louis Schreuder was sent to the sin-bin early in the match. A try from Niall Annett kept Bath competitive, and the visiting side then took the lead in the second half. Josh Bayliss completed an excellent play, and substitute prop Thomas du Toit subsequently put them ahead. Max Ojomoh’s yellow card in the 69th minute proved crucial, yet Benetton almost squandered their opportunity, failing to convert three chances late in the game. Bautista Bernasconi scored the decisive try in the 80th minute, denying Van Graan’s understrength team what would have been a notable victory. Bath currently holds two points in Pool Two. They are scheduled to host Clermont in January before an away fixture against Leinster, with their prospects for qualification appearing challenging. At the Stadio Monigo, Van Graan’s team conceded early points as Benetton capitalized on the additional space created by scrum-half Schreuder’s yellow card. Both initial tries were scored out wide, with Smith touching down in one corner, followed seven minutes later by Lynagh’s straightforward run-in in the opposite corner. After their scrum-half rejoined the match, Bath sought to regain momentum, with hooker Niall Annett scoring their first points, which Orlando Bailey then converted. Nearing the end of the half, Bailey negated Bath’s efforts by failing to notice Smith, who intercepted a predictable attacking pass from the Benetton full-back and ran the length of the field to score his second try. Following the halftime interval, a well-executed try brought the visitors back into contention. Cam Redpath located an opening in the defensive line, passing to Miles Reid, who advanced upfield and offloaded the ball, allowing Bayliss to complete the play. This fluid score was succeeded by a try from close quarters, as a sequence of forward drives towards the try line culminated in replacement prop Du Toit touching down, giving Bath the lead for the first time. With the score at 21-17 in Bath’s favor, the Italian side gained an advantage from Ojomoh’s yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, but subsequently squandered multiple scoring chances. Substitute Nacho Brex inexplicably dropped the ball after crossing the try line, and prop Tiziano Pasquali chose to run for the line himself rather than passing to teammates who were in an overlap position. However, Bernasconi ultimately prevented any regrets for Benetton by grounding the ball at the conclusion of a drive, thereby crushing Bath’s hopes. Benetton: Smith; Lynagh, Menoncello, Fekitoa, Ratave; Albornoz, Uren; Spagnolo, Maile, Ferrari, Cannone, Ruzza (capt), Negri, Zuliani, Halafihi. Replacements: Bernasconi, Gallo, Pasquali, Favretto, Izekor, Garbisi, Umaga, Brex Bath: De Glanville; Grace, Ojomoh, Redpath, McConnochie; Bailey, Schreuder; Van Wyk, Annett, Sela, Richards, Molony, Bayliss, Staddon, Reid (capt). Replacements: Tuipulotu, Cordwell, Du Toit, Roux, Hill, Carr-Smith, Hennessey, Coetzee Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)