Benetton Treviso bagged their first point of the GUINNESS PRO12 season but they couldn’t make it four as Craig Ronaldson’s boot edged Connacht to a 9-6 victory.

A try-free first half did nothing to separate the two sides, as Jayden Hayward and Ronaldson each collected a pair of penalties at the Stadio Monigo.

The hosts, who came into the game with just one point from their last eight GUINNESS PRO12 games, had often been under pressure but always did enough to keep Connacht well away from their line.

The second half saw a momentum shift, with Treviso moving into the ascendency and looking the more likely to inflict Connacht’s second defeat of the season, until Ronaldson’s third penalty restored the lead and settled the tie.

Connacht were first to find some possession but a Rodney Ah You fumble and two subsequent penalties got the hosts out of trouble, Hayward kicking the second between the posts on six minutes to open the scoring.

Ronaldson missed the opportunity to hit back from the tee, sending his first penalty wide of the target four minutes later, but after some sustained pressure he was soon handed another opportunity, which he duly took.

Connacht’s composed approach had the Italian outfit rattled but on each occasion the visitors looked like burrowing their way towards the line, Treviso were able to scramble clear.

But it was the hosts who were to come closest yet to the opening try, denied only by the TMO after Kieran Marmion halted Michele Campagnaro just short of the line.

The Galwegians were back on the front foot and a pinpoint Jack Carty kick to touch soon led to an Italian infringement at the breakdown, Ronaldson doubling his tally from the tee to make it 6-3.

Hayward levelled things up when a rare excursion into the Connacht half yielded a penalty at the ruck and the Treviso full-back almost went one better on the stroke of half-time.

Breaking clear through the centres, only a try-saving tackle from opposite man Darragh Leader ensured Connacht went into the break level.

A scrappy start to the second half passed without further points, as Connacht found themselves restricted and frustrated by the home side, and after their scrum was turned over Treviso kicked for territory.

And Hayward soon had a sight of the posts, only to miss his first effort of the evening after Connacht were found guilty of going in at the side.

Leader injected some life into the contest, breaking his way into the Treviso half and linking up with both Marmion and David Heffernan, but the move was halted.

The second-half deadlock was finally broken on 67 minutes when Ronaldson’s third successful penalty soared between the posts – but when Treviso were off their feet two minutes later, the centre opted for the posts and slid it wide.

Treviso piled forward in the final moments, spreading it wide after being narrowly held up but a Connacht turnover allowed Carty to boot clear, before a stolen lineout ensured the points were safe.

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