Tomas Albornoz doubles up as Benetton beat Connacht in EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final

Connacht's European hopes were extinguished well before the final stage for another year on Sunday afternoon as Benetton won 39-24 in Treviso in scorching conditions.

The visitors got off to the perfect start when Dave Heffernan touched down following a fine driving maul after just two minutes.

Unfortunately, that was probably Connacht's high point, with 22-year-old Darragh Murray being shown a yellow card four minutes later following a high tackle.

The home side got a rolling maul of their own going in the sixth minute, and Gianmarco Lucchesi was the beneficiary as he scored to level things up just 11 seconds after Murray had been sin-binned.

With Murray still on the sidelines, Benetton took the lead in the 13th minute as Italy's Six Nations player of the tournament Tommaso Menoncello got his try.

Albornoz's silky step had punched a hole in the Connacht line and their scrambling defence never quite managed to patch it.

Connacht fell further behind in the 20th minute after a dreadful decision to let a midfield bomb bounce. Rhyno Smith raced through for Benetton, kicking the loose ball forward into space and diving on it in the in goal to make it 19-7.

Perhaps the sizzling temperatures were affecting the Irish because unbelievably, almost the exact same thing happened seven minutes later. This time, it was Albornoz chasing his own high kick who gratefully snatched the bouncing ball after the Connacht wing decided against catching it.

Heffernan thought he'd got his side back into it shortly before the break but his score was ruled out by the TMO.

Two minutes later, Paul Boyle touched down and his try counted. JJ Hanrahan's successful conversion gave the visitors a lifeline at 26-14 at the break.

A Benetton penalty extended the home side's lead but Bundee Aki ploughed over in the 57th minute to keep Connacht in touch.

Another penalty made the already difficult task nearly Herculean and the result was all-but sealed in the 65th minute when Albornoz chased his own chip following a turnover and raced in to score untouched.

Conor Oliver scored with 13 minutes to play after some smart running and quick hands from the visitors, but they could muster no more of a challenge and bowed out of the tournament.

The home side matched their best ever European performance with their victory, advancing to the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final stage for the second consecutive season. This time around they will face Gloucester, with the Sharks facing Clermont in the other side of the bracket.

For Connacht, it's yet another disappointing season.

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