(Report from FIR) In the third round of the Six Nations, Italy women beat Scotland comprehensively and got their first two points of the tournament.
In Cumbernauld, a town close to Glasgow, the women's side secured victory thanks to a great deal of quality play and and lots of great handling which wore down the Scottish defence, who seemed constantly worn out by the fast moving game.
After just six minutes it was Maria Magatti who crashed over for the try after a move coming from a lineout. Veronica Schiavon kicked the conversion from a wide position to make it 7-0.
The second try was almost identical. Then on 14 minutes, from quick hands it was Manuela Furlan who accelerated and outran the Scottish opposition backs. Her try and the conversion from Schiavon made it 14-0.
It was only in the 23rd minute when Scottish centre Deans kicked a penalty that Scotland got their first points.
On 30 minutes Maria Magatti didn't let a chance to get her second try go begging.
Getting the ball out quickly, the ball was quickly got out to the wing, and the winger who used to play with Rugby Monza stepped her opposite number. Try on the touchline.
At the end of the first half the scoreboard at Braodwood Stadium showed 3-19 as Schiavon missed the conversion.
When action resumed under torrential rain, Italy gave away multiple penalties. On 44 minutes the referee showed a first yellow card to Flavia Severin and on 53 minutes it was Michaele Este's turn to spend ten minutes off the field.
Down on numbers (for two minutes they were even down to thirteen), Schiavon got Italy out of a dangerous situation, with Scotland pushing with the pack, looking for the try that would have opened the game up.
Veronica Schiavon ended the contest on 61 minutes with a crucial and stylish indsividual try. The try and subsequent conversion made it 3-26.
From seventy minutes, coach Andrea di Giandomenico rewarded his players by giving all of them the chance to get on the field to play a part in this precious win. In the 74th minute, from a maul on the Italian five metre line, it was Jade Konkel who scored for the hosts. 8-26.
But it wasn't finished.
From the subsequent restart, the ball went to the Italian backs, who attacked from their own half and it was Maria Grazia Cioffi who scored to make it 31-8 and to round off the match.
Italy coach Andrea di Giandomenico was satisfied - 'We're very happy with the result. We really finished off the opportunities we had in our wider game where there was a lot of space. Man marking was excellent and full credit to all the girls. Certainly when we challenged them in contact, we really paid the price for our indiscipline, with two yellow cards. But on the whole a great performance and a win which lifts morale for the rest of the tournament'
Scotland Women: 15 Chloe Rollie; 14 Hannah Sloan, 13 Hannah Smith, 12 Nuala Deans(P), 11 Abi Evans; 10 Lisa Martin, 9 Sarah Law; 1 Lisa Robertson, 2 Lana Skeldon, 3 Tracy Balmer; 4 Christianne Fahey, 5 Emma Wassell; 6 Rachael Cook, 7 Karen Dunbar, 8 Jade Konkel(T).
Bench: 16 Lindsey Smith, 17 Heather Lockhart, 18 Katie Dougan, 19 Deborah McCormack, 20 Lyndsay O'Donnell, 21 Mhairi Grieve, 22 Claire Bain, 23 Eilidh Sinclair.
Replacements used: McCormack for Fahey 41, Sinclair for Sloan 50, O'Donnell for Dunbar 61, Grieve for Law 61, Smith for Skeldon 66, Lockhart for Robertson 66, Bain for Deans 69, Dougan for Balmer 76.
Tries: 1 - Konkel. Kicking: Deans (Pens 1/2), Martin (Conv 0/1).
Italy Women: 15 Manuela Furlan(T); 14 Maria Magatti(2T), 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Maria Grazia Cioffi(T); 10 Veronica Schiavon(T/3C), 9 Sara Barattin; 1 Elisa Cucchiella, 2 Melissa Bettoni, 3 Lucia Gai; 4 Flavia Severin (sin bin 45- 55), 5 Alice Trevisan; 6 Michela Este (sin bin 53-63), 7 Elisa Giordano, 8 Silvia Gaudino.
Bench: 16 Lucia Cammarano, 17 Awa Coulibaly, 18 Ilaria Arrighetti, 19 Alessia Pantarotto, 20 Valentina Ruzza, 21 Paola Zangirolami, 22 Sofia Stefan, 23 Federica Cipolla.
Replacements used: Coulibaly for Cucchiella 57, Arrighetti for Este 63, Stefan for Furlan 63, Ruzza for Severin 68, Zangirolami for Rigoni 68, Cammarano for Bettoni 71, Pantarotto for Trevisan 78, Cipolla for Magarri 78.
Tries: 5 - Magatti (2), Furlan, Schiavon, Cioffi. Kicking: Schiavon (Conv 3/5).
Scoring sequence: 7' Magatti (T) 0-5, Schiavon (C) 0-7, 15' Furlan (T) 0-12, Schiavon (C) 0-14, 22' Deans (P) 3-14, 30' Magatti (T) 3-19, 61' Schiavon (T) 3-24, Schiavon (C) 3-26, 73' Konkel (T) 8-26, 75' Cioffi (T) 8-31.
Referee: Helen O'Reilly (Ireland).
