Rugby: MacDonald praised as Scots beat elements and Italians

The match was played in dreadful conditions and that ruled out any possibility of the flowing rugby the hosts had produced in their win over the Irish Wolfhounds at the same venue seven days earlier. However, the Scots - who had three players sin binned in the course of a game that became tousy at times - ground out the result that was their fourth consecutive success at A level.

While several players had staked a claim for promotion to Andy Robinson's full squad with their efforts the previous week, the puddles which formed in the middle of the pitch ruled out any hopes of an entertaining encounter.

Former Edinburgh prop Ryan Grant, who now plies his trade with Glasgow Warriors, rumbled over for a first half try after a quickly taken penalty and David Blair, stand-off with the Capital outfit, slotted a penalty either side of half time to edge the Scots into an 11-0 lead before Tito Tebaldi clawed back three points with a penalty that proved to be the final score.

Scrivener, who has stepped into the breach as Edinburgh head coach following Rob Moffat's dismissal this week, was happy with the defensive effort his men produced, saying: "There were a couple of key moments when the Italians were on our line and we repelled them and showed real character."

And praising MacDonald's efforts, which featured a crucial try saving contribution as Italy enjoyed a spell in the ascendancy, Scrivener added: "I thought he was at his abrasive best and had a real lot of fight in him."