Scotland kicked off towards the Riverside stand. Evie Gallagher was quick to win a great jackal in the opening five minutes to reduce Italy’s scoring chances. The Scots went for the lineout, but the ball was squint, and Italy had the scrum on the halfway line but the home side managed to win another penalty.

Scotland did a great job in the maul to hold up the Azzurri and Scotland were again dominating at scrum time. Scotland won a penalty for offside and had the lineout, which they lost. Italy won another penalty for not retreating after the kick.

Nelson’s boot kicked the ball deep and another lineout which this time Bonar collected perfectly in the air. The forwards driving maul gave the backs a great attacking platform for Chloe Rollie to burst through the gap and beat defenders, to dot down just left of the sticks to open the scoring. Nelson successfully added the extra two points. (7-0).

Italy tried to respond quickly but a knock on from Muzzo in the Scots’ 22 put an end to any scoring opportunity. Leia Brebner-Holden then left the field to go for a HIA, which she failed, and Caity Mattinson came on to replace her permanently.

Scotland won another penalty for Italy collapsing the scrum and sat deep in Italy’s 22 but a knock on gave Italy the platform to attack again. The Italians won a penalty of their own when Clarke was found holding onto the ball. Italy went for the lineout on Scotland’s five metre line and Francesca Sgorbini powered over the line to get Italy on the scoreboard. Michela Sillari missed the conversion. (7-5).

Italy were over again a few minutes later when there was space on the outside for Sillari to pop off to Muzzo to run it in from 20 metres out with no one in front of her. Sillari took too long to convert and ran out the shot clock. (7-10).

Italy were hunting for their third score but Gallagher was brilliant in the jackal to give her side some respite. Scotland’s handling was left wanting, which gave the Azzurri the attack again.

Scotland’s back three were working hard but struggling to capitalise. The Scots won a penalty and went for the lineout, but a knock on put an end to the first stanza, as Italy’s Sofia Stefan kicked the ball into the Lothian stand to give the visitors a three-point halftime lead.

HALF-TIME: Scotland 7 – 10 Italy

Scotland came out firing in the second half with a strong carry from Evie Gallagher. Fran McGhie then made great yards, before Gallagher scored off a stunning lineout move just right of the posts after six minutes of the second half.

Nelson missed the conversion but the home side were in the lead. (12-10).

Italy tried to respond fast, but great defence from the Scottish fly half forced the knock on and Scotland were afforded a sigh of relief. Although it wasn’t long until Italy were back over the whitewash. Italy’s Minuzzi collected Thomson’s kick and ran up the left, passed to Muzzo, who was tackled high by Thomson – and sent to the sinbin – and then gave the ball back to Minuzzi to score. The conversion was missed (12-15).

Italy posed an attacking threat again but good work from Scotland managed to hold them up over the tryline. But moments later, Italy’s Alyssa D’Inca received a long pass and had a clear short run in to further extend the visitor’s lead and give them a bonus point. (12-20) The conversion was again missed but Scotland were back to full complement with the return of Thomson.

Scotland won a penalty and Nelson’s boot reached the five metre line and the home side hunted for a crucial try. The forwards worked hard and managed to win another penalty. The Scots opted for the scrum.

The home side went hunting for the tryline but couldn’t manage to get there, only managing to win another scrum. The Scots worked to the left and Francesca McGhie crossed the line, separating the sides by just three points, with just over five minutes to go. This was a true nail biter for the over 5000 fans (17-20).

Italy were not backing down and Muzzo crossed on the far left side with two minutes to play, and the conversion was again missed (17-25). That secured the win for the visitors.

FULL-TIME: Scotland 17 – 25 Italy

Scotland: 15. Chloe Rollie 14. Rhona Lloyd 13. Emma Orr 12. Lisa Thomson 11. Francesca McGhie 10. Helen Nelson VICE-CAPTAIN 9. Leia Brebner-Holden; 1. Anne Young (Bartlett 49’)  2. Lana Skeldon (Martin 49’) 3. Elliann Clarke (Poolman 63’) 4. Becky Boyd 5. Sarah Bonar 6. Rachel Malcolm CAPTAIN (Ferrie 74’)  7. Rachel McLachlan (Stewart 69’)  8. Evie Gallagher (Konkel 63’).

Replacements: 16. Elis Martin 17. Leah Bartlett 18. Molly Poolman 19. Adelle Ferrie 20. Alex Stewart 21. Jade Konkel 22. Caity Mattinson 23. Lucia Scott

Italy: 15. Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi 14. Aura Muzzo 13. Michela Sillari 12. Beatrice Rigoni 11. Alyssa D’Incà 10. Emma Stevanin 9. Sofia Stefan; 1. Silvia Turani 2. Vittoria Vecchini 3. Sara Seye 4. Sara Tounesi 5. Giordana Duca 6. Francesca Sgorbini 7. Beatrice Veronese  8. Elisa Giordano CAPTAIN

Replacements: 16. Desiree Spinelli 17. Emanuela Stecca 18. Gaia Maris 19. Valeria Fedrighi 20. Alissa Ranuccini 21. Alia Bitonci 22. Veronica Madia 23. Sara Mannini

Match Officials:
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Assistant Referee 1: Maria Latos (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
FPRO: Dan Jones (RFU)

Player of the match: Aura Muzzo

Attendance: 5029