Scotland improved markedly after the interval, but a poor first half performance ultimately gave them too much to do as they were defeated 34-29 by Italy on Friday night in Viadana in a Summer Test.
This was one of only two warm-up games before the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England in August and September and the visitors were 20-5 down after 40 minutes.
They brought much more physicality and directness to the party after the break and they will look to bottle up the stuff they put together from minute 41 to minute 59 and minute 70 to minute 80 when they scored four tries.
Sadly, after getting back to within three points after 59 minutes and Italy looking rattled, they then scored two converted tries between minute 60 and 64 to give themselves a nice cushion.
After seven minutes in the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Italy took the lead when winger Alyssa D’Inca scored an unconverted try to make it 5-0.
A floated kick by scrum-half Sofia Stefan was then not dealt with by winger Coreen Grant and D’Inca scored her second five-pointer.
Scotland could not get a foothold in this game at all and, right at the end of the first quarter, try from hooker Vittoria Vecchini made it 15-0 to Italy.
The visitors knew they had to score next – and they did.
From a lineout drive, hooker Lana Skeldon went over for her 20th international try in the 28th minute and it was 15-5.
However, winger Aura Muzzo scored Italy’s fourth try and it was a 15-point game at the interval.
Scotland came out in the second half and played with much more intensity and clarity. Stand-off Helen Nelson wriggled in for a try in the 50th minute and it was 20-10.
They were playing with pace and when No.8 Evie Gallagher crashed over for a try under the posts, converted by Nelson, it was 20-17.
Just when it looked like Scotland were in the ascendency, tries from sub Beatrice Rigoni and D’Inca’s third, both converted by centre Michela Sillari, made it 34-17 to Italy after 64 minutes.
Sub Elis Martin and Gallagher – with her second – scored tries for Scotland late on, but it was not enough.
Second-row Emma Wassell lasted 61 minutes on her return after 15 months – and got a black eye and a bloody nose for her troubles – and playmaker Hannah Ramsay made a debut off the bench to become cap 248.
Next up is Ireland away on August 2 with the World Cup squad named week commencing August 4 with 38 to be cut to 32.
Scotland squad that played Italy: Lucia Scott; Rhona Lloyd, Evie Wills, Lisa Thomson, Coreen Grant; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke, Emma Wassell, Adelle Ferrie, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher. Subs: Elis Martin, Molly Wright, Lisa Cockburn, Eva Donaldson, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Hannah Ramsay, Chloe Rollie.
Scorers: Tries: Lana Skeldon, Helen Nelson, Evie Gallagher (2), Elis Martin. Cons: Nelson (2).
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The Italy-Scotland game is pictured
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