Treviso 28-34 Cardiff Blues: Tough test for Blues in Italy
Last Updated: 04/11/16 9:48pm
Rhun Williams and Willis Halaholo scored debut tries as Cardiff Blues came from behind to record a 34-28 Guinness PRO12 victory over Benetton Treviso.
Macauley Cook also crossed for the Blues, while fly-half Steven Shingler converted two of the tries and added five penalties.
Dean Budd, Alberto Sgarbi, Michael Tagicakibau and Braam Steyn went over for the hosts with Jayden Hayward converting one and Ian McKinley the other three.
Williams opened the scoring after eight minutes and Shingler's conversion made it 7-0 before the hosts turned things around, with tries from Budd and Sgarbi giving them a 14-7 advantage.
A pair of penalties from Shingler brought Cardiff to within a point but Tagicakibau crossed in the corner and a superb conversion from McKinley stretched the advantage for the Italians.
Shingler's third penalty of the evening sent the sides into the interval with Treviso holding a 21-16 lead.
Treviso secured the bonus point when a cross-field kick found Steyn in acres of space to touch down and McKinley added the extras for a 28-16 lead.
But Cardiff responded quickly and Cook went over in the 52nd minute and another Shingler penalty brought them right back into the game.
Halaholo then showed quick feet to dance in for a try that put Cardiff ahead and Shingler's conversion made it 31-28.
A fifth penalty of the evening from Shingler made the game safe.