Italy chalk up first win

The game was a familiar tale for Scotland this season so far, who played with real ambition and width but who were undone at the breakdown at vital times and struggled with their discipline back in their own 22.

Lisa Thompson ran some hard lines through the centre to put Italy under pressure early in the game but the Italians dominated the opening exchanges and scored through tight head prop Melissa Bettoni after turning down points at the post. The driving line out was following by some strong power plays by the Italian pack, marshalled well by Sara Barratin, and Scotland just couldn't hold out with Bettoni barrelling over.Scotland worked their way back into it with Jade Konkel and Lana Skeldon prominent with their ball carrying, but Italy’s jackal work at the breakdown made life difficult and they managed to haul themselves right back into Scotland's 22.

The points at the post were shunned again and justifiably as Italy worked their way closer to the line before spinning it wide and finding the other prop Elisa Cucchiella out wide who powered over. Veronica Schiavon hit the conversion and then landed a penalty when the referee had had enough of Scotland’s high penalty count and yellow carded scrum half Jennifer Maxwell and the half ended 15-0 to Italy.

Scotland needed to score first after the break but it was the excellent Manuela Furlan who was first over the try line with her finish alongside Schivaon’s kick making it 22-0.

Scotland hit back pretty quickly with Thompson, whose running was a danger all day, powering over and fending off a defender to score to make it 22-5 after an intercept.

Lana Skeldon, another of Scotland’s good ball carriers, made it 22-7 with the conversion.

Scotland then had a spell of dominance - with fullback Chloe Rolloe gaining good ground out wide before being hauled into touch and then winger Rhona Lloyd beating a few defenders. But Italy did enough in defence to hold onto what is a vital win in their effort to secure World Cup qualification.

They will be thrilled with their clinical edge either side of half time, with all three tries well taken.Shade Munro's Scotland team are a work in progress, and once again some of their attacking play was impressive. Their inability to hold onto the ball at key times will have frustrated, as arguably this game was much closer than the scoreline suggests. They are getting there.

Italy: 1 Elisa Cucchiella (Belve Neroverdi, 54 caps); 2 Lucia Cammarano (Rugby Monza 1949, 10 caps); 3 Melissa Bettoni (Rennes, Francia, 27 caps); 4 Elisa Pillotti (Rugby Parabiago, 1 cap); 5 Aice Trevisan (Rugby Riviera Del Brenta, 31 caps); 6 Michela Este (Benetton Rugby Treviso, 45 caps); 7 Isabella Locatelli (Rugby, Monza 1949, 3 caps); 8 Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 13 caps); 9 Sara Barattin (Rugby Casale, 64 caps) – capitano; 10 Veronica Schiavon (Rugby Riviera Del Brenta, 77 caps); 11 Sofia Stefan (Rennes, Francia, 24 caps); 12 Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 13 caps); 13 Maria Grazia Cioffi (US Rugby Benevento, 38 caps); 14 Maria Magatti (ASD Rugby Monza 1949, 12 caps); 15 Manuela Furlan (Benetton Rugby Treviso, 48 caps)Replacements:16 Lucia Gai (Rugby Riviera Del Brenta, 39 caps); 17 Gaia Giacomoli (Rugby Colorno, 1 caps); 18 Diletta Nicoletti (Rugby Bologna 1928, 0 cap); 19 Valentina Ruzza (Valsugana R. Padova, 10 caps); 20 Ilaria Arrighetti (Rennes, Francia, 18 caps); 21 Silvia Folli (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 0 cap); 22 Paola Zangirolami (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 64 caps); 23 Veronica Madia (Rugby Colorno, 0 cap)

Scotland:1 Tracy Balmer (Worcester RFC); 2 Lana Skeldon* (Hillhead/Jordanhill); 3 Lindsey Smith (Hillhead/Jordanhill); 4 Emma Wassell* (Murrayfield Wanderers); 5 Deborah McCormack (Richmond RFC); 6 Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead/Jordanhill); 7 Karen Dunbar (RHC Cougars / Edinburgh University); 8 Jade Konkel (Hillhead/Jordanhill);; 9 Jennifer Maxwell (Leeds Beckett University / Lichfield RFC); 10 Lisa Martin* (Murrayfield Wanderers);11 Rhona Lloyd (Murrayfield Wanderers / Edinburgh University); 12 Lisa Thomson* (Melrose RFC / Edinburgh University); 13 Megan Gaffney (Hillhead/Jordanhill); 14 Eilidh Sinclair* (Murrayfield Wanderers); 15 Chloe Rollie* (Murrayfield Wanderers)Replacements; 16 Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers); 17 Debbie Falconer (Stirling County / Stirling University); 18 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill); 19 Fiona Sim (Saracens RFC); 20 Anna Stodter (Saracens RFC); 21 Sarah Law* (Murrayfield Wanderers / Edinburgh University); 22 Claire Bain (RHC Cougars); 23 Abigail Evans (Hillhead/Jordanhill