Scotland A made it three Netherdale wins out of three for the season on Friday night, overcoming both Italy A and the most challenging of playing conditions to complete a fine clean sweep for the campaign. An early try from Ryan Grant, later voted man of the match for a convincing display in the tight, set the Scots on their way, and although they were forced to endure long periods of pressure from the Azzurri, Nick Scrivener’s troops never lost their nerve or their composure. Scotland A made it three Netherdale wins out of three for the season on Friday night, overcoming both Italy A and the most challenging of playing conditions to complete a fine clean sweep for the campaign. An early try from Ryan Grant, later voted man of the match for a convincing display in the tight, set the Scots on their way, and although they were forced to endure long periods of pressure from the Azzurri, Nick Scrivener’s troops never lost their nerve or their composure. They left the field drenched but delighted, their satisfaction augmented by the fact that each of this season’s successes has been unique in terms of its nature and foundations. Friday’s game was always going to be a battle, and Scotland A were up for the fight. Referee Mathieu Reynal passed the pitch playable shortly after his arrival at the ground at 6pm, but there was little doubt that overhead and underfoot conditions remained tough beyond belief for the players. Twenty four hours of almost incessant rain and wind had taken their toll on the surface, hampering even the best efforts of Scottish Rugby and Gala RFC staff to limit their effects. It wasn’t a night for even the vaguest expansive thought to enter the players’ heads, and Scotland A duly kept it tight in the opening quarter, testing the Italian defence with a series of close-quarters drives that sapped the life out of the visitors while giving a soaked but vocal home crowd something to get excited about. A series of penalties were won over in the left corner as Italy A repeatedly infringed at the breakdown, and Reynal eventually lost patience, sending skipper Antonio Pavanello to the sin-bin. His opposite number, Scotland A captain Greig Laidlaw, proceeded to immediately rub salt into the wound, taking a quick tap penalty before feeding Grant to dive over in the cornerFirst try for prop Ryan Grant It was the prop’s first try for Scotland A, on his second appearance. His debut, incidentally, came against the same opponents in 2007. David Blair didn’t land the conversion, but the stand-off soon had another shot at goal as Italy were caught offside in the aftermath of a fine Tom Ryder carry. Blair was in no mood to pass up the opportunity and duly put the Scots 8-0 up. Italy A did have the chance to cut the deficit in the 22nd minute, the hosts pulled up for not rolling away in midfield, but fly-half Riccardo Bocchino’s effort always looked undercooked and drifted wide of the uprights. The Aironi player’s aim was better at his next attempt (Reynal having decided that Scotland were guilty of using hands in the ruck), but to his immense misfortune, the ball dipped at the last moment and bounced insultingly off the crossbar. It was the Scots’ turn to defend now, and in an unfortunate piece of symmetry, they also suffered a yellow card, lock Fraser McKenzie pulled up for a mysterious ruck offence that prompted Reynal to once more go to his pocket. The Italians continued to enjoy the best of the territory and possession in the period immediately before the interval, but struggled to cause the Scots any real problems until a series of powerful scrums right on the half-time whistle ended with Scott Lawson becoming the third man to visit the sin-bin after he was adjudged to have collapsed a set-piece. Relief spread round Netherdale as, despite only having seven men in the scrum, Scotland A won a penalty at the next coming together of the front rows and ended the half still to concede any points. Half-time Scotland A 8 – 0 Italy A The home side began the second period in positive fashion, Blair cracking over another penalty after the Azzurri were found guilty of sticking a hand into a ruck. There was, however, a quick resumption of the previous pattern of endless set-pieces and Italian pressure, and eventually the visitors got themselves on the scoreboard, Scotland A penalised for a dropped bind in the scrum leaving substitute Andrea Marcato with the simple task of sending the ball between the sticks from a position right in front of them. The Italians continued to channel their intent through the scrum and driven lineout, drawing yet another yellow card as reward when Geoff Cross brought down the set-piece to Reynal’s instant chagrin. Kyle Traynor came on at loosehead (back-rower Johnnie Beattie being sacrificed), while Grant switched to prop on the other side. Italy A had the scent of a score in their nostrils by this stage, and launched a menacing series of pick and goes right on the Scottish line. The passage concluded with the visitors bundling over the whitewash, only for the referee to rule that they had been held up. This was the closest shave that the Scots were required to survive. Another deserved win for a side who have risen to every challenge that has come their way over the last three months. Scotland A J Cuthbert; L Jones, A Grove, J Houston, S Danielli; D Blair, G Laidlaw (captain); Ryan Grant, S Lawson, G Cross, T Ryder, F McKenzie, S McInally, J Beattie, A MacDonald Scotland A substitutions: Lawrie for McInally (39-49), Traynor for Beattie (56-66), O’Hare for Danielli (63min), Lawrie for Lawson (66), Roddy Grant for MacDonald (66), Hamilton for McKenzie (73) Tries: Ryan Grant 11 Pens: Blair 18, 44 Yellow cards: McKenzie 27, Lawson 39, Cross 56 Itlay A P Buso; M Toniolatti, A Pratichetti, M Pratichetti, M Sepe; R Bocchino, F Semenzato; M Rizzo, F Sbaraglini, L Cittadini, J Furno, M Bortolami, L Petillo, A Pavanello, F Minto Italy A substitutions: Marcato for Bocchino 43, Tebaldi for Semenzato 48, Padro’ for Minto 70, Pavan for Sepe 71 Pen: Marcato 50 Yellow card: Pavanello 11 Man of the Match: Ryan Grant (Scotland A)