Connacht exit Challenge Cup after heavy quarter-final defeat to Benetton

Two weeks ago a fully-loaded Benetton snatched victory at the death in the league, but this time they bossed matters despite Connacht having their Six Nations players Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham back in harness.

But Connacht’s hopes of a first semi-final appearance since 2010 in this competition floundered when they gifted Benetton 14 points in the opening half and there was no way back from that as the Italians advance to a semi-final meeting with Gloucester and Pete Wilkins men are left to try secure a knockout place in the URC.

Connacht got a lifeline just before the end of an opening half that lasted 52 minutes when No.8 Paul Boyle drove over after they worked the ball infield from a lineout, with JJ Hanrahan’s conversion reducing the interval deficit to 26-14 after an opening half where they gifted Benetton two of their four tries.

Moments before he scored Boyle was the guilty party as a try from hooker Dave Heffernan was scratched after he joined the maul ahead of the ball carrier but with loosehead Thomas Gallo pinged after getting involved in scuffle with the Connacht hooker on the restart, the visitors were given a platform to get back in the game and they took it.

That sort of efficiency was in stark contrast to what preceded it. They did make a bright start when Heffernan scored after just two minutes after Hanrahan had found a good touch in the right corner from a penalty from deep, before landing the touchline conversion for 7-0.

But Benetton hit back after Darragh Murray was binned for a head-on-head tackle on winger Ignacio Mendy who had to be replaced by Jacob Umaga. They went to the corner with the penalty and hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi scored after a lineout take from Federico Ruzza, with Tomas Albornoz converting from the right wing after seven minutes.

They hit the front when Six Nations Player of the Tournament Tommaso Menoncello finished after good work by Ruzza, with the impressive Benetton lock injured in the move and forced off.

Albornoz missed the conversion and Umaga missed a penalty but Connacht failed to make the most of these let-offs and instead gifted Benetton a try when scrum-half Caolin Blade tried to palm a high kick back to Tiernan O’Halloran but the ball went loose and home fullback Rhyno Smith made the most of the mistake to race from deep, gain possession and canter home for a converted try to lead 19-7 at the end of the opening quarter.

It got worse for Connacht seven minutes later when Heffernan allowed a clearance from Albornoz to bounce and the Argentine out-half followed his own kick to seize possession and run in for a try which Umaga converted for 26-7.

Boyle’s try before the break cut the gap to 12 but with Benetton getting on top in a scrappy start to the second half, they extended the lead to 29-14 when Umaga landed a penalty from 35 metres after moments earlier missing one from a similar position.

But Connacht got back in contention when Bundee Aki scored in the left corner after taking a good flat pass from a Blade tapped penalty.

Umaga extended the Benetton lead with a penalty to take a 32-19 lead into the final quarter and they sealed the win when Albornoz chipped and chased after a turnover in midfield to race through for his second try, with Umaga’s conversion putting 20 points between them.

The introduction of scrum-half Matthew Devine, who signed his first pro contract this week, added zip to Connacht in the closing stages and his break ended with Conor Oliver scoring in the right corner 12 minutes from time, but that was as close as they got as Benetton now head to Gloucester for a Challenge Cup semi-final.

Scorers: Benetton: Tries: T Albornoz (2), G Lucchesi, T Menoncello, R Smith. Cons: Albornoz (2 from 3), J Umaga (2 from 2). Pens: Umaga (2 from 4).

Connacht: Tries: D Heffernan, P Boyle, B Aki, C Oliver. Con: JJ Hanrahan (2 from 4).

Benetton: R Smith; I Mendy (J Umaga 5), T Menoncello, N Brex, O Ratave; T Albornoz, A Garbisi (A uren 77); T Gallo (M Spagnola 46), G Lucchesi (B Bernasconi 57), S Ferrari (S Illo 47); N Cannone, F Ruzza (E Snyman 14); S Negri (R Faveretto 76), M Lamarao (c), T Halafihi (L Cannone 46).

Connacht: T O’Halloran (T Farrell 53); A Smith, D Hawkshaw (C Forde 63), B Aki, S Jennings; JJ Hanrahan, C Blade (M Devine 57); D Buckley (P Dooley 47), D Heffernan (E de Buitlear 47-60), F Bealham (S Illo 47); J Joyce (N Murray 53), D Murray; C Prendergast, S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle (C Oliver 47).

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)