Blair Kinghorn scored two tries for Edinburgh and for much of this game looked like marking his final home appearance before his move to Toulouse with a victory.
In the end, though, Benetton fought back to deny Kinghorn’s team the victory that would have sent them to the top of the URC table, and a try-conceding error by the full-back played a significant part in the Italians’ recovery.
“That was raw and disappointing,” Kinghorn said. “We were on top most of the game then we let in some really soft points, and the mistake from me near the end cost the team.
“Looking back on it, the offload was too risky and it was a bad decision that cost us seven points and the game. It wasn't how I wanted it to end.”
Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt, however, insisted that no-one would be singled out to blame for the defeat - the team’s first at home this season. “Blair did extremely well under the high ball - he had a good game tonight,” the South African said.
“You can’t fault him on one mistake, because then you’ve got to fault everyone. We’ll all take this on the chin as a team, the coaching staff as well, and move on.”
"We beat ourselves this evening. Can't fault the effort the guys put in at the end, unfortunately the drop goal didn't go over - but it shouldn't come down to that.”
The drop goal in question was the last kick of the game from Ben Healy, an effort from around 40m that went just wide. The stand-off had won the match at the last gasp with a drop goal against Connacht a fortnight earlier, but that had been from a lot closer in. This one was a lot tougher.
In any case, Edinburgh should not have needed a last-second effort to win. They scored three times in the first half and had three other ‘tries’ disallowed.
The first score came from a lineout: Grant Gilchrist took clean possession, and when the ball went down the line Kinghorn was able to slice all too easily through the Benetton back line. Healy added the conversion.
The second try came after heavy pressure on the visitors’ line funnelled the defence towards their own posts. That left ample space for Healy to lob a ball to Wes Goosen, who touched down in the left corner. Healy’s conversion attempt was wide this time.
Edinburgh kept pressing after that, but it was Benetton who got the next score. Ignacio Mendy was close to his own five-metre line when he gathered a loose ball, but he managed to create space for himself and then simply outpaced Healy - the only Edinburgh player to give chase. Jacob Umaga converted, then minutes later added a penalty from 30m out after the home side offended at the breakdown.
From dominating the game, Edinburgh had been pegged back to 12-10. But they had time to hit back before the break, and got their third try, finished off by Kinghorn, after Van der Merwe made the half-break. Healy added the two points.
Benetton claimed their second try within minutes of the restart when Marco Zanon finished off from first phase following a lineout, and Umaga again converted. At 19-17 Edinburgh needed the next score - and they got it after Mirco Spagnolo came off the bench, pulled down a maul within seconds to give away a penalty, and was yellow-carded into the bargain. Healy was on target with the award, and the lead stayed at five points when Umaga sent a penalty wide minutes later. 22-17
With a dozen minutes to play, Benetton went in front for the first time. After Van der Merwe fielded a high kick, Edinburgh lost possession, and then Kinghorn failed to deal with a kick through close to his own line. Zanon pounced for his second score of the night, and Umaga’s conversion put his team ahead for the first time.
With time running out, Eli Snyman was sent off for head-on-head contact in a clumsy tackle on Van der Merwe. Edinburgh managed to drive their way up the park, but Healy was just off target with that drop-goal attempt.
Scorers: Edinburgh Tries Kinghorn 2 (3mins, 39), Currie (14), Pen Healy (54) Cons Healy 2.
Benetton: Tries Mendy (32), Zanon 2 (43, 68) Pen Umaga (36) Cons Umaga 3.
Edinburgh: B Kinghorn; W Goosen, M Currie, J Lang, D van der Merwe; B Healy, A Price (B Vellacott 55); P Schoeman (B Venter 63), D Cherry (E Ashman 7), W Nel (A WIliams 69), G Young (M Sykes 65), G Gilchrist (captain), J Ritchie, C Boyle, L Crosbie (T Dodd 74).
Benetton: R Smith; P Odogwu, M Fekitoa, M Zanon (G da Re 78), I Mendy; J Umaga, A Uren (S Hidalgo-Clyne 78); T Gallo (M Spagnolo 53), G Nicotera (B Bernasconi 41), G Zilocchi (T Pasquali 67), E Iachizzi (R Favretto 63), E Snyman, A Izekor, M Lamaro (captain), L Cannone (T Halafihi 41).
Yellow card: Spagnolo (54).
Red card: Snyman (78).
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa).
