LEINSTER BEAT BENETTON Treviso 21-20 in their RaboDirect Pro12 clash at Stadio Monigo.
While most Irish eyes were on the action at Lansdowne Road, Matt O’Connor’s men went about their business in an efficient manner. Shane Jennings was ruled out before kick-off with Rhys Ruddock leading the team instead.
Lote Tuqiri crossed over for his first try with the province after 12 minutes. Jimmy Gopperth, who missed an early conversion, was off the mark with his conversion attempt but soon had a chance to redeem himself.
Inside centre Noel Reid broke through the Italian defence to dot down after 15 minutes and Gopperth, this time, added the extras.
Former Leinster out-half Mat Berquist slotted over a penalty to get the home side off the mark and winger Ludovico Nitoglia dived over for a 28th minute try. Berquist converted to leave the game finely poised at half-time
Gopperth’s accuracy improved after the break and he kicked two penalties to stretch Leinster’s lead before Angelo Esposito got over for a 62nd minute try that Berquist embellished. The conversion saw Treviso hit the front but a 75th minute penalty, knocked over by the Kiwi out-half, clinched an important away win.
