Ahead of Sunday’s showdown in Italy, we turn back the clock for a #ThrowbackThursday and look back at our victory at Benetton in 2015….
Benetton Treviso 17 Dragons 32 - Saturday, March 28th, 2015
Dragons claimed their first-ever victory against Benetton in Italy as they were made to work for their 32-17 bonus point win in the Guinness PRO12.
Tries from Jonathan Evans, wingers Hallam Amos and two from Tom Prydie gave the Welsh region the win, but they were forced to wait until the 72nd minute before the first of Prydie's tries sealed the victory in Italy.
Prydie scored 22 points in all, as he led his side to a relieving victory. Dragons raced to a 17-0 half-time lead, but their second half was not as measured as the first, enabling a fightback from the home side that almost resulted in a shock victory as they were within three points of the visitors with eight minutes remaining.
The visitors waited until the 19th minute before scrum-half Evans darted over for the first try of the game which was converted by winger Prydie.
Treviso stayed in the game with steady defence, and as a result it was only in the 30th minute that the Dragons extended their lead through the boot of Prydie, who slotted a penalty attempt.
The Benetton defence appeared to enable the home side to go into the break with that small deficit, but the Amos try came on the stroke of the half, with the Prydie conversion giving his side a convincing 17-0 half-time lead.
Prydie added another penalty early in the second period but from then on it was all Benetton as the Italians fought bravely back into the game.
A try from inside centre Enrico Bacchin gave them their opening try, which was converted by Jayden Hayward.
In the 55th minute there was a penalty try from a scrum, and with the conversion and a further penalty from full-back Hayward, Dragons were suddenly found hanging on to a three-point lead with 15 minutes remaining.
The Welsh region showed determination as they kept their heads and scored a try through winger Prydie to keep the hosts at bay before Prydie once again crashed over the whitewash in the dying seconds of the game.
Converting both tries game his side a convincing 32-17 win in Italy, a far more assure scoreline than the final stages of the game would have suggested.
Treviso: Jayden Hayward, Simone Ragusi, Michele Campagnaro, Enrico Bacchin, Ludovico Nitoglia, Sam Christie, Alberto Lucchese; Mat Luamanu, Francesco Minto, Marco Barbini, Corniel Van Zyl, Antonio Pavanello (capt), Rupert Harden, Davide Giazzon, Matteo Zanusso
Replacements: Albert Anae, Romulo Acosta, Matteo Muccignat, Marco Fuser, Meyer Swanepoel, Dean Budd, Andrea Pratichetti, Edoardo Gori
Dragons: Jason Tovey, Tom Prydie, Pat Leach, Jack Dixon, Hallam Amos, Dorian Jones, Jonathan Evans; Boris Stankovich, T. Rhys Thomas, Brok Harris, Andrew Coombs, Cory Hill, James Thomas, James Benjamin, Nick Crosswell
Replacements: Hugh Gustafson, Phil Price, Dan Way, Taulupe Faletau, Ollie Griffiths, Luc Jones, Tyler Morgan, Carl Meyer.
Tries from Jonathan Evans, wingers Hallam Amos and two from Tom Prydie gave the Welsh region the win...
