United Rugby Championship: Scarlets beaten by Benetton as Halfpenny and Owens return

Wales internationals Leigh Halfpenny and Ken Owens returned from long-term injuries as Scarlets were beaten 34-23 by Benetton in Treviso.

Halfpenny made his first appearance in 15 months as he started for Scarlets, playing 55 minutes before coming off.

Owens came on at half-time after close to 12 months out with a back injury.

Scarlets briefly threatened a comeback after Tomas Albornoz had put the hosts in command, but Tommaso Menoncello's late try quashed their hopes.

Though the Scarlets were beaten in Italy, Wales coach Wayne Pivac would have been pleased to have seen two pivotal performers make their long-awaited returns ahead of the autumn internationals.

Wales and British and Irish Lions full-back Halfpenny had not played since July 2021 after suffering a serious knee injury appearing for Wales against Canada.

Hooker Owens also returned when he was introduced from the replacements bench for Shaun Evans.

Pivac, though, will be concerned about the fitness of in-form centre Johnny Williams who limped off late.

Scarlets made seven changes from the side defeated 55-39 by Ulster, but were powerless to avoid a defeat which leaves them still searching for a first win of the season.

The visitors' problems started within the first minute as the Scarlets endured a difficult start to the contest when flanker Josh Macleod, playing his 100th game for the region, was forced off through injury after only 30 seconds following a blow to the head, with Blade Thomson replacing him.

Halfpenny - who like Thomson was playing his 50th game for Scarlets - was forced to spend much of the first half defending and it was Albornoz who kicked the first points of the contest with a fifth minute penalty.

Albornoz was impressive throughout and he extended the hosts' lead on 30 minutes as he crashed over and converted his own try.

The Scarlets got on the board on 34 minutes when Halfpenny scored a penalty, but Albornoz replied with a penalty of his own moments later, before Halfpenny completed the first-half scoring with his ever reliable boot.

Blade Thomson came on to make his 50th Scarlets appearance, replacing centurion Josh Macleod,

Argentine Albornoz added another penalty shortly after the restart, but Halfpenny replied on 50 minutes after pressure from the Scarlets.

However, the next scores swung the contest towards the hosts as Albornoz added another penalty before Edoardo Padovani crossed for a second try with Ryan Conbeer shown a yellow card before Rhyno Smith added the extras.

The 14-man Scarlets gave themselves hope when Sione Kalamafoni finished things off after Dane Blacker's quick tap caught out Benetton, with Rhys Patchell adding the conversion.

Johnny Williams crossed on 70 minutes to give Scarlets hope, with Patchell again adding the extras, before Williams limped out of the game two minutes later.

A 74th minute penalty by Smith put the hosts ahead 29-23, before the win was secured by a third try as Menoncello raced clear.

Benetton: Rhyno Smith; Edoardo Padovani, Ignacio Brex, Joaquin Riera, Ignacio Mendy; Tomas Albornoz, Dewaldt Duvenage (capt); Ivan Nemer, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Simone Ferrari, Scott Scrafton, Federico Ruzza, Manuel Zuliani, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone.

Replacements: Giacomo Nicotera, Federico Zani, Tiziano Pasquali, Niccolo Cannone, Toa Halafihi, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Marcus Watson, Tommaso Menoncello.

Scarlets: Leigh Halfpenny; Steff Evans, Jonathan Davies (capt), Johnny Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy; Steff Thomas, Shaun Evans, Javan Sebastian, Sam Lousi, Tom Price, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod, Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Ken Owens, Wyn Jones, Harri O'Connor, Morgan Jones, Blade Thomson, Dane Blacker, Rhys Patchell, Johnny McNicholl.

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Filippo Russo & Alberto Favaro (FIR)

TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU).

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