Head coach Lindsey Smith believes there are plenty of positives to take forward from Scotland women under-18s’ 26-26 draw with Italy.
At the U18 Six Nations Festival at Wellington College in England the young Scots will play England and Ireland in 35-minute matches on Monday and then Wales in a full game on April 10.
On Thursday, they opened up with a full game versus Italy.
Italy led 19-14 by half-time with the Scotland tries coming from wingers Bethan Mathieson and Connie Sanderson, both converted by centre Niamh Waters.
The Italians had seen a player red carded in the first half, but their fourth try and then a conversion in the second period put them 26-14 up.
Scotland battled back really well though and an unconverted try by Sanderson was then followed up by another score by her as she completed her hat-trick. Waters then converted that one to level things at 26-26 and that is how it ended.
“Firstly, some of those girls were playing their first game of international rugby and I thought they managed it really well,” Smith said.
“We are a little bit frustrated to draw because we created some really good opportunities, but we had some really good periods of play and that was very promising.
“I thought the forwards and backs linked really well, and our lineout operated pretty well. Our decision making will get better, but we moved the ball out wide well which is something we wanted to do.
“The pace out wide is a real threat for us, but it’s not just all about sprinting and finishing, Bethan and Connie both had work to do for their scores. For Connie’s last try she had to beat two or three defenders and transfer the ball into her other hand to keep the last defender away so I thought she did really well.”
- Recently their have been a number of women’s youth finals and results and such like can be located here.
Action from the U18 Six Nations Festival game versus Italy is pictured – thanks to Scottish Rugby/Six Nations
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