ITALIAN WOE AS DRAGONS SUFFER ROUT

THE Dragons came crashing back down to earth as Benetton ruthlessly dismantled the Welsh region in a crushing defeat.

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Filo Tiatia's side have been in good form, winning three out of their last four matches ahead of the trip to Treviso, but this was a step too far for the Welsh club.

The Dragons must beat Newcastle Red Bulls at Rodney Parade on Friday to qualify for the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup.

The Dragons were blown away as they conceded 11 tries and 74 points against an outstanding Benetton side.

Alessandro Izekor, Onisi Ratave, Malakai Fekitoa, Paolo Odogwu (2), Jacob Umaga (2), Louis Lynagh (2) and Leonardo Marin scored Benetton's tries.

Player of the match Umaga also kicked 19 points.

All the Dragons could muster were three tries from Oli Burrows, Rio Dyer and Shane Lewis-Hughes, while Tinus de Beer and Jac Lloyd kicked six points between them.

Umaga opened the scoring for the hosts but it was very clear from early on that Fijian wing Ratave was the danger man.