News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Weir on  target in Turin

Weir on target in Turin

Hugh Barrow22 Aug 2015 - 21:18
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.glasgowhawks.com/n

Win for Scots

Italy (9) 12
Pens: Garcia, Allan 3
Scotland (9) 16
Try: Pyrgos Con: Weir Pens: Weir 3
A Henry Pyrgos try gave Scotland their first win of 2015 as Italy were beaten in an uninspiring World Cup warm-up match at Turin's Stadio Olimpico.

Duncan Weir sent over three first-half penalties for the Scots, but Gonzalo Garcia's reply and two more penalties from Tommaso Allan levelled matters.

Allan's third penalty put Italy ahead for the first time, after the break.

But substitute scrum-half Pyrgos went over against the run of play late on and Weir added the conversion.

The two sides meet again at Murrayfield next Saturday and head coach Vern Cotter will then announce his 31-man Scotland squad for the World Cup, before a final pre-tournament match away to France on 5 September.

Cotter's side open their World Cup campaign against Japan in Gloucester on 23 September.

Jim Hamilton and Francesco Minto
Jim Hamilton (left) was a late inclusion in the Scotland line-up
Having lost narrowly in Ireland last weekend, Scotland were forced into a late change to their line-up with captain Grant Gilchrist having been taken ill.

His place in the second row went to Jim Hamilton while flanker Alasdair Strokosch took over as captain, with lock Kevin Bryce getting a late substitute's place.

And the Scots, with wing Rory Hughes and forwards John Hardie and Stuart McInally making first Test starts, got the upper hand in the opening 20 minutes.

Infringements allowed Weir to put six points on the board and a sweeping move from left to right almost put the visitors in for a try, before a handling error by Greig Tonks allowed the Italians to recover.

Garcia hit the upright with his first kick but was successful with his next attempt before Weir and then Italy's Allan knocked over further penalties.

Scotland tried to repel some powerful Italian advances as half-time neared and these eventually secured another penalty, which Allan sent over between the posts.

Duncan Weir scores a penalty for Scotland against Italy
Weir kicked 11 of Scotland's points in Turin
The interval did little to diminish Italy's determination to get across the line and the hosts were left frustrated when referee JP Doyle awarded only a scrum after Tommaso Benvenuti had tried to ground.

Cotter's men eventually enjoyed some respite before Weir kicked a penalty wide from far out. But Italy's Allan was successful with a much more straightforward kick moments later.

The momentum remained largely with the Azzurri although Richie Vernon's replacement Peter Horne did manage to break clear, although he was stopped short of the line.

A try for either side seemed unlikely until substitute Hamish Watson combined with Tonks to release Scott, and he in turn sent Pyrgos over for the touch down.

Weir added the extras and the Scots were soon celebrating a welcome victory.

Further reading