Summary

  • Victory lifts Cardiff to third in URC table; Benetton sit 10th

  • Hosts led at half time through two Callum Sheedy penalties

  • Rhyno Smyth bags away side's first points with penalty in 45th minute

  • Josh McNally try and Ioan Lloyd penalty extended Cardiff's lead

  • Federico Ruzza try on 66 minutes gave Benetton hope before Ignacio Mendy try ruled out by TMO

  • Late Lloyd penalty seals victory for Welsh side

  1. Postpublished at 59 mins

    Cardiff 11-3 Benetton

    A strong carry from Ben Thomas in midfield and Aled Davies is impeded as he looks to get the ball away.

    A Cardiff penalty 25 metres out. It's in front of the posts and Liam Belcher summons the kicking tee.

  2. Postpublished at 57 mins

    Cardiff 11-3 Benetton

    Cardiff's Corey DomachowskiImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Javan Sebastian is on for Cardiff and his first task is to get Cardiff on the front foot from this scrum.

    After a reset though, fellow front row replacement Corey Domachowski loses his footing and it's a Benetton penalty.

  3. Cardiff intensity shines throughpublished at 21:04 GMT 24 January

    Cardiff 11-3 Benetton

    Alex Cuthbert
    Former Wales winger on BBC Radio Wales

    Unbelievable defence from Cardiff. The intensity from Cardiff pushed Rhyno Smith over the line.

  4. Postpublished at 55 mins

    Cardiff 11-3 Benetton

    Cardiff turning the screw here as Ben Thomas again kicks cleverly and Paolo Odogwu can't gather.

    Rhyno Smith tries to clean up the mess but he can only smother the loose ball before being tackled back over his own line.

    It's an attacking scrum five metres out and what a chance for the hosts here.

  5. Postpublished at 53 mins

    Cardiff 11-3 Benetton

    Ouch.

    Cardiff prop Rhys Barrett puts in a huge hit on opposite number Destiny Aminu and wins his side a penalty. I felt that from here.

  6. Postpublished at 51 mins

    Cardiff 11-3 Benetton

    Andy Uren opts for the box kick and some pin-ball follows in the Cardiff 22.

    Ioan lloyd knocks on but thankfully for him, it appeared to go forward off a Benetton hand first.

    Cardiff have a defensive scrum as the rain gets heavier still.

    Ingrid, take a break will you for goodness sake.

  7. Postpublished at 20:58 GMT 24 January

    Cardiff 11-3 Benetton

    Alex Cuthbert
    Former Wales winger on BBC Radio Wales

    It's great patience from Cardiff. We've seen the lineout play a few times.

    That was the momentum change Cardiff needed.

  8. try

    Try: Cardiff 11-3 Benettonpublished at 49 mins

    McNally try

    Cardiff players celebrate Josh McNally's (hidden) tryImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    From the penalty, Cardiff go to the corner and this time Josh McNally does get over!

    He botched an earlier chance, but that's redemption for the second row as he takes three would-be tacklers over the line with him.

    Callum Sheedy's conversion swirls wide but now the hosts have a two-score lead.

  9. Postpublished at 48 mins

    Cardiff 6-3 Benetton

    That's careless from Giulio Marini.

    The Benetton second row impedes Ioan Lloyd in the air and is penalised. And then does the classic 'I'm shocked' look at the decision.

  10. 'Silly penalty'published at 20:54 GMT 24 January

    Cardiff 6-3 Benetton

    Alex Cuthbert
    Former Wales winger on BBC Radio Wales

    It's another really silly penalty from Alex Mann, that was a dead ruck. It's such an easy three points for Benetton.

  11. Penalty: Cardiff 6-3 Benettonpublished at 46 mins

    Smith pen

    Benetton's Rhyno SmithImage source, Rex Features

    No problems this time for Rhyno Smith and Benetton are back within three.

  12. Postpublished at 45 mins

    Cardiff 6-0 Benetton

    The Benetton forwards hammer away with Siua Maile and Federico Ruzza both making big carries.

    Cardiff are equal to it though and Keiron Assiratti puts in a huge tackle to avert the danger.

    However, pressure eventually tells and the visitors get a penalty in front of the posts.

  13. Postpublished at 44 mins

    Cardiff 6-0 Benetton

    Great kick from Nicolas Roger Farias which rolls out metres from the Cardiff line.

    What's worse for the home side is that it flicked Ben Thomas on the way through. Benetton have a lineout and an early chance here.

  14. Postpublished at 41 mins

    Cardiff 6-0 Benetton

    Jacob Beetham was limping towards the end of that first half and sure enough, he hasn't reappeared.

    Ioan Lloyd replaces him. That at least gives Cardiff another long-range kicking option.

  15. Kick-offpublished at 20:45 GMT 24 January

    Cardiff 6-0 Benetton

    Ben Thomas gets us back underway and this next 40 minutes could be beautiful for the purists.

    Benetton certainly won't be panicking mind. This is a side packed with experience - the starting XV alone boasts 10 internationals with almost 250 caps between them. Two others, Rhyno Smith and Ignacio Mendy, have played for their countries on the 7s circuit.

  16. URC scorespublished at 20:45 GMT 24 January

    HT: Cardiff 6-0 Benetton

    In tonight's other late kick-off, Glasgow Warriors currently lead Zebre 21-7 in Parma.

    And here is a reminder of the scores from the three matches completed earlier today.

    Scarlets 27-22 Ulster

    Connacht 23-34 Leinster

    Cape Town Stormers 19-30 Durban Sharks

  17. Cardiff and Benetton to meet again in Europepublished at 20:40 GMT 24 January

    HT: Cardiff 6-0 Benetton

    Whatever the outcome tonight, it won't be the last time these sides see each other this season.

    Both progressed in the European Challenge Cup and after last weekend's results, will now meet again in the last-16.

    Critically, it's Benetton with the home advantage, with that contest taking place on Saturday, 4 April at the Stadio Monigo in Treviso.

  18. Postpublished at 20:37 GMT 24 January

    Cardiff 6-0 Benetton

    Fraser Watson
    BBC Sport Wales reporter

    Cardiff deservedly lead, and in this weather, you feel getting two scores ahead would make it a long way back for Benetton.

    The hosts started off with a real intensity with ball in hand but the afore-mentioned rain has meant a change of pace and tactics.

    The Italian side are struggling to deal with Callum Sheedy's kicking game. Expect the Blue and Blacks to try and exploit that area after the break.

  19. Postpublished at 20:35 GMT 24 January

    HT: Cardiff 6-0 Benetton

    Alex Cuthbert
    Former Wales winger on BBC Radio Wales

    It was a good start from Cardiff in the first-half, but the weather has come in now and it looks really slippy.

    If Cardiff had taken that opportunity right before half-time Benetton would've had a really tough job getting back into the game.

  20. Half-time: Cardiff 6-0 Benettonpublished at 20:34 GMT 24 January

    Cardiff's Callum Sheedy kicks the ballImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Callum Sheedy boots the ball into the stands and to summarise the rain, both sets of players strive to hit Usain Bolt pace as they head to the changing rooms.