Italy 0 Scotland 104
By Gavin Willacy at Stadio Plebiscito
Scotland set records galore at Stadio Plebiscito on Saturday afternoon as the 2009 rugbyleague.com European Cup opened in spectacular fashion in Padova. They ran in 18 tries, nine in each half, and centre Mick Nanyn converted all but two of the kicks at goal. Italy, late replacements for Russia, suffered a series of withdrawals from their squad over the last 48 hours before kick off and with their NRL and Toyota Cup contingent playing in the Euro-Med Cup in Sydney against Greece this morning, their depleted team suffered against an excellent Scotland.
Both teams gave debuts to six players. Scotland coach Steve McCormack is rebuilding his team as they plan for next seasons qualifiers for the Four Nations. Only eight of his 17 went to the World Cup last year and just Nanyn, Kevin and Andrew Henderson, Ben Fisher, and Paddy Coupar survived from the team that were thrashed by Tonga in Scotlands last game 11 months ago. Italy coach Tiziano Franchini fielded 10 of the players who had helped them overcome Germany and the Czech Republic to win the European Shield and thus gain an invite to replace Russia in this second tier of international rugby league.
With a tremendous crowd still pouring into the Plebiscito the attendance of 2179 was twice that of the home teams European Challenge Cup tie against Newcastle Falcons a week ago - Scotland showed their superiority from the off: they scored at a point a minute once Paterson opened the floodgates after eight minutes from a suspiciously forward-looking pass from Mitcehll Stringer. Referee Steve Ganson allowed the try and went on to run the game in a suitably sympathetic manner towards the host team.
Brendan Lindsays lovely long cut-out pass sent winger Jon Steele away for the next try after a break by Fisher and three minutes later Kevin Henderson finished a move he had started on the left. Nanyn was kicking goals from the touchlines, much to the delight of an enthusiastic crowd.
When Scotland forced a turnover in Italys half, Richard Fletcher strolled in, before young half-back Gareth Moore got a solo try on his debut. Soon after the restart Kevin Henderson showed why he is regular for Super Leaguers Wakefield Trinity following a scrum for a knock-on, and nanynàs magnificent conversion made it 36-0 after just 27 minutes.
Fisher had torn Italy apart and was withdrawn as Scotland used all four substitutes early in the piece. One of them, Edinburgh Eagles burly prop John Cox hit the line and spun his way over for a debut try ten minutes after coming on. With moore and Cox having touched down on their full international bows it was time for Barrow winger James Nixon to do the same from a Jamie Benn pass. From the kick off full-back Benn himself stood up his Italian counterpart Eduardo Lerna to score, Nanyn making it 54-0 at half-time.
That was the signal for several hundred fans to leave but the majority stayed to applaud every piece of skill and bravery in a fine show of sportsmanship and rugby knowledge.
Moments into the second-half, Cox broken and Nixon did superbly to reach over to score in the tackle, and five minutes later completed his hat-trick with the kind of footwork that has scored him a hatful of tries in winning the Championship this season with Barrow.
Italy had hardly been out of their half with the ball in hand and struggled to clear their lines with a disappointing kicking game. They continued tackling until the final whistle, a fact appreciated by the crowd, but they had no platform on which to show their ability with ball in hand.
Scotland, who had enjoyed a day out in Venice yesterday, showed creativity and passion worthy of that stunning city to score their 12th try of the afternoon, Fletcher keeping the ball alive on the last after being held up over the line and Steele scoring on the right. Nanyn finally missed a kick with his attempt from the touchline!
When Lerna dropped the ball in Nanyns tackle in the in-goal area, Feltcher got his second try, Nanyn slotting the goal for a 76-0 lead on the hour.
Nanyn plundered his first try on the right but missed the conversion before the first and only suggestion of an Italy score: debutant scrum-half John Grasso snatched up a loose ball and broke clear. He was tackled 40 metres out, spilled the ball and from the resulting scrum, Fisher raced 60 metres up the other end to add salt in Italys wounds with 15th try for the men in white.
Benn, who was voted Man of the Match for his tremendous all-round display in defence and attack, showed trademark spirit to support the breaking Neil Lowe and gain another try before Nanyn powered away on the right to score again and then convert once more. At 98-0 there was just enough time for Nixon to show great footwork on Matthew Sands and Lerna to score his fourth and bring up the 100 points mark. The crowd cheered lustily and chanted centa as Nanyn brought up his own points haul to a record breaking 40.
Scotland now need to beat Lebanon in Glasgow on 1 November to secure a place in the rugbyleague.com European Cup final for the first time. Italy have a week of training in Monselice before going to Tripoli to face Lebanon next weekend.
Italy
1 Eduardo Lerna
2 Manuele Cipriani D
3 Jason Dubas-Fisher
4 Shaun Pavan D
5 Pierluigi Gentile
6 Filippo Veronese
7 John Grasso D
8 Paul Stanica D
9 Nicolino Facco
10 Greg Brincat D
11 Matthew Sands
12 Marco Terrazzano
13 Ludovico Torreggiani
Subs:
14 Rob Di Leva D
15 Andrea Zacchia
16 Angelo Ricci
17 Filippo Macerati
Scotland
1 Jamie Benn
2 Jon Steele
3 Kevin Henderson
4 Mick Nanyn
5 James Nixon D
6 Brendan Lindsay D
7 Gareth Moore D
8 Mitchell Stringer D
9 Ben Fisher
10 Neil Lowe
11 Alex Szostak
12 Richard Fletcher
13 Lee Paterson
Subs:
14 Paddy Coupar
15 John Cox
16 Andrew Henderson
17 Rob Lunt
Tries: Benn 32, 70, Steele 11, 54, Nannyn 65, 76, K Henderson 14, 27, Nixon 34, 41, 47, 80, Moore 24, Fisher 67, Fletcher 20, 59, Paterson 8, Cox 32. Goals: Nanyn 16/18.
Referee: Steve Ganson (England)
Attendance: 2139
Rugbyleague.com Man of the Match: Jame Benn (Scotland)
