United Rugby Championship: Cardiff 30-13 Benetton - Lane try double seals win

Cardiff kept their hopes of United Rugby Championship play-off qualification alive with a bonus-point win over Benetton.

Two tries from wing Owen Lane, a further score from James Ratti and 15 points from Ben Thomas sealed victory for the hosts.

Benetton responded with tries from full-back Rhyno Smith and centre Marco Zanon but had Tomas Albornoz sent off.

Cardiff lifted themselves up to ninth in the URC table.

Dai Young's side, who climbed above Benetton and Edinburgh in the standings, have four games remaining as they aim to finish in the top eight and reach the play-off places.

Cardiff have also extended their advantage as the top Welsh side as they aim for Heineken Champions Cup qualification next season.

Young's men managed to put a turbulent week for Welsh rugby off the field aside, which has seen talk of a player's strike following a dispute over contract offers. Lock Lopeti Timani led from the front with a powerful ball-carrying display.

This was Cardiff's first home league game since 7 January with only one more scheduled URC match due to be held at the Arms Park this season.

Centre Max Llewellyn returned after ankle surgery as one of five changes which allowed Thomas to switch to full-back in place of the injured Rhys Priestland.

Corey Domachowski, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip and flanker Ellis Jenkins come in to the pack.

Cardiff were without eight players on international duty, while Benetton included three players in their matchday squad who had been released from Italy's Six Nations camp.

Scrum-half Lloyd Williams, who was playing his 256th game and breaking the regional era appearance record previously held by Taufa'ao Filise, led Cardiff out.

In an action-packed opening five minutes Lane scored twice either side of a well-worked score for Benetton full-back Smyth.

Fly-half Jarrod Evans was forced off which prompted a reshuffle with Thomas moving to fly-half and Matthew Morgan coming on at full-back.

Thomas immediately slotted over a penalty before Cardiff prop Arhip was also forced off injured after the hosts had dominated the scrum battle in the opening quarter.

Smyth was denied a second try by an outstanding Lane covering tackle before Thomas slotted over a second penalty for the home side.

Benneton responded with a patient try finished by centre Zanon with Albornoz adding a penalty to reduce the half-time deficit to three points.

Cardiff number eight Ratti powered over for an early second-half try as he benefited from the dominant home scrum after Benetton prop Tiziano Pasquali was shown a yellow card. Thomas converted.

Albornoz was shown a red card for recklessly putting his hand in the eyes of Cardiff replacement prop Keiron Assiratti.

Cardiff were able to take advantage of the extra man with a bonus-point try from Thomas with the final move of the match.

Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young: "It was not perfect tonight but we had far more pleasing moments in the game than we have managed in the last few matches.

"We would have settled for five points before the game. I thought we rode our luck on occasions but we won 14-0 in the second half and that is a big pat on the back for players.

"We knew tonight was a huge game for us and if we did not get that result things were looking more difficult as we look at finishing in the top eight and the highest-placed Welsh region."

Cardiff: Ben Thomas, Owen Lane, Rey Lee-Lo, Max Llewellyn, Jason Harries; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Corey Domachowski, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip, Lopeti Timani, Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull, Ellis Jenkins, James Ratti.

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Brad Thyer, Keiron Assiratti, Rory Thornton, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Ellis Bevan, Aled Summerhill, Matthew Morgan.

Benetton: Rhyno Smith, Onisi Ratave, Marco Zanon, Filippo Drago, Mattia Bellini, Tomas Albornoz, Dewaldt Duvenage (capt); Nahuel Tetaz, Siua Maile, Tiziano Pasquali, Marco Lazzaroni, Riccardo Favretto, Giovanni Pettinelli, Alessandro Izekor, Henry Time-Stowers.

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Thomas Gallo, Filippo Alongi, Carl Wegner, Toa Halafihi, Alessandro Garbisi, Jacob Umaga, Joaquin Riera.

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Gareth Newman (WRU), Gwyn Morris (WRU)

TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)