Benetton end Edinburgh’s unbeaten URC start with 31-12 victory

Benetton ended Edinburgh’s unbeaten start to the United Rugby Championship season with a 31-12 victory in Italy on Saturday. The hosts scored four tries to secure their first league win of the campaign, while Sean Everitt’s visitors suffered their first defeat after winning each of their opening four matches, BBC Sport reported.

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Piero Gritti put Benetton ahead inside two minutes, and the home side continued to build their lead despite losing Matias Medrano to a 20-minute red card for his hit on Grant Gilchrist. Ignacio Mendy added a second try before Edinburgh’s Callum Hunter-Hill was shown a yellow card, leaving the visitors a player short.

Edinburgh’s own match report detailed further disruption in the first half. Co-captain Magnus Bradbury left for a head injury assessment after 20 minutes and did not return. Liam McConnell was also forced off following an off-the-ball hit, prompting changes that brought Tom Currie and Hunter-Hill into the action and moved Glen Young into the back row.

Bautista Bernasconi crossed for Benetton’s third try, and a Jacob Umaga penalty completed an 18-0 half-time lead. Edinburgh had not scored during the opening period and fell further behind after the restart. Another Umaga penalty and a try from Onisi Ratave extended Benetton’s advantage, with the fourth touchdown securing the try bonus point.

Ratave’s score came from an interception of a Matt Currie pass, according to Graeme Macpherson’s report for The Offside Line. Edinburgh subsequently responded through Harri Morris from a maul and Harry Paterson after work by McConnell. Those scores reduced the deficit but came after Benetton had established a 28-point lead, leaving the visitors well short of a comeback.

Replacement Jean Smith added a late penalty to complete the scoring at 31-12. Edinburgh’s club report named Bernasconi as player of the match and recorded the visitors’ return from the opening block as four wins and 19 points. They now enter the autumn break with their winning sequence over, while Benetton head into the pause with their first league victory secured.