The Italians once again showed off their slick interplay with another try in the 22nd minute (22-3). But the Lions hit back off a line-out maul, with Ruan Venter dotting down. Wolhuter converted the try (22-10).

The error count continued to mount for the Lions, however, and the defence parted like the Red Sea to allow Mendy in for the bonus-point try. With the score 32-10 and time running out at the end of the half, a chip kick from Lions scrumhalf Morne van den Berg was pounced on by Marius Louw.

The rather fortuitous try added some respectability to the half-time scoreline of 32-13. But it was frankly flattering of the Lions’ toothless display.

Benetton stretched the lead to 39-17 with a fifth try early in the second stanza.

The visitors were then reduced to 13 men after picking two yellow cards. They produced a brilliant rearguard action to keep the Lions at bay until they were back to 14 thanks to another yellow, making full use of the bench. A comeback win never looked likely, however, with the Lions flagging visibly. Benetton never released their stranglehold on the match.

The Lions did eventually manage to get the breakthrough in the 60th minute, via winger Edwill van der Merwe.

Wolhuter kicked the conversion to bring the Lions back to within 15 (39-24). A Umaga penalty would be the last Benetton score.

Lions workhorse JC Pretorius got a deserved five-pointer with a few minutes left on the clock. The loose forward showed real heart and energy in everything that he did, on attack and in defence. Unfortunately, it was not replicated by his teammates.

Scorers:

Lions: Tries: Venter, Louw, Van der Merwe, Pretorius 
Conversions: Wolhuter (4) 
Penalty: Wolhuter

Benetton: Tries: Umaga, Mendy (2), Marin, Ruzza 
Conversions: Umaga (4) 
Penalties: Umaga (3)

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Tapiwa Mafura, 13 Ryhnhardt Jonker, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman 3, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman. Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie 17 SJ Kotze 18 RF Schoeman 19 Ruan Delport 20 Sibabalo Qoma 21 Nico Steyn 22 Renzo du Plessis 23 Kelly Mpeku.