Scotland U20 14-10 Italy U20: Under-20s squeeze home

THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

Published Date: 28 February 2009
By Gareth Black
SCOTLAND staged a dramatic late fightback to claim only their second victory in the Under-20s championship and maintain a 100 per cent home record in this year's tournament.
Going into half-time 10-3 down last night in the historic first rugby match to be played at Dundee FC's Dens Park, the coaches replaced the hero of last month's victory over Wales, full-back Peter Horne, who had missed three penalties, with Robbie McGowan of Stirling County, and he gave the inside pass for captain Paul Louden to run in for the Scots' first try. McGowan could not convert and so Scotland still trailed by two points with just five minutes left on the clock.

However, McGowan then stepped up to delight the crowd of just over 1,000 with a penalty from wide on the left and duly repeated the feat in the dying seconds to secure a 14-10 win.

Scotland U20: P Horne; P Louden, A McCulloch, S Wilson, G Anderson; A White, H Pyrgos; G Cameron, F Gillies, G Morton, N Campbell, R Gray, S Dewar, S McInally, C Fusaro. Subs used: A McKenzie, R McGowan, D Orr.

Italy U20: A Bennetin; E Gori, G Mastarovich, G Benevenuti, G Vendetti; T Iannone, L Martinelli; A Lovotti, A Manici, L Romano, F Cazzola, J Furno, F Ferarrini, L Petillo (capt). Subs used: A Denti, C Fazzari, L Contini, G Cicchinelli, S Scanferla, S Rodwell, N Giuliano.

Ref: D Phillips (Ireland). Att: 1,023.

This article was posted on 28-Feb-2009, 08:27 by Hugh Barrow.