Report: Scotland U21 22-34 Italy U21
10 May 2026Scotland Women U21's Six Nations U21 Women's Series campaign ended with a home defeat to Italy despite a brave and determined second half resurgence.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - MAY 10: Scotland's Scarlet Down celebrates after scoring a try during a Women's Under-21 Six Nations match between Scotland and Italy at the Hive Stadium, on May 10, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) Down 24-0 at the break, a double from Lucy Brown alongside scores from Scarlet Down and Talei Tawake left Scotland needing a converted score for a draw in the dying seconds, but it was Italy who scored at the death to extend their lead.
There was early trouble for Scotland as Italy quickly recovered possession after a loose lineout and Francesca Andreoli smashed over the try line, but she was held up by full-back Freya MacColl.
The Italians drew close to scoring in the 12th minute, but a rip from prop Poppy Fletcher came at just the right time. After Italy won a jackal penalty and kicked for touch, the Italian maul drew in the Scots and the ball was then fired through the hands into centre Matilde Cecati, who pierced the defence and finally got Italy’s first. (0-7, 16 Mins)
This was Scotland’s chance to reset and play some rugby outside of their own 22, but strong work from the Italians saw play return to where it had featured highly in the first 15 minutes.
In the 24th minute, a great run from MacColl through a fractured Italian kick-chase defence had Scotland through. She found Fletcher, but her pass went to ground and Italy were able to recover.
Cecati led the Italians back into Scotland’s 22 with a great run and they started hitting the phases hard just meters away from Scotland’s try line. It was hooker Silvia Fent who barrelled over for Italy’s second. (0-14, 28 Mins)
Italy won another jackal penalty in front of Scotland’s sticks and with an easy shot, Martina Busana stepped up. (0-17, 33 Mins)
Italy got a 5 meter lineout with the clock in the red and the maul was driven by cries of Italia from the stands, and Fent grounded the ball for her second. (0-24, 40 Mins)
Half Time: Scotland Women U21 0–24 Italy Women U21
Some changes early in the second half shifted momentum, and in the 49th minute Scotland found their first score. Lisa Brown was the one to finish in the left corner, but some great passing and line breaks from centre partners Nicole Flynn and Lucy MacRae set up the try as they battled through several tacklers. (7-24, 50 Mins)
Defending their try line, Nicole Mastrangelo received a yellow card for collapsing the driving Scottish maul.
Scotland had found their groove, and with the player advantage it was easy enough to whittle down the Italian defence through the phases, inching ever closer to another score and this time it was Scarlet Down who had the honours of placing the ball over the line. (12-24, 57 Mins)
As the game entered the final twenty minutes Italy were looking threatening once again but a skew lineout throw saw possession back in Scottish hands and that was all they needed. Some great runs from the backs and a a nice inside step from Charlotte Russell had Scotland through, and the replacement second row found Flynn who in turn offloaded to Brown to score another try in the corner, with Scotland really seizing all their chances while a player up. (17-24, 63 mins)
Back at full strength Italy rallied, pushing the back to defend their try line once more with 14 minutes to play. A lineout just ten meters from the try line gave Italy the perfect platform to rebuild a buffer, and Silivia Fent popped out of the back of the maul to score another in her final play before coming off. (17-29, 69 Mins)
Scotland were still finding cracks in the Italy defence, and after a penalty within the visitors’ 22 was taken quickly, there was nothing the Italian defence could do to stop Talei Tawake as she darted over the line to bring Scotland within a score with just five minutes to play. (22-29, 75 Mins)
Scotland were then pushed back into their half and quick hands after a tapped scrum penalty saw Matilde Cecati flying towards the Scottish try line. She was brought down but the Italians overwhelm the defence with captain Nicole Mastrangelo grounding the final try of the game. (22-34, 79 Mins)
With less than a minute left and Scotland kicking back to Italy, it was just a matter of waiting for the clock to tick down and the visiting side kicked it out to end what ended up being a very competitive game.
Full Time: Scotland Women U21 22–34 Italy Women U21
Scotland U21: 15. Freya MacColl 14. Scarlett Haddow 13. Nicole Flynn 12. Lucy MacRae 11. Lisa Brown 10. Poppy Mellanby 9. Ceitidh Ainsworth 1. Poppy Fletcher 2. Megan Hyland (c) 3. Imogen Spence 4. Ailsa Merryweather 5. Gemma Thomson 6. Scarlett Down 7. Isobel Twigger 8. Cat Moody
Replacements: 16. Aila Ronald 17. Talei Tawake 18. Faye Sutherland 19. Charlotte Russell 20. Merryn Gunderson 21. Rianna Darroch 22. Hannah Ramsay 23. Emily Love
Italy U21: 15. Kristina Kone 14. Martina Busana 13. Matilde Cecati 12. Teresa Sofia Blaskovic 11. Mihaela Pirpiliu 10. Vittoria Zeni 9. Nicole Mastrangelo (c) 1. Angelica Cittandini 2. Silvia Fent 3. Allesia Skeates 4. Francesca Andreoli 5. Margherita Carraro 6. Greta Copat 7. Diana Di Franco 8. Sofia Giacomini
Replacements: 16. Elisa Burchielli 17. Laura Foscata 18. Alice Fortuna 19. Cecilia Staffogia 20. Zoe Masi 21. Lucie Moioli 22. Lavinia Pratichetti 23. Lara Petretti
Referee: Emily Hope (RFU)
Player of the Match: Matilde Cecati (Italy)
