Scotland U20 v Italy U20 - Scottish Rugby

21:10

Thank you, and good night!

Thank you for joining us for this live Match Centre on Scottish Rugby.

We’re very much looking forward to tomorrow’s match at Scottish Gas Murrayfield – a 2:15pm kick off for the start of the men’s campaign as they welcome Italy.

We’ll be back to cover that one from about 1pm. We look forward to your company then.

FT

FULL TIME: Scotland 10 – 22 Italy

Peep peep! That’s full time here at Hive Stadium.

The Scotland players are rightfully holding their heads high and are huddling together for some post-match words from coach Kenny and captain Johnny.

A brave and bold start to the campaign for Scotland Under 20s. They almost had their opponents a number of times. And, but for a runaway intercept try, they would have had a bonus point and really scared the visitors.

FULL TIME Scotland 10 – 22 Italy

80'

Last chance saloon for Scotland

A glimmer of hope as Scotland grab a penalty in the corner. It’ll be a good old fashioned tap and go for the last rumble of the game.

It’s driven enthusiastically towards the line, but it’s turned over at the death and kicked harmlessly into touch by Fasti.

Italy run out deserved winners on the day. Scotland put up a mighty resistance though, a performance they can be thoroughly proud of.

77'

Penalty Italy

Fasti will again look to the posts after a scrum penalty and knocks it over, extending Italy’s lead to 12 with just three minutes remaining.

What can Scotland do here to close out the match?

78'

Whitefield on

Ollie Blyth Lafferty has come off for Ryan Whitefield with two minutes to play.

76'

Final change for Scotland

Matthew Urwin has come off, replaced by Ross Wolfenden for the final five minutes.

71'

Ollie Duncan’s try puts Scotland within nine

71'

TRY Scotland!

Another lineout, another drive. The pick and goes this time, rather than the expansive cross-kick, and it works!

Bundling over in the corner is Ollie Duncan! It puts Scotland right back in the mix, especially if Urwin can conversion.

He lines it up aaaaand just pulls it wide. Scotland stay nine shy.

70'

More chances!

And a penalty straight from the scrum for the Scots. It’s right out in front but they kick to the corner – why not maximise the chance?

A big drive from the lineout sees Scotland opt for the cross-kick! And it almost comes off, but for desperate stretching hands from Italy. We go back for another penalty, which is kicked to the corner again.

68'

Chance for Scotland…?

A brilliant break from Brown sees Scotland storm up the field and into the Italian 22, but it’s loose and the ball is turned over.

Only for Italy to themselves fumble it forwards, leaving Scotland with a scrum right out in front on Italy’s 22.

61'

Italy extend their lead!

Under penalty advantage, Italy continue to poke and prod at Scotland’s defensive line.

More phases right on the line from Italy – Scotland holding on for dear life before the inevitable.

And it comes. Edoardo Todaro the beneficiary of a beautifully popped pass, changing the line of the attack right under the nose of the Scottish line and he skips over for Italy’s third of the night.

Fasti adds the extras and the visitors extend their lead to 14.

65'

Change at winger

Fergus Watson comes off for fellow winger Nairn Moncrieff to play out the final 15 minutes,

62'

Stephen in at hooker for Scotland

Roberts off, Seb Stephen comes on to replace him in hooker.

58'

Tireless Scottish defence

A period of pressure from Italy as they rumble up the field looking ever more threatening to the try line.

Multiple phases right on Scotland’s line before a clever hand from Brown bats the ball into touch for the visitors to have a lineout.

58'

Sub – Shearer on

Jake Shearer is on for OIlie McKenna in a like for like replacement in the front row.

56'

Penalty unsuccessful for Italy

Fasti had the length, but not the line and it sails just left of the uprights. The 22 drop out is long and Italy are set back into their half.

55'

Shot at goal for Italy

Jus as the home side were eking their way back into this match, they give away a silly penalty right on halfway.

This time the Italians will line up a shot at goal. If this goes over it would mean two scores for Scotland to return to the lead.

50'

Injury break

An injury break here as Itay’s number 5, Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, is tended to.

Scotland have some work to do if they are to come back into this match – Italy have looked the stronger of the two sides so far this half.

Let’s hope this batch of substitutes make an immediate impact.

48'

First set of subs for Scotland

Charlie Moss and Christian Lindsay leave the field for the home side, with OIi Duncan and Bart Godsell replacing them in the scrum.

Noah Cowan also comes off for Hector Patterson in scrum half.

44'

Try Italy!

Another overthrown lineout and Italy make Scotland pay this time.

An intricately worked break by Jules Ducros saw him beat three Scots before throwing the ball inside to Antony Italo Miranda who handed it off to scrum half Niccolo Beni. Beni crossed over untouched and Italy extend their lead.

The conversion couldn’t be made by Fasti.

41'

Early jitters

It starts with an overthown lineout from Scotland and Italy are on the front foot, bustling up the field.

In a case of de ja vu though, Italy look for a 50-22 but it’s out on the full and Scotland have a throw back near halfway.

41'

Back underway at Hive!

Urwin has stepped up and started us off again at Hive. Scotland have been impressive in the first half – it was a freak try that sets them behind at the break.

What can they do in the second stanza to fight back?

HT

Half time: Scotland 5 – 7 Italy

That brings in the half time whistle, as the final few minutes were scrappy with neither side gaining a huge amount of momentum.

The Italian fans behind the benches have been a highlight with their passion.

30'

Italy strike back!

An intercept! And Italy are away and under the posts.

It all came from a Scotland input to a scrum on halfway, and as the ball was spun into the wide channels, Zanandrea knicked the ball right from under Fergus Watson’s nose and galloped away to score under the posts.

Fasti adds the extras to put the visitors in front, and the crowd is in shock as to how that happened so quickly.

27'

Penalties piling up against Scotland

Italy have won a couple of penalties on the bounce and have looked over the chance to take a shot at goal, opting instead for the corner.

A really promising drive at the line from the subsequent lineout is quashed as the referee awards a goal-line dropout to the defenders.

24'

Gaps are opening for the Scots

Another penalty given away by Italy sees a bursting break from a lineout from Oli McKenna. The ball is spun through the hands and the hands are good as the phases pile up.

Unfortunately for Scotland, they’ve held on too long in the ruck and are penalised, giving Italy a chance to clear. But it doesn’t go out!

The Scots run it back before an attempted chip and chase falls into Italian arms.

21'

A see-sawing game

A period of pressure this time from the visitors sees a nice line break from Jules Ducros, ducking under two would-be tacklers and reaching halfway.

The attack looks promising but the ball travels forward as it’s flung toward the left wing and the referee brings play back. Scotland ball.

15'

A view on Billy Allen’s try – the first for Scotland

15'

First points to Scotland!

Another infringement in midfield from Italy gives the home side another kick firmly into the opposition 22.

The throw is good and the maul is even better. Under penalty advantage, the pick and goes come, and the try is credited to flanker Billy Allen!

Urwin hacks it towards the posts, but it goes astray.

14'

A taste of the action after 14 minutes

11'

Small margins in defence

A kicking error from Urwin sees a clearance kick sail into touch on the full. Italy win their throw and drive into Scotland’s 22.

Italy piles on the pressure but infringe at their own breakdown – coming in from the side – and Scotland are let off the hook to clear their lines.

8'

Scotland penalised for hanging on

After another promising period of ball in hand, Kerr Yule is pinged for hanging on to the ball in the midfield.

Now it’s the home side’s turn to defend a lineout on their 22.

Federico Zanandrea hits the line at pace and almost breaks through, but a hoard of Scottish defenders hold the tackle up and the ball is Scotland’s once again. Great defence.

5'

Period of pressure from Scotland

After a settling period, the Scots thought they were away down the right wing, but referee Sara Cox brings play back to the Italian 22 due to a Scottish knock on.

The early signs and intentions are good from the home side.

2'

Italy get their hands on the ball via a scrum

Lineout goes Scotland’s way, and another penalty for not rolling away and Matthew Urwin takes another opportunity to launch it towards the 22.

The resulting lineout this time though isn’t straight and Italy goes unpunished for now.

1'

Game underway and a Scottish penalty

Roberto Fasti gets us underway and it’s safely brought down by fullback Jack Brown.

He’s taken in the air and the Scots win an immediate penalty, taking the opportunity to boot the ball to halfway for the game’s first lineout.

1'

We’re underway (almost)

That’s it – anthems sang, and Italy will kick off towards the Riverside end.