Four defeats in a row as Murray’s Under-20s put to the sword in Treviso

Scotland remain winless in the Under-20 Six Nations after their struggles continued last night in Italy.

The hosts won 27-13 and dominated in the scrum and lineout, making it impossible for Scotland to get a foothold in the Stadio Comunale Di Monigo in Treviso.

Kenny Murray’s charges will now head to Ireland next Sunday looking to avoid a fifth straight loss.

Italy got off to a flying start and they took the lead in the fifth minute when their skipper Giacomo Ferrari, the No 8, powered over. Stand-off Giovanni Sante converted.

Scotland got themselves on the scoreboard three minutes later when full-back Robin Mc Clintock kicked a penalty and then, in defence, the visiting second-row Josh Taylor made a try saving tackle.

That gave Scotland some belief and Mc Clintock kicked his second penalty to reduce the deficit to 7-6 in the 16th minute.

A Sante penalty stretched Italy’s lead to four points four minutes later, though, and a real body blow for Scotland came eight minutes before half-time.

Italy turned over the ball in the middle of the field and shipped it right quickly. It found its way to replacement Francois Carlo Mey who burst through a gap and scored a try. Sante banged over the tricky conversion and it was 17-6.

It could have got worse on 37 minutes but the Scottish defence managed to hold Italy up over the try line. But the momentum was with the Italians heading into the break.

They went 20-6 ahead in the 49th minute and Scotland were still searching for a way to really work their way back into the game.

Any hope of winning the game was gone in the 53rd minute when Ferrari scored his side’s third try, converted by Sante, to make it 27-6.

In the 64th minute Scotland looked like they had pulled a try back, but in the act of scoring replacement Jed Gelderbloom knocked the ball on under pressure from defenders.

With the clock in the red Taylor scored a consolation try. Stand-off Christian Townsend converted.