The negative streak continues for the Azzurrini, who lose their fourth consecutive match in Treviso despite some encouraging signs. The English suffer, but never spread at the end and go 37-17
Nothing to do. Italy does what it can, puts England in difficulty for an hour, but in the end loses the fourth consecutive match: in Treviso the English win 37-17. It’s difficult to think of taking the match home with 36% of ball possession and even 26% of territory, with the English always on the attack: the Azzurrini held on defense as long as possible, then the fuel ran out and the guests spread. The two missed conversions from Braga when the match was point to point also weighed heavily. The nightmare Six Nations continues for Italy Under 20, who would need a miracle to avoid last place: they must beat Wales in Cardiff next Sunday and hope for Scotland to lose against Ireland.
battle
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The first quarter of an hour is an English monologue, but Italy responds presently, tackles everything there is to tackle and doesn’t concede any points: Wilson especially did well in recovering the ball in the ruck on two occasions. After 15′ of suffering the Azzurrini reacted: Roda understood Keylock’s intentions in advance, who widened too quickly and had the ball intercepted. The blue winger recovers and then kicks towards the opponent’s in-goal area, with Caluori struggling and being forced to concede a scrum 5 meters away. From there the action of the blue advantage was born: Miranda-Varotto combination and ball spread well to Celi who burns Offiah and crushes for the 7-0 with a conversion by Braga. The marking changes the inertia of the match, and Italy in theory scores again with Pelli after an advancing maul, but the referee – the Argentine De Achaval – cancels it due to an obstruction by Wilson when the Italian hooker breaks away from the drive. England absorbed the blow and reacted: in the 28th minute De Novellis performed a miracle by making the ball explode from Knight’s hands as he launched towards the goal, then Wilson and Roda saved on Pater, holding him high in the goal area and preventing him from smashing. In the 35th minute, however, England took the lead with Knight, who surprised an Italian defense that was passive for the first time, received Friday’s nice pass and too easily found the opening to equalize. The English take advantage of the favorable moment and continue the assault: yellow for De Novellis for an avoidable offside under the posts, Keylock takes advantage and goes for the posts for the 10-7 with which the first half ends.
collapse
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At the start of the second half England immediately exploited their numerical superiority. Friday opens well for Opiah’s run who sets Roda down and gets one step away from the goal line. Italy holds out as long as they can, but then Friday takes action on his own, sees the space and attacks from the base of the group to go on to make it 17-7 with a conversion by Keylock. The response comes from Italy’s scrum, which had suffered in the first half: they immediately won a free kick, then played by jugglers from Pelli and Trevisan who held a very difficult ball, Faissal attacked on the right side and then it was Pelli himself who again shared ball in hand, overcoming Williams and smashing for 17-12 with Braga unable to find the conversion. However, a foul by Fardin immediately allows England to extend their lead, with Keylock hitting the posts just as De Novellis returns from the penalty box. It’s a continuous back and forth, because Italy immediately puts things back in order and definitively returns to the game: Braga’s kick puts pressure on Friday, who doesn’t control the ball and finds Faissal on top of him like a fury. The blue winger takes the ball forward with his foot with a footballer’s control and smashes the flag for 20-17, with Braga – a bad evening from the pitch – not converting. At the best moment, however, Italy conceded a try that was too easy: Kelly broke Brasini’s tackle, also overcame Bianchi and went to smash for 25-17. Italy risks sinking and is kept up once again by an amazing Casarin, who snatches another ball from Opiah’s hands. However, the orderly scrum also gives way, and in the end England takes off: great play by Ainsworth-Cave who resists Celi’s tackle, turns and as he falls he serves Keylock for the goal to make it 32-17. In the final, England spreads and scores again with Marsh for the final 37-17.
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