Treviso closed the gap on Newport Gwent Dragons after running out 45-27 winners in a thrilling RaboDirect PRO12 clash.

The Italians will have to square off against the Dragons again on the last day of the season and will take heart from a spirited performance.

It is just their third win in the last ten matches and pulls them further away from fellow Italian strugglers Zebre.

Despite the comprehensive win Treviso fell behind early following a Jason Tovey penalty on ten minutes.

It was Newport Gwent Dragons’ second penalty of the match after Tom Prydie missed his attempt on six minutes.

Treviso were level seven minutes later following a Mat Berquist penalty but Tovey restored the Dragons’ lead with another penalty moments later.

However, the first try of the match on 22 minutes signalled the beginning of the end for Newport Gwent Dragons.

Ludovico Nitoglia ran over and Berquist’s conversion gave Treviso a 10-6 lead – their first of the match.

And from that moment on they never looked back as a trio of Berquist penalties before half time gave the Italians a 19-6 half-time lead.

The Dragons had no response to the Italian onslaught and after the break it was more of the same.

Luke McLean ran over on 44 minutes and Berquist, flawless as ever, added a conversion.

Michele Campagnaro got in on the act to worsen Newport Gwent Dragons’ misery but this time Berquist was unable to tag on the extra points.

The Dragons began to show signs of life and on 57 minutes Matthew Screech scored to give a faint glimmer of hope to the visitors.

Tovey’s conversion made it 31-13 but no sooner had the game restarted than Treviso were in again.

Manoa Vosawai was the man getting in on the action this time and Berquist put right his earlier blip to once against extend Treviso’s lead.

While Newport Gwent Dragons were down they were not out and showed signs of life as Ross Wardle pulled another back for his side on 64 minutes.

But whatever the Dragons could do Treviso could do better and less than a minute later Matteo Muccignat scored and Berquist grabbed his 20th point of the evening.

There was one last moment of consolation for the Welsh side and Cory Hill’s try coupled with Tovey’s conversion made the score more respectable.

The Italians will be filled with confidence following the victory and will need to take every ounce of that into next weeks match against table-topping Leinster.

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