Joe Westwood, Lloyd Evans and Shane Lewis-Hughes grabbed their first tries for Dragons but it was Benetton who claimed a 31-21 victory in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Rodney Parade.
Westwood galloped over with an intercept score, playmaker Evans a second half try and Lewis-Hughes a late burst as the Men of Gwent looked to fightback on home soil.
But a streetwise and powerful performance from Benetton – who started the game with 13 internationals on show – saw them claim a second win of the league season.
Dai Flanagan’s men were left to reflect on a first half they dominated for spells but failed to take two clearcut chances before Benetton snatched the lead.
After two physical encounters with South African opposition, it was the Italian side that pulled clear in the second half to claim the try bonus point while Dragons were denied late on.
Benetton were forced into a late change before kick-off with tighthead Simone Ferrari ruled out and replaced by Enzo Avaca.
Led out by Rhodri Williams on his 150th URC appearance, Dragons were straight to work with Ryan Woodman and Shane Lewis-Hughes unloading a thundering double tackle to disrupt Benetton attack.
Playmaker Lloyd Evans pinned the Italians back with a kick in behind that forced Andy Uren to race back. Evans then went for the corner after Benetton were penalised at the breakdown, but the lineout was lost as the home side failed to turn territory into points.
The Men of Gwent were working equally hard in defence as Jared Rosser and Rio Dyer flew up when Benetton went wide at pace.
The TMO stepped in for a high hit on scrum half Williams and referee Peter Martin issued a yellow card on visiting hooker Bautista Bernasconi.
A slick break down the left wing saw the backs combine to send Rosser into space as he blazed past Louis Lynagh. But after drawing last man Gallager his inside pass found Fekitoa and not the supporting O’Brien.
Then a smart kick in behind forced Benetton to defend and when Dyer got his hands on the ball he danced past three tacklers to find Evans but another wide pass failed to find the runners.
An intercept as Benetton mounted a rare attack saw Westwood pick off the pass and race over form inside his own half to reward Dragons for an impressive opening half hour.
Fly half Jacob Umaga cut into the home lead with three points after Dragons were caught in front of the kicker.
The visitors were suddenly enjoying their best spell of pressure and the home side were asked questions in defence as the Italians worked up a head of steam.
And the Italians struck on the stroke of half-time as visiting hooker Bernasconi, now back on the field after his earlier misdemeanour, finished off a driving maul. Umaga added the extras for a 10-7 lead.
Dragons needed a strong start to the second half, but it was Benetton who put the squeeze on at scrum time and won a penalty that Umaga popped into the corner.
Excellent maul defence reprieved the home side, but it was only temporary as a high up and under from Uren was spilled and a missed tackle allowed tighthead Avaca to score. Umaga added the extras.
Flanagan’s men needed a quick response to stem the points and a slick backs move allowed O’Brien to kick in behind and Gallagher to race out for a five-metre lineout.
The home side then struck with a neat move as Evans grabbed his first try for the club and the converted to cut the lead to 17-14.
A triple change saw Steve Cummins make his debut with Lydiate and Cam Jones also introduced with half an hour to go.
Back came Benetton with more power close to the line seeing hooker Mandfredi touch down and fellow replacement Tomos Albernoz convert.
The visitors were clicking through the gears and struck for the try bonus when Number Eight Lorenzo Cannone bulldozed over after a huge scrum. Albornoz again slotted the extras with ease.
A Dane Blacker dart almost saw the scrum half race clear as time ebbed away before Lewis-Hughes bashed over to set up a charge for a late bonus point.
Timeline:
27m Westwood t Evans c 7-0
33m Umaga p 7-3
37m Bernasconi t Umaga c 7-10
46m Avaca t Umaga c 7-17
50m Evans t Evans c 14-17
61m Manfredi t Albornoz c 14-24
68m Cannone t Albornoz c 14-31
73m Lewis-Hughes t O’Brien c 21-31
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen (Hughes 61), Jared Rosser, Lloyd Evans (E. Rosser 71), Rhodri Williams (Blacker 71); Rodrigo Martinez (Jones 52), Brodie Coghlan (Burrows 61), Leon Brown (Coleman 61), Shane Lewis-Hughes, Ben Carter, Ryan Woodman (Cummins 52), Harri Keddie, Taine Basham (Lydiate 52)
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Cameron Jones, Chris Coleman, Steve Cummins, Dan Lydiate, Dane Blacker, Steff Hughes, Ewan Rosser
Benetton: Matt Gallagher, Ignacio Mendy, Tommaso Menoncello, Ignacio Brex, Louis Lynagh, Jacob Umaga, Andy Uren; Thomas Gallo, Bautista Bernasconi, Enzo Avaca, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Alessandro Izekor, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements: Marco Manfredi, Destiny Aminu, Riccardo Genovese, Eli Snyman, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Garbisi, Tomas Albornoz, Malakai Fekitoa
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU, 4th game)
Attendance: 4,132
