Scotland Women notch try but lose out to Italy

At a bitterly cold Broadwood Stadium, Scotland Women lost 31-8 to Italy but managed to score their first try of the 2015 RBS 6 Nations.After going in at the break 19-3, the hosts showed plenty signs of promise throughout the match and recorded a try through Jade Konkel but couldn’t finish off other attacking moves. Afterwards, head coach Jules Maxton said: “It was disappointing to lose when we dominated possession but didn’t turn it into points.”The pleasing thing was that we managed to score our try and a penalty but for the number of times we were in their 22, we need to get over the line a little more.”We were really pleased to score the try and it shows what we’re capable of as we know we can do it. The next job is to now score more as we lacked composure in crucial moments.”Maxton made five changes to the starting line-up to take on Italy and after tasting defeats in their first two matches of the competition, Scotland looked to start brightly but were penned in their own half early on and conceded two tries within the first 15 minutes.Firstly Maria Magatti ran under the sticks after winning a penalty five metres from the whitewash before Furlan broke free seven minutes later to touch down as well. Both scores were converted.After 23 minutes, Scotland got on the scoresheet courtesy of a long-range kick from Nuala Deans.From the restart, Italy charged forward and it looked as though they would score in the left corner but Scotland were resilient and somehow held out.A lost line-out ball from a penalty proved to be their undoing though and the ball was quickly spread wide to the opposite flank where Magatti touched down for the second time in the afternoon.At the heart of Scotland’s attack was powerful prop, Lisa Robertson who proved to be a battering ram and was close to touching down in the final minute of the first period but wasn’t quite able to outstretch her arm.At half-time Scotland were behind 19-3.In the second half, Scotland started the brighter and Italy had two players sent to the sin-bin allowing the hosts to assert their dominance.The Broadwood crowd became loud and drove the women on but after a long period of attack, Deans skewed a penalty wide of the target.Scotland were ambitious in attack with Hannah Smith proving to be a shining light. After all their dominance, Italy rubbed salt in their wounds when they broke up the opposite end of the pitch and touched down through fly-half Sciavon who converted her score.As the game then edged to a close, Scotland searched desperately for the score they deserved and eventually crossed the whitewash when Jade Konkel surged over.From the resultant restart, Italy pushed for a final score and saw the game out in style, recorded a try through Magatti who secured her hat-trick.Scotland’s next match is in two weeks time when they play England away from home on Friday 13 March.Scotland: Chloe Rollie, Hannah Sloan, Hannah Smith, Nuala Deans, Abi Evans, Lisa Martin, Sarah Law, Lisa Robertson, Lana Skeldon, Tracy Balmer (capt) Christianne Fahey, Emma Wassell, Rachael Cook, Karen Dunbar, Jade Konkel.Replacements: Lindsey Smith, Heather Lockhart, Katie Dougan, Deborah McCormack, Lyndsay O’ Donnell, Mhairi Grieve, Claire Bain, Eilidh Sinclair.Italy: Manuela Furlan, Maria Grazia Cioffi, Michela Sillari, Beatrice Rigoni, Maria Magatti, Veronica Schiavon, Sara Barattin, Elisa Cucchiella, Melissa Bettoni, Lucia Gai, Flavia Severin, Alice Trevisan, Michela Este, Elisa Giordano, Silvia GaudinoReplacements: Lucia Cammarano, Awa Coulibaly, Ilaria Arrighetti, Alessia Pantarotto, Valentina Ruzza, Paola Zangirolami, Sofia Stefan, Federica Cipolla.Attendance: 550