Report: Italy U18 23-19 Scotland U18

Having been 23-0 down at one stage, scores from Alexander Sneddon and James Dalrymple got them back in it before Ruaridh Law added another with the final play.

It was Italy who got on the board first in the Vichy sunshine, with Scotland penalised in midfield and Alderighi kicking the points from inside the 22. (3-0, 5 mins)

Alderighi soon went for the posts again from even closer in, and the outcome was the same to double their advantage. (6-0, 9 mins)

The next penalty was kicked to the corner, and a couple of phases from the forwards saw Refrigeri keep his cool from close range and wrestle over. Alderighi converted. (13-0, 16 mins)

A second try came on the breakaway, with the counter-ruck getting Italy the ball back and Negri racing down the left to score. (18-0, 21 mins)

Italy continued to attack, and Oscar Harrison noticed an unmarked blindside on the left wing to coast in untouched from a few metres out. (23-0, 29 mins)

Scotland hit back and got their first points on the board. A lovely backs move from a scrum saw Ben McDonald find Alexander Sneddon in acres of space to go under the posts. He converted his own score. (23-7, 32 mins)

Half time: Italy U18 23-7 Scotland U18

Scotland had got all the way to five metres out at the start of the second half, but lost the ball and Italy went all the way up the other end before Scotland recovered. But the try for Scotland did come, through captain James Dalrymple who forced his way over from inches short. Sneddon converted. (23-14, 47 mins)

Several more times Scotland made their way deep into Italy’s 22, but through knock ons or turnovers the try that would put them right back into the game continued to elude them.

The Scottish backs did manage to engineer a final chance, with Sneddon breaking up the left and winning a penalty. It went to the corner, and though the forwards couldn’t get there, the backs took it to the right wing where Ruaridh Law went over in the corner. But there was no time for the restart, and Scotland’s comeback fell short.

Full time: Italy U18 23-19 Scotland U18

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Head Coach Ross Miller said: “We created opportunities in the first half but we made errors that gave them tries and our discipline let us down. I think the boys are learning a lot about the physicality, speed and the decision making needed at this level.

“In the second half we made a lot more opportunities and we left a few scores out there to be honest. Angus Robson came on and changed the momentum, and I thought Hamish Mather on his Scotland U18 debut competed really well. Ben McDonald was really good again.

“Italy did a really good job of disrupting our breakdown and they got their rewards. We need to be more consistent in that area at this level.”

Italy U18: 15. Edoardo Vallerini 14. Ernesto Martinez Barajas 13. Michele Negri 12. Giacomo Falcetto – Captain 11. Diego Ferrazzi 10. Francesco Alderighi 9. Oscar Harrison 1. Alessandro Refrigeri 2. Simone Pe 3. Riccardo Sanchez 4. Simone Invernizzi 5. Christian Germano 6. Matteo Sebastiani 7. Pietro Colla 8. Adam Hajraoui

Replacements: 16. Alberto Cimino 17. Leon Bleta 18. Alex Anfosso 19. Dario Argenton 20. Matteo Rosi 21. Mattia Andretti 22. Marco Bragagnolo 23. Gianmarco di Nicola 24. Leonardo Mancini 25. Alessandro Mesaglio 26. Edoardo Berchiolli

Scotland U18: 15. Alexander Sneddon 14. Samuela Lawaci 13. Ben McDonald 12. Finlay Anderson 11. Murray Waugh 10. Lochlan Glackin 9. Coel Pettet 1. Michael Scarth 2. Jack Nesbitt 3. Archie Smellie 4. James Dalyrymple – Captain 5. Oliver Richardson 6. Hamish Mather 7. Bradley Bohmer 8. Rory Baxter

Replacements: 16. James Roberts 17. Zak Burgess 18. Cooper Simpson 19. Daniel Shellard 20. Angus Abel 21. Rowan Walsh 22. Olly McKenzie 23. Angus Robson 24. Charlie Robbie 25. Ruaridh Law 26. Rhuari Hill