Scotland U20 v Italy U20, Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
Italy ran out deserved winners in round one of the U20 Six Nations, their territorial and possession game giving them a distinct edge in the Scottish capital.
Tries from openside Billie Allen and replacement back rower Ollie Duncan were only enough to bookend three tries for the visitors by centres Federico Zanandrea and Edoardo Todaro, and scrum-half Niccolo Beni. Italian fly-half Roberto Fasti kicked seven points.
Scotland U20 (5) 10
Tries: Allen, Duncan
Italy U20 (7) 22
Tries: Zanandrea, Beni, Todaro Cons: Fasti, 2 Pens: Fasti
Player of the Match: Edoardo Todaro
Reaction:
"Winning in Edinburgh is tough for everyone, especially against a Scotland team that makes progress year after year," commented Italy U20 head coach Roberto Santamaria. "We expected a bit of nervousness in the first half, having so many debutants, but we did well not to lose our heads, remaining united and finding a solution to problems such as indiscipline, which risked costing us dearly in the first half.
"In view of next week's match in Treviso against Wales, we will certainly have to improve our discipline, because we cannot concede as many kicks as in the first half."
TEAMS
Scotland U20: Brown, Rogers, Ventisei, Yule, Watson, Urwin, Cowan, Mckenna, Roberts, Blyth-Lafferty, Moss, Halkon, Lindsay, Allen, Logan
Replacements: Stephen, Shearer, Whitefield, Godsell, Duncan, Patterson, Wolfenden, Moncrieff
Italy U20: Pietramala, Ducros, Zanandrea, Todaro, Faissal, Fasti, Beni, Milano, Casartelli, Miranda, Opoku-Gymafi, Redondi, Vallesi, Caoila Serra, Pelliccioli
Replacements: Casiraghi, Brasini, Bolognini, Melegari, Antionio-Bianchi, Bellotto, Celi, Lobe
