Benetton Treviso held on after Angus O’Brien’s last-ditch drop goal hit the post, as the Italians picked up their second GUINNESS PRO12 win on the spin with a 19-17 triumph over Newport Gwent Dragons.

Treviso had ended their 20-game wait for a GUINNESS PRO12 win against Cardiff Blues last week – and that confidence had clearly buoyed them here.

Hallam Amos may have cancelled out Angelo Esposito’s early try, efforts either side of half-time from Filo Paulo and Ludovico Nitoglia put Treviso in the driving seat.

Angus O’Brien did outgun Jayden Hayward by seven points to four from the tee but the Dragons fly-half fell short with his final kick to send the Italians into raptures.

Treviso’s first try came within two minutes, as Esposito dummied to the outside and squeezed through the tackle to cross over.

Full-back Hayward made the conversion – but it didn’t take long for the visitors to put together a good move of their own.

Following fine work from Sarel Pretorius, Amos shot over the try-line and then O’Brien’s extra two levelled the scores.

Esposito continued to pose a threat for the Dragons but try as they might – after a sustained spell of pressure – the visitors held firm.

Ultimately O’Brien nosed the Welsh region ahead with a penalty in the 36th minute, though they would not take a lead into half-time.

After a series of pick-and-goes, Samoa lock Paulo bundled over the line and Hayward knocked over the conversion to establish a four-point lead for the hosts.

With that score, it was the first time Treviso had scored more than one try in their last six matches in all competitions.

And Treviso improved their advantage moments after emerging from the changing rooms when they turned the ball from inside their 22, and went the length of the pitch for Nitoglia to finish.

Hayward could not convert however and that meant the Dragons were still more than in with a sniff.
And on the hour mark they posted a much-needed reply as lock Cory Hill went over from close range, with O’Brien making no mistake with the extras.

With just two points in it, things were getting tense at the Stadio Monigo and Hayward missed two quickfire penalties that would have surely put Treviso out of reach.

But in a dramatic finale, the post denied O’Brien from sinking a match-winning drop goal and Amos was then bundled out of touch to secure Treviso their second win on the bounce.

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