Scotland schoolboy has Six Nations dream debut with try in win over Italy but A-team stutters
Under-20s land bonus point with victory in Italy
Seventeen-year-old schoolboy Jake Dalziel had a debut to remember as Scotland got their under-20 Six Nations campaign off to the perfect start with a 36-10 bonus point win in Italy on Friday night.
Italy had winger Luca Rossi yellow carded for a tip tackle on Scotland full-back Henry Widdowson after just two minutes in Treviso.
And, two minutes later, the Scots took advantage with Dalziel’s lovely cross field kick putting winger Nairn Moncrieff in for an unconverted try.
With Rossi back on, Italy got themselves on the scoreboard when stand-off Roberto Fasti kicked a penalty.
Scotland led 17-3 by the break thanks to tries from captain Joe Roberts and centre Henry Kesterton and a conversion by scrum-half Hamish MacArthur.
Merchiston Castle/Melrose playmaker Dalziel, later named player of the match, scored the fourth try after the interval before centre Daniele Coluzzi’s converted try gave Italy slight hope at 24-10.
Scotland were not done though and further tries came from winger Rory McHaffie and replacement Harvey Preston plus a MacArthur conversion.
Draw for Scotland A
Meanwhile, Scotland A stuttered their way to a 24-24 draw with an Italy XV in Rieti.
In the 16th minute, the Scotland squad featuring 18 full caps took the lead when scrum-half Gus Warr put hooker Gregor Hiddleston over for a try. Stand-off Fergus Burke converted.
Italy got themselves on the scoreboard on the half hour mark when a lineout drive saw hooker Nicholas Gasperini go over. Stand-off Giovanni Montemauri converted.
Before the break, Gasperini scored his second converted try and then Scotland winger Kyle Rowe’s five-pointer made it 14-12 at half-time to the hosts.
A quick tap penalty saw centre Cameron Redpath score from short range in the 49th minute. Burke converted to make it 19-14.
Italy went ahead again soon after when tighthead prop Francesca Gallorini went over with Montemauri converting before his penalty made it 24-19 after 53 minutes.
Rowe found space to go over for his second try on the hour mark and, with no conversion, it was 24-24.
Replacement tighthead prop Will Hurd was then yellow carded after 67 minutes and the Scots struggled at scrum time all match.
Italy then had sub front-rower Luca Franceschetto sin-binned and things finished level.
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