Greig Tonks’ penalty eight minutes from time gave Edinburgh a second consecutive win to start the GUINNESS PRO12 season but they were made to work hard in Italy by a dogged Benetton Treviso side. Edinburgh have now begun a GUINNESS PRO12 campaign with two victories for the first time since 2009/10 and it looked set to be a straightforward day at Stadio Monigo when tries from Phil Burleigh, Damien Hoyland and Sam Beard established a healthy advantage. But tries either side of half-time from Andrea Pratichetti and Duncan Naude brought Treviso back into the game before a Jayden Hayward penalty levelled things up. However, Tonks kept his cool with a late penalty of his own for a 27-24 win that meant the Italian side were forced to settle for a losing bonus point for the second week in a row. Coach Alan Solomons made three changes to the starting XV that beat Leinster 16-9 in their GUINNESS PRO12 opener but it was one of the retained players, Burleigh, who set Edinburgh on their way just four minutes in. Following an attacking line-out, the ball was worked across the pitch and New Zealand-born fly-half Burleigh dotted down in the far corner – Tonks adding the conversion. Tonks did slide a tenth-minute penalty narrowly wide but soon had another chance from the tee when Hoyland crossed for try number two. The young winger has started the season in fine form, grabbing a try double against Leinster last weekend, and he charged clear for his third of the new campaign after latching on to Beard’s pass. Treviso were rewarded for their first spell of pressure when Hayward slotted a 23rd-minute penalty and after the sides traded three-pointers, Beard went from provider to try-scorer by going over in the corner seven minutes before the break. Hayward nailed a third penalty following a scrum infringement and the Italians demonstrated the grit that saw them earn a losing bonus point in Munster on the stroke of half-time as Pratichetti touched down on the post protector to narrow the gap to 24-16. Edinburgh began the second half without Neil Cochrane, who was sin-binned for repeated infringements, and the hosts took advantage as Naude forced his way over the line to cut the deficit to three points, although Hayward couldn’t add the extras. But the New Zealander made amends on 57 minutes as he slotted a simple penalty to level proceedings at 24-24. A cagey affair continued as both sides searched for a potentially crucial score and with eight minutes remaining the visitors earned a penalty after a move started by James Johnstone and Tonks held his nerve from the tee. Treviso then looked poised to go over for a winning try but knocked on just short of the line before Edinburgh kicked the ball out to hold on for a second win from two games. Follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12
