Italy Under-20s 16 - 18 Scotland Under-20s: Try trio gives young Scots landmark win

SCOTLAND celebrated a double achievement yesterday in the Sardinian town of Capoterra after a first win in this season's Six Nations Under-20 Championship and a first victory away from home since the competition moved to this age level three years ago.

The Scots showed huge character in hitting back after trailing 13-16 early in the second half to dominate the final quarter and seize victory with a spectacular late try from Alex Blair.

For the closing stages, coach Eamon John moved Blair to outside centre and brought Currie's Matthew Scott from the bench to the stand-off position while shifting Alex Black to scrum-half in place of Kris Hamilton.

"We were trailing and needed confidence and composure in the final quarter. Matthew provided that and Alex Blair gave us flair," said John, who was pleased with the improvements in a number of areas of the Scots' game.

"We dominated the line-out with great work from Rob Harley and Stuart McInally at the back. I thought, too, that our scrum did well," added John.

"Overall it was a great performance by the boys in front of a massive crowd in what was an intimidating environment."

The only weakness in the Scottish performance was the goal-kicking, where three conversion attempts and one penalty shot went wide of the posts.

Scotland made a profitable start to the game by gaining territory and then driving a line-out in the corner to create an unconverted try for the Hawick loosehead prop Nicky Little.

The Scots' lead, however, was quickly reduced by a penalty goal from Italy's stand-off Tommaso Ianonne.

The Scots were unlucky to lose the Heriot's lock Matthew Reid with an injury in the first quarter, but replacement Aaron Hall, the former Berwick player now with Newcastle Falcons, gave useful added bulk to the Scotland pack.

The Scots continued to look dangerous in attack and struck again, this time working the narrow side with precision to set up a try for Currie winger, Doug Fife.

Again Italy replied with an Iannone penalty goal but in the second minute of first half injury time Ollie Grove struck a penalty goal that gave Scotland a 13-6 interval advantage and was ultimately to prove crucial.

Italy stepped up their effort in the third quarter and came back into the game with a try under the posts by scrum-half Edoardo Gori. Iannone slotted the conversion and his third penalty goal gave the Italians a 16-13 lead.

Then, with 13 minutes left in the match, Scotland moved the ball wide from the contact area to Blair, who showed exceptional one-on-one skills to round his opposite number and deliver the coup de grace.

Scorers

Italy Under-20s: Try: Gori. Con: Iannone. Pens: Iannone (3).

Scotland Under-20s: Tries: Little, Fife, Blair. Pen: Grove.

Italy Under-20s: R Trevisan; G Venditti, A Welcome, S Rodwell, G Alberghini; T Iannone, E Gori; C Fazzari, A Maniche, P Leso, E Targa, F Cazzola, Ferranini, V Callori, S Scanferla. Subs used: N Corbanese, O Gega, V Vignale, A Chillon.

Scotland Under-20s: T Brown; O Grove, J Kennedy, A Dunbar, D Fife; A Blair, K Hamilton; N Little, A Walker, C Philips, R Harley, M Reid, M Maltman, D Denton, S McInally (capt). Subs used: G Hunter, A Hall (Newcastle Falcons), A Black, M Scott (Currie).

Referee: D Bodily (Wales)