Edinburgh’s unbeaten URC run ends in Treviso

Sean Everitt’s side arrived at Stadio Monigo top of the table and chasing a fifth straight win, but a sharp, physical Benetton outfit raced into an 18-0 half-time lead and never looked back.

Second-half tries from Harri Morris and Harry Paterson gave the travelling support something to cheer, but it was an afternoon where too many moments went against the capital side, and too few chances were taken.

It was a frustrating way to head into the autumn break. Even so, four wins from five and 19 points banked is a strong return from the opening block of the season.

Edinburgh made the worst possible start. Inside two minutes Jacob Umaga burst through the visiting defence, and when the move was recycled, lock Piero Gritti finished to put the hosts ahead.

Edinburgh were handed a route back on nine minutes. Benetton prop Matias Medrano was shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Grant Gilchrist, upgraded to a 20-minute red following review.

However, the visitors could not make the extra man count. It was Benetton who scored next, with Ignacio Mendy finishing on 26 minutes after a well-timed pass from hooker Bautista Bernasconi to make it 10-0.

By then, Edinburgh had been forced into an early reshuffle. Co-captain Magnus Bradbury, who had been among the visitors’ most dangerous carriers in the opening quarter, left for a head injury assessment after 20 minutes and did not return.

Liam McConnell was also forced off after an off-the-ball hit, with Tom Currie and Callum Hunter-Hill introduced and Glen Young moving into the back row.

The afternoon then got harder. Hunter-Hill was shown a yellow card on 32 minutes for a shoulder to the head of Ivan Nemer, and Benetton made the advantage count almost immediately. Bernasconi finished from close range to make it 15-0.

James Grayson had a chance to get Edinburgh on the board from a kickable position on 37 minutes but pushed the effort wide.

Instead, a Manuel Zuliani turnover gave Umaga a penalty on the stroke of half-time, making it 18-0 at the break.

Umaga added another three points shortly after the restart. Back to a full complement, with McConnell returning to the field, Edinburgh went searching for a way back into the contest.

But the Benetton defence held firm, and on 50 minutes it was the hosts who struck again. Onisi Ratave picked off a pass and ran clear to score the bonus-point try under the posts. Umaga converted for 28-0.

Edinburgh’s maul finally delivered on 55 minutes, Morris driving over and Grayson converting to make it 28-7. The visitors kept pressing and were rewarded on 71 minutes when Paterson slipped through after a two-on-one with McConnell.

Ross Thompson could not add the extras, but at 28-12 Edinburgh still had a late shot at a try bonus point.

It was not to be. Replacement Jean Smith kicked a penalty off the upright and over on 76 minutes to close out the scoring, and Bernasconi was named BKT Player of the Match.

Edinburgh were slow out of the blocks, could not make their numerical advantage count in the first half, and gave away costly points through ill-discipline and a handful of loose moments.

However, four wins from five, and 19 points on the board, means Edinburgh head into the international window in a strong position.

Edinburgh return to BKT URC action after the international break when they welcome Dragons RFC to Hive Stadium on Friday 4 December (kick-off 7.45pm).