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Connacht's Paul O'Donohoe makes a break against Benetton Treviso. INPHO/Elena Barbini

Losing run stretches to four as Connacht succumb to Treviso

Dan Parks was wayward from the kicking tee but Connacht can have no complaints about the loss.

CONNACHT’S LOSING SPIN continued in Italy as they were outmuscled and out-thought by a determined Treviso side at Stadio di Mongio. The Italians scored two second-half penalties to run out 23 — 3 winners.

Pat Lam’s men will enter the opening stages of the Heineken Cup placed near the foot of the RaboDirect Pro12 table after their fourth successive loss. Alberto di Bernardo kicked his side into a comfortable lead at the break and an Alessandro Zanni try confirmed the win for Treviso.

Connacht lost Eoin Griffin, replaced by Brian Murphy, before kick-off against Bentton Treviso. After eight minutes they were reduced to 14 men when scrumhalf Paul O’Donohoe was sin-binned. Alberto Di Bernardo has the Italians 3 — 0 up after 20 minutes.

Kiwi flanker Jake Heenan looked lively in the opening 40 minutes but his over-enthusiasm at the ruck, on 33 minutes, led to another penalty for the home side. Di Bernardo doubled his side’s lead.

Dan Parks, on the other hand, missed a kickable opportunity for the western province. The Italian outhalf compounded Connacht’s woes by converting his third penalty to leave it 9 — 0 at half-time.

Parks finally got his side onto the scoreboard after 0 minutes but all thoughts of a second league win of the season were virtually wiped out when the excellent Zanni burst through a gap in the stretched Connacht backline. Di Bernardo added the extras.

Robert Barbieri was yellow-carded late in the game and Connacht pressed in the hope of securing a losing bonus point. Treviso broke out of their half after five minutes of pressure and made Connacht pay when replacement centre Luca Morisi raced through to deliver the knock-out blow. Tobias Botes kicked the conversion to make it 23 — 3.

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