Fent scored twice in the first half, which ended with her side 24-0 to the good, but Scotland roared back after the break and twice got to within seven points of their visitors.

Italy held firm, however, with Fent completing her treble before Nicole Mastrangelo finished the job late on.

Both these sides were winless in their first two matches and it was Le Azzurre who began on top, making numerous inroads deep into Scottish territory.

An early lineout five metres out was overthrown and solid Scottish defence saw the hosts earn a vital turnover before Laura Foscato had the ball ripped from her as she charged towards the line.

The pressure paid off in the 15th minute, however, as Martina Busana came off her wing and set up Matilde Cecati, who burst through and dotted down under the posts.

Busana converted and Italy were straight back on the front foot, though they were again frustrated by a determined home backline with Freya MacColl and Lisa Brown both making decisive last-ditch tackles.

There was no stopping Fent, though, when she picked up possession a couple of metres out in the 27th minute and crashed through Cat Moody’s tackle to open her account.

Busana converted again before slotting over a penalty to make it 17-0, and there was still time for more before the first half was done.

Scotland were architects of their own downfall as, with the clock in the red, they attempted a tap penalty inside their own 22 before giving away a penalty in contact. Italy went to the corner and Fent found the finishing touch.

Scotland came out firing after the restart and got back into it when Brown crossed in the corner following great work from centres Nicole Flynn and Lucy MacRae.

Italy then lost Mastrangelo to the sin-bin for cynically collapsing a maul and Scotland took advantage, Scarlett Down crossing to reduce the deficit to 24-12.

Le Azzurre made their way back into the Scottish 22 but spurned the opportunity to restore a cushion when a lineout was thrown in not straight.

Scotland made them pay almost immediately. Replacement second row Charlotte Russell made the initial break, Flynn continued the momentum and Brown was again on hand to finish the job.

Fent settled any Italian nerves by completing her hat-trick, the visiting pack again showing their power, but Scotland’s forwards were not to be outdone. They made it a seven-point game once more when Talei Tawake crashed over after the hosts won a penalty at the scrum against the head.

Any hopes of a stirring fightback were dashed by Mastrangelo, who found a gap and darted over to seal Italy’s success.