Benetton 12-31 Scarlets: Welsh region keep Champions Cup hopes alive
Last Updated: 16/12/17 3:35pm
Scarlets notched back-to-back Champions Cup wins over Benetton as they eased to a 31-12 victory at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.
The Welsh region needed a late rally to defeat the Italian side 33-28 at home last weekend but it was far more comfortable for them in the reverse fixture as they kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Tries from Johnny McNicholl and Paul Asquith and a Gareth Davies double either side of the break earned Scarlets a bonus-point success and kept them in touch with Toulon and Bath in Pool 5.
Benetton were out-classed for much of the match as they suffered a fourth straight European defeat, although they did finish strongly with two late tries from Monty Ioane.
Scarlets made a positive start and went ahead in the ninth minute through a penalty from Leigh Halfpenny, who was the architect of the visitors' opening try in the 13th minute.
The full-back's well-placed chip down the right was collected by Asquith and the centre released McNicholl who powered over the line, with Halfpenny adding the conversion.
Benetton were reduced to 14 men when Federico Zani was shown yellow for collapsing the maul and Scarlets took advantage of their extra man as McNicholl returned the favour to Asquith in the 25th minute.
Scott Williams slotted a grubber kick in behind the Benetton defence, with McNicholl gathering on the bounce and passing inside for Asquith to score, Halfpenny again converting.
The hosts were guilty of turning over the ball too many times as they failed to seriously pressure the Scarlets' defence and the visitors added a third try three minutes before the break when Davies picked up from the base of a scrum 10 yards out and weaved his way through to touch down.
Halfpenny was once again on target to give the Scarlets an emphatic 24-0 lead at half-time.
The game was effectively over as a contest four minutes after the break when Davies scampered over for his second try - he also scored twice against Benetton last week - with Halfpenny converting to take his points haul to 11.
The try came shortly after Benetton wing Angelo Esposito had been sent to the sin-bin for slapping a box kick away from Steff Evans.
Scarlets then took their foot off the gas a little and were unable to add to their score in the final 35 minutes of the match.
The game did finish on a high note for Benetton, though, as they finally got on the scoresheet in the 78th minute when Ioane touched down in the right-hand corner and Ian McKinley added the tricky conversion.
With Scarlets already thinking of the flight home, Ioane then popped up on the other touchline in the dying seconds to dive over for his second try and make the final scoreline look far more respectable for the hosts.