Cardiff Blues edge past Benetton

Jason Harries scored a late try as Cardiff fought back for a 31-28 Guinness PRO14 victory away to Benetton.

The hosts took an early lead through Tommaso Allan’s 11th-minute penalty but Blues hit back four minutes later as James Botham crossed over and Jason Tovey converted.

Benetton replied with a try from Marco Riccioni as Allan added the extras with a Tovey penalty leveling the scores at the other end before a second touch down for the home side through Iliesa Ratuva handed the hosts a 15-10 lead.

Allan’s 47th-minute penalty extended the Italian side’s lead, while Tovey converted Lloyd Williams’ try to narrow the scores before a try apiece from Monty Ioane and Frederico Zani looked to have put the score beyond doubt for the hosts on the hour.

But Cardiff hit back through efforts from Alun Lawrence and Harries – as Tovey was successful with both conversions to take his points tally to 11 for the match – to seal the last-gasp victory.

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