Italy and France unbeaten in Summer Series

Ireland 37 Scotland 7

Beth Buttimer’s double led Ireland to their first win of the Six Nations Women’s Summer Series as Scotland were beaten 37-7 in Parma.

The hooker’s second half brace saw Ireland pull away after an evenly-matched first period ended 13-7 in their favour, Sophie Barrett crossing early and Kate Flannery’s boot adding to the lead before Lucia Scott’s try put Scotland back in it heading into the break.

There was no stopping Buttimer after the interval and she crossed for two close-range tries either side of scores from Eadaoin Murtagh and Hannah Wilson.

Ireland finish the competition with a victory and two defeats from their three games, while Scotland return from Parma winless.

Ireland started on top and were ahead inside six minutes when prop Sophie Barrett powered over from close range for a score converted by Flannery.

Scotland responded well and enjoyed a couple of visits to the Irish 22 without success, Eilidh Fleming benefiting from an Ireland overthrow to make good ground before Ceitidh Ainsworth shimmied her way through only for her side to be penalised at the breakdown.

Ireland thought they had a second try when Clara Barrett collected Flannery’s long, looping pass and finished in the left corner but the pass was ruled to be forward. With a penalty advantage in their pocket, Ireland went for a tap and go but their pack were held up over the line by dogged Scottish defence.

Two Flannery penalties extended Ireland’s advantage to 13-0 either side of superb defence from captain Jane Neill, who got a hand underneath the ball to keep Scotland at bay when Gemma Bell powered over the line.

Both sides lost players to injuries in an elongated first half, Ainsworth departing for Scotland and Kelly Burke for Ireland, and both sides were held up over the line again before the whistle was blown.

Scotland were not to be denied in the final action of the half, however. A quick tap from a penalty saw the pack unable to find a way through but when the ball went through the hands, Lucia Scott was on hand to apply the finish following a neat step inside.

The second half began with Ireland on the front foot and Scotland needed to defend for their lives to keep them out initially, holding their opponents out under the posts in the 44th minute.

But Claire Cruikshank’s side missed an opportunity to clear their lines and gain field position when a lineout was knocked on inside their own 22 and Ireland made them pay when Murtagh dotted down following a catch and drive.

Buttimer stretched the lead shortly afterwards as Ireland’s pack turned the screw and she was at it again to complete a quickfire double, finding a gap in a mass of bodies to make the game safe.

Scotland were reduced to 14 players in the closing stages following a yellow card and Ireland made their numerical advantage count when Wilson spun and touched down to the right of posts with seven minutes to play.

Ellen O’Sullivan-Sexton added the extras to put the finishing touches to an impressive Irish display and ensure they ended their time in Italy on a high.

Italy 33 Wales 19

Italy produced a stirring second-half comeback against Wales to finish their Women’s Summer Series campaign with a 33-19 win.

The result means that Diego Sacca’s have enjoyed an unbeaten campaign in Parma after previously registering wins against Scotland and Ireland.

Tries rained in from Elena Errichiello, Vittoria Zanette, Alia Bitonci, Desiree Spinelli and Greta Copat in the comprehensive win.

But while Italy concluded the fixture as victors, it was Liza Burgess’ Wales who entered half-time as the happiest, leading 14-5.

Repelling wave after wave of Italian attacks in the opening exchanges, Wales reaped the rewards for their steadfast defence when Maisie Davies crashed over the whitewash in the 19th minute.

Opting to tap and go after a high tackle, red jerseys poured toward the Italy try line and Davies made the most of her team’s momentum to burrow over from close range and break the deadlock.

The loosehead prop was among the tries again just seven minutes later, where a knock-on from full-back Rubina Grassi again handed Wales good territory.

Moving the ball from right to left, a strong carry from Kelsie Webster kept the move alive for her side, with Davies on hand to finish off the ambitious piece of play.

Frustrated by having not made the most of their early dominance, Italy turned their attentions to getting on the scoreboard before half-time.

With three minutes left to play of the half they finally get their first try of the match.

Minutes after being held up over the line, the hosts found a way over the whitewash through Errichiello, who also went low to dot down.

Emboldened by Errichiello’s score on the brink of the break, Italy came out for the second half as an entirely different proposition.

Smothering their opponents, Zanette scored her third try in as many matches 50 minutes in.

Alia Bitonci’s 56th minute score handed Italy the lead for the first time in the match.

Benefitting from a hard carry from inside centre Giada Corradini, the scrum-half picked from the base of the ruck before getting the ball across the try line in contact.

To deliver a hammer blow to Wales’ hopes of a comeback, Spinelli extended Italy’s lead to 12 points.

Constantly knocking on the door of the try line with five minutes of lung-searing pick and go’s, when Wales failed to roll away Bitonci tapped the ball quickly and distributed to her right, with the replacement hooker the beneficiary of her half-back’s quick thinking.

As the clock ticked towards full-time Wales looked to break the run of unanswered points and bring themselves within one converted try.

After several misfires, Nel Metcalfe was sent over on the right wing after regathering the ball from a fumbled lineout drive.

Failing to add the conversion, Welsh hopes of a draw were dashed when Italy took the ball back from the restart and marched beneath the posts to score through Copat.

France 72 England 21

Kelly Arbey's superb hat-trick for France helped her team to a 72-21 win over England.

France scored 11 tries through eight players over the course of 80 minutes to finish their Women’s Summer Series with a clean sweep.

Previously beating Wales and Scotland in Parma, the side had to recover from a slow start which saw England open the scoring in the fourth minute.

Steph Else was the scorer, the Gloucester-Hartpury back-row forward powering across the whitewash moments after her offload helped Jorja Battishill get inches out.

That lead did not stand the test of time.

As has been the case throughout Summer Series, France’s potent backline produced the goods yet again from the back of a steady scrum.

Enoe Neri’s leg drive through contact helped the centre break free before offloading to midfield partner Hawa Tounkara to dot down unopposed.

With honours even again the two teams went back to testing one another’s defences.

Having gone behind early, France began building a commanding lead at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi when Marie Morland latched onto a stray Millie Hyett pass in midfield and charge across the try line.

France extended their lead with a free-flowing score for full-back Arbey, although England hit back when Niamh Swailes benefitted from a strong lineout maul.

On the stroke of half-time France scored their fourth of the night in Parma three minutes after Mae Levy kept the scoreline ticking with a well-struck penalty.

It was a score made by scrum-half Eneka Labeyrie. Surging up the pitch, French possession landed the side within five metres.

As England set their defence, the half-back spotted Suliana Sivi unmarked and fizzed the ball wide for the wing to score.

That quick thinking was not in short supply as the game resumed after the break.

Within a minute Cleo Hagel had broken down the right flank as the scrum provided stable foundations to launch an attack.

In the next 20 minutes France created an unassailable lead for England to chase.

Labeyrie crossed the try line after combining with the uncatchable Sivi, who added a second to her personal tally just two minutes later with another scything run down the left touchline.

To continue their dominance France’s Marion Zdzioblo made the most of a series of hard carries to score beneath the posts.

England did not kick the resulting restart 10 metres and were left reeling from that error when the scrum provided the launchpad for Arbey to score her second.

Arbey registered her hat-trick nine minutes later, while Anna De Almeida kept the scoreboard ticking over as England’s defence failed to deal with the pace at which their opponents were playing.

The replacement scrum-half’s score proved to be France’s final of the game, while England concluded their time in Italy with a try for replacement hooker Lucy Calladine from the back of another strong set-piece drive.