Rugby – 2017 Women’s RBS Six Nations

Scotland beat Italy to make it two from five in Six Nations

Scotland beat Italy at Broadwood on Friday night to make it two wins from five – the first time since 2006 the women have won two matches in the Championship and their first win over Italy since 2009.

Despite their massive defeat by England last time out, the Scots were confident going into this match after their recent win over Wales, but, just as in the Wales match, the weather turned foul and made handling a bit of a lottery at times.

However, it was the visiting side who mastered the bar of soap masquerading as a ball first and, with a pack which was to prove dominant the whole match, they scored the first two tries.

The first came from a rolling maul set up of the top of a penalty line out which drove over the Scots’ line in the left corner to score, hooker Melissa Betoni coming up with the ball. Stand off, Michela Sillari, then converted for 7-0 after 11 minutes.

The second Italian try was almost a carbon copy in the right hand corner, Betoni scoring that one also. However, Sillari missed, what was to be, the crucial conversion for 12-0 after 17 minutes.

Up to this time Scotland had been pressurised by the opposition into making errors and giving away too many penalties, but, as the second quarter opened, the Scots started to come into their own.

The first Scottish try started from a powerful carry up the centre of the pitch by centre, Lisa Thomson, who, breaking tackles on her way, penetrated deep into the opposition half, then kicked over the top for full back Chloe Rollie to run onto and carry through to score in the right corner. Hooker, Lana Skeldon, then stepped up to attempt the touch line conversion, and stuck the ball neatly between the posts for 7-0, puting to bed the ‘women can’t kick’ myth for the present, at least.

Eight minutes later, as the 40 minute mark approached, Scotland were encamped on the Italian five-metre line following a string of penalties. As the clock carried on into over time, the ball was whipped across the pitch, outgunning the defence, to Rollie on the opposite wing and the No. 15 launched over the line for her, and Scotland’s, second try. However, she had left Skeldon with another touch line conversion to have a go at, but nothing daunted, the crowd saw the ball bisect the uprights for 14-12, a lead that the home side were to retain and a myth, well and truly, put to bed.

The second half was a far different affair from the first with play getting bogged down for long periods on one area of the pitch or another, but, with around 15 minutes to play, Scotland started to gain dominance in field position and, despite the odd handling error or penalty, pretty much kept the visitors pinned into their half.

With two minutes to go, Scotland were awarded a vital penalty scrum for an infringement by Italy. With the ball won, all the home side had to do was retain possession for a minute, or so, before Lisa Martin launched the ball into the stands to bring about that second, welcome victory and, once again, Rollie was awarded with the Player-of-the-Match award – no doubt her two tries making it an easier decision.

Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.