Impressive Italians enjoy away day win in The Bay.
The Italian visitors made an enterprising start at Stadiwm Zipworld and enjoyed all the early possession and territory. After five minutes they spurned a kickable penalty and elected to go for a lineout which paid dividends as their forwards collected and drove prop Michele Mancini Parri over for the game's opening score. The conversion was missed but the visitors held the lead at 0-5.
After quarter of an hour the over-exuberance of the Italian forwards gave away a silly penalty in a great attacking position and Wales capitalised by moving upfield and forcing the Italians in to a further indiscretion, unfortunately the resultant penalty being pushed wide.
Italy went straight back on the offensive and again their forwards kept the Welsh defenders on their toes with a period of incessant pressure, again forcing a penalty which was converted by outside half Rizzi and a lead of 0-8 with almost a quarter of the game gone.
After twenty five minutes of the half we had the loudest cheer so far from the home supporters and this for Wales winning a scrum, such was the stranglehold that the Italians had on the game at this point.
The Italians were giving the Welsh boys no time at all and hurtling in to anything that moved but as the game moved in to the final ten minutes of the half, the home side started to up the tempo of their game and finally were making some dents in the Italian defence.
As the interval neared there were encouraging signs for Welsh supporters as their team sought that all-important first score of the night. However, their hopes suffered a blow when captain Will Jones was forced to leave the field with an injury.
It was a disappointed Welsh team that trudged off to the changing rooms when the referee blew for the break and left the home supporters wanting a much better second half performance.
Whatever instructions the Welsh ooaches gave their boys at half time certainly worked as Wales made a dream start to the second half with winger Tommy Rogers crossing for a well worked try, converted by Cai Evans and making it 7-8.
The Italisns thought they had regained their advantage immediately until the TMO ruled that it was a Welsh hand that got to the ball first. In the first five minutes of the second period the crowd had witnessed some great attacking play by both sides.
Wales had the chance to take the lead for the first time when Cai Evans saw his long-range penalty attempt agonisingly hit the post and bounce wide.
As the half progressed, the Welsh forwards were starting to punch some holes through the Italian defence, whose cause wasn't helped when they went down to 14 men after the referee deemed a high tackle in midfield.
Wales kicked for touch from the resultant penalty, won the lineout and set up a series of attacks which tested the Italian defence. At this point in the game the home side were starting to look dangerous every time they attacked. Although tiring, and still a man down, the Italians still held firm.
In fact, it was the Italians who scored next. With sixty one minutes on the clock fly half Rizzi converted a long-range penalty which just crept over the bar to make it 7-11.
With their tails up and confidence growing, the visitors surged forward again lauching a wave of attacks and, after a TMO decision, hooker Matteo Luccardi was successful with the touch down, again with Rizzi converting, giving a healthy lead of 7-18.
Wales piled on the pressure and a series of penalties were kicked to touch as they sought that vital try to give them a fighting chance. Italy had other ideas and defended with their lives to frustrate both the Welsh team and its supporters.
With four minutes on the clock it looked as though Wales had touched down in the corner to give a glimmer of hope but the TMO ruled a foot in touch and brought an end to Welsh hopes of a late comeback.
This knocked the stuffing out of the Welsh team and the Italians were finishing the stronger.
A disappointing night for the Welsh boys but as the ref blew for full time, the Italian supporters in the crowd erupted and nobody could deny that they fully deserved their 7-18 win.
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