Pro14: Benetton 25-19 Scarlets

Scarlets forwards strive to advance against Benetton

Benetton held out to dent Scarlets' Pro14 play-off hopes and boost their own in an enthralling game in Treviso.

The win took the Italian club to third, above Ulster, in a Conference B in which Leinster are 22 points clear at the top.

Scarlets tries came from Kieran Hardy with two from Johnny McNicholl.

But Toa Halafihi, Luca Sperandio and Federico Ruzza matched the visitors and fly-half Ian McKinley's 10 kicked points proved decisive.

Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny was due to make his Scarlets comeback after a three-month lay-off with concussion, but was ruled out after being released from Wales' Six Nations squad.

His fellow internationals fly-half Rhys Patchell and wing Steff Evans were also released, with Evans starting on the wing and Patchell coming on as a replacement.

Evans was lively in attack and on the other wing Ioan Nicholas weaved some magic to give scrum-half Kieran Hardy the chance to make the line for the opening try.

Dan Jones converted, but the hosts underlined their reputation as one of the most-improved teams in the competition as they hit back.

However, there was a hint of controversy over number eight Toa Halafihi's try. Having been tackled short of the line, fellow forwards arrived to drive him over for a score confirmed after analysis of video replays and McKinley levelled with the conversion.

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Visiting 10 Jones' well-weighted pass sent wing Evans haring through the home defence and he generously gave McNicholl the chance to score with the line in sight.

But back came Benetton with an impressive attack of their own giving Sperandio the chance to go over.

McNicholl's second try was also not enough as home lock Federico Ruzza's try putting Benetton ahead for the final time.

McKinley added a late penalty and despite Patchell entering the fray and adding some attacking spark, the visitors were unable to overhaul the hosts.

Benetton: Luca Sperandio; Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara, Tommaso Iannone, Marco Zanon, Monty Ioane; Ian McKinley, Dewaldt Duvenage; Nicola Quaglio, Tomas Baravalle, Marco Riccioni, Irne Herbst, Federico Ruzza, Marco Lazzaroni, Giovanni Pettinelli, Toa Halafihi.

Replacements: Engjel Makelara, Derrick Appiah, Tiziano Pasquali, Marco Fuser, Robert Barbieri, Alberto Sgarbi, Edoardo Gori, Antonio Rizzi.

Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl; Ioan Nicholas, Kieron Fonotia, Paul Asquith, Steff Evans; Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy; Phil Price, Marc Jones, Werner Kruger, Josh Helps, Tom Price, Josh Macleod (Capt), Dan Davis, Uzair Cassiem.

Replacements: Dafydd Hughes, Dylan Evans, Simon Gardiner, Lewis Rawlins, Will Boyde, Jon Evans, Rhys Patchell, Steff Hughes.

Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Assistants: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR), Mark Patton (IRFU)

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)