DHL Stormers just short in Treviso

The DHL Stormers scored three tries, but came up just short as Benetton claimed a 20-17 win in Treviso on Saturday.

It was a tight tussle throughout in the Round Four Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash, with the Italians doing just enough to take the win at home.

The game got off to a tense start, with the DHL Stormers defence standing up well and driving the home side back.

However, Benetton were first to score when inside centre Marco Zanon got on the end of a grubber kick to slide over.

The DHL Stormers maul was working well and got them on the front foot before a cross-kick from Jean-Luc du Plessis was contested by Courtnall Skosan, with Warrick Gelant there to pounce and score the try.

The maul paid off again as hooker Scarra Ntubeni drove over for the second try to level the scores, but Benetton would take a three-point lead into the break thanks to a long-range drop-goal just before half-time.

The DHL Stormers scored first in the second half, with Skosan finishing after the forwards had taken it close, but the home side took their three-point lead back with a try from replacement Alessandro Izekor.

The visitors pressed hard in the closing stages to try and snatch a win, but they could not find the finishing blow and ended up just short.

The scorers:

For DHL Stormers:
Tries: Gelant, Ntubeni, Skosan
Con: Du Plessis

For Benetton Treviso:
Tries: Zanon, Izekor
Cons: Albarnoz, Umaga
Pen: Albarnoz
DG: Smith

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Ben Loader, 12 Ruhan Nel, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Neethling Fouche (captain), 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Keke Morabe, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.