United Rugby Championship: Benetton 18-14 Connacht - Last-gasp try gives Italian side victory

Ignacio Mendy celebrates with team-mates after scoring a try

Connacht suffered heartache as a last-gasp try from Alessandro Izekor gave Benetton an 18-14 win over the Irish province in Saturday's URC game.

Ignacio Mendy's score helped the hosts to a 10-7 half-time lead, with Niall Murray scoring a try for the visitors.

Cian Prendergast's late touchdown saw Connacht lead for the first time but Izekor's intervention ensured Benetton came out on top after a tight contest.

The win boosts the Italian side's hopes of making the end-of-season play-offs.

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Benetton went into the game on the back of three consecutive URC defeats at the hands of Leinster, Glasgow and Scarlets while Connacht lost 38-14 at home to Lions last weekend.

Both teams boasted 33 points from their first 12 matches ahead of the encounter at Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

The home side were the first to get the scoreboard rolling after six minutes with the score set up from an attacking scrum 15m from the Connacht line.

A flowing move saw Alessandro Garbisi pass to Jacob Umaga, who in turn found Mendy, who went over in the corner.

Fly-half Umaga converted from the touchline and was then successful with a superb kick from distance to extend Benetton's advantage after Pete Wilkins' side had been penalised for a dangerous clear-out on the 10m line.

Despite playing into the wind, Connacht enjoyed their fair share of possession in the first half and were rewarded when Murray scored their opening try with the interval looming.

The second row charged through a gaping hole in the Benetton backline and touched down under the posts, Jack Carty's conversion from close range reducing his side's deficit to three points at the break.

Connacht's Andrew Smith is tackled by Benetton's Jacob Umaga

Carty was off-target with a penalty early in the second period and the Irish province then stood firm during a period of pressure from their Italian opponents.

It took almost 30 minutes of that second half before either side could register the next score, Umaga kicking his second penalty to make it 13-7.

Connacht responded however with Prendergast's try. After s series of phases metres from the line the flanker picked up from the back of the maul and dived over under the posts, Carty adding the extras to edge his team ahead.

Umaga's subsequent late drop goal attempt went marginally wide but there was late drama as Izekor bulldozed his way over to snatch a significant victory for Benetton.

Benetton: Rhyno Smith; Ignacio Mendy, Tommaso Menoncello, Ignacio Brex, Onisi Ratave; Jacob Umaga, Alessandro Garbisi; Thomas Gallo, Giacomo Nicotera, Giosue Zilocchi, Niccolo Cannone, Eli Snyman (capt), Alessandro Izekor, Michele Lamaro, Toa Halafihi.

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Mirco Spagnolo, Tiziano Pasquali, Federico Ruzza, Lorenzo Cannone, Andy Uren, Tomas Albornoz, Malakai Fekitoa

Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; Diarmuid Kilgallen, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Andrew Smith; Jack Carty (capt), Michael McDonald; Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Joe Joyce, Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Eoin de Buitlear, Denis Buckley, Sam Illo, Darragh Murray, Jarrad Butler, Colm Reilly, Shane Jennings, Shayne Bolton.