Tough first test for Scotland Women as Italy take the win

Scotland Women suffered a disappointing loss today in Calvisano in their opening Autumn Test match against Italy.

The Italian team utilised the advantage of a passionate home support right from kick-off to dominate the match.

The strong hosts succeeded in scoring two tries in the opening ten minutes. Scotland’s defence worked hard as they strived to hold a strong defensive line but Italy managed to push through.

The hosts put a further score on the board, before Scotland managed to get their attacking game going, with captain Lisa Thomson displaying some excellent footwork to charge down the wing, only to be halted by a last gasp tackle.

Winger Lauren Harris had Scotland’s only other attacking attempt of the first-half but came up just short, meaning Italy had registered 26 unanswered points in the opening 40 minutes of action.

Half-time: Italy Women 26-0 Scotland Women

Although the Scots upped their game in the second-half, displaying better attacking intent, they failed to convert opportunities created at the crucial moments of the game.

The introduction of fresh legs provided the wider squad with much needed match time against a clinical Italian side, and also ensured a better display.

The final whistle saw the score standing at 38-0, with impressive Italian outside-centre, Michela Sillarim, receiving the Player of the Match accolade.

Scotland welcomed three new caps with Lisa Cockburn, Lucy Winter and Rachel McLachlan all getting some valuable game time.

Reflecting on the score, Head Coach Shade Munro, said: “Italy played really well and the match shows us where we are ahead of our next Test.

“We never quite got into it but it was our first game of the season, so I don’t want to get too downhearted. It was a chance for some players to show us what they can do and some of them did.

“We are going to have to improve going into the Canada match. They are in the top fourof the world so we all know we will have to be much better than what we showed in today’s match. There will be no hiding place on November 27th.”

Scotland captain Lisa Thomson, added: “We know what we now need to work on. There were positives in there, we tried to play our game and we were still trying to play our game in the 80th minute. The next match is a few weeks away and we all need to turn up the intensity and push each other on and get excited ahead of Canada.”

Scotland Women will be playing against Canada on Tuesday 27 November at Scotstoun as part of the Celebration of Women and Girls Rugby. Tickets are currently on sale for this match which will follow the U18 and U15 Schools Cup Finals.

Photo credit: Mark Brown