Simone Gesi helped himself to a hat-trick as Emerging Italy got the better of Romania A 50-26 in a high-scoring affair in Parma.
The 20-year-old winger crossed twice in the first 17 minutes as Italy opened up an early 14-0 lead before completing his hat-trick with ten minutes to go.
The side coached by Alessandro Troncon ran in seven tries in total with hookers Giampietro Ribaldi and Vittorio Carnio both crossing as well as centre Giulio Bertaccini and back-rower Alessandro Izekor.
Troncon said of the win: “It’s an important sign of the increased depth at our disposal with players who could go on to wear the jersey for the senior side.”
Gesi, who was part of Italy’s Under-20s squad earlier this year, added: “We produced a great performance as a team. We were able to win by playing well and enjoying ourselves. The three tries are a personal satisfaction but the fundamental thing was to have won the game.”
Gesi made an immediate impact as Italy led 14-7 at half-time, Romania pulling back a try just before the break through Kamil Sobota.
However two tries in the space of three second-half minutes made the game comfortable for Italy as Ribaldi then Izekor went over, followed by a penalty from fly-half Giacomo Da Re, who kicked eight of his nine shots at goal.
Bertaccini was next to cross, before Sobota got a second for Romania, quickly followed by Gesi’s hat-trick.
Romania were dominating at scrum-time though, and earned a penalty try before Carnio went over at the death to seal the win.
