Italy claimed their second win of the 2022 Six Nations Under 20s with a dominant performance over Scotland in Treviso that saw them run out 27-13 winners.
Two tries from Giacomo Ferrari and another from Francois Carlo Mey put the hosts in control against a Scotland side that struggled to get a foothold in the game.
Italy’s forwards were impressive throughout and were able to consistently dominate set-pieces to give their side a base from which to play.
Both sides were guilty of a number of unforced errors in a tie that became scrappy at times, but the hosts were more than good value for their win that brings them up to third in the standings ahead of their final match against Wales.
ITALY TAKE EARLY LEAD
Italy opened the scoring with the first play of the game, skipper Ferrari going over at the back of a maul with just three minutes on the clock.
The hosts had forced an early penalty from a scrum and kicked into the corner from which they were able to drive the ball over the line with their impressive forward pack to race into a 7-0 lead.
Scotland struck back quickly as a good period of possession gave full back Robin McClintock a chance to slot over three points from close range.
The visitors then saw more and more of the ball but it was Italy that then had the next best chance, a kick over the top from Italy was spilled by McClintock and Ross Vintcent raced through before Scotland could scramble their defence just in time.
Scotland saw plenty of ball in the first quarter but were often frantic and scruffy with the ball in hand as the pressure of the often imperious Italy defence took its toll.
The visitors were then presented with a chance to build an attack after Filippo Lazzarin was penalised for a late hit on McClintock but Italy were able to steal the resulting lineout.
It was something that became a recurring theme for Kenny Murray’s men as Italy were consistently able to disrupt Scotland’s set-pieces, notably at the lineout with a number being stolen by Italy.
And it was Italy who finished the half strongest and they got their reward as Mey broke the line and beat McClintock to go over after the ball was once again spread wide right by the hosts to put the hosts into a 17-6 lead as Giovanni Sante added the extras.
Italy thought they had a third try as Rizzoli powered over from another lineout maul, only for the Capitoline man to be denied by a Scottish boot holding the ball up.
ITALY’S FORWARDS DOMINATE
The second half started as the first ended as the hosts continued to see most of the ball, consistently creating rolling mauls from lineouts that carried Italy up the pitch.
They got their third try after 53 minutes, Ferrari going over for his second after the ball squirmed loose from a Scotland scrum to extend the lead to 27-6.
Italy continued to exert dominance, particularly at set-pieces with Scotland consistently penalised at scrums, and lineouts regularly turned into dangerous rolling mauls.
Mey once again waltzed through the Scotland defence only for the move to break down deep in Scotland territory after the ball was knocked on.
Scotland began to work themselves back into the game with an hour on the clock and looked to have got their first try after 64 minutes when Jed Gelderbloom forced the ball over only for it to slip out his hands centimetres from the line.
Their efforts were finally rewarded at the death as Josh Taylor went over the line with the clock in the red after good pressure from Scotland but it was not enough to prevent a deserved victory for the hosts.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Giacomo Ferrari was named as the Player of the Match after a dominant performance from the Italy captain.
Ferrari helped himself to two tries and was expertly led his impressive forward pack in both attack and defence.
