BENETTON END EDINBURGH'S UNBEATEN START WITH 31-12 WIN

Benetton ended Edinburgh's unbeaten start to the United Rugby Championship season with a 31-12 win in Treviso. The Italian side, previously winless in the competition, scored four tries to Edinburgh's two. Piero Gritti opened the scoring inside two minutes after Jacob Umaga broke clear, with Ignacio Mendy, Bautista Bernasconi and Onisi Ratave also crossing for Benetton. Harri Morris and Harry Paterson scored Edinburgh's tries, converted by James Grayson. Jacob Umaga kicked a conversion and two penalties for Benetton, with a further penalty added by Jean Smith, son of Glasgow coach Franco Smith.

Edinburgh, coached by Sean Everitt, had won their opening four matches of the campaign before this defeat. Benetton led 18-0 at half-time after Matias Medrano received a 20-minute red card for a hit on Grant Gilchrist and Callum Hunter-Hill was sent to the sin bin, reducing Edinburgh to 14 men. Edinburgh also lost Liam McConnell and Magnus Bradbury to injury during the first half. Onisi Ratave's try early in the second half, after intercepting a pass from Matt Currie, secured a bonus-point win for Benetton. The BBC reported that Benetton "were the better side in the opening quarter" and that their "momentum was not significantly checked" by the red card.

The result ends Edinburgh's unbeaten run in this season's URC and gives Benetton their first win of the campaign. Morris and Paterson's late tries narrowed the final margin but could not prevent the defeat. Jean Smith's penalty in the closing stages secured the final scoreline for the home side. Edinburgh's next fixtures in the competition were not detailed in the reports.