CARDIFF (GALLES) (ITALPRESS) – Italy salutes the Six Nations with a defeat: in Cardiff Wales exceeds 31-17 blues. The Welsh team immediately takes control of the meeting, stretches in the score and manages safely until the last quarter of the race. Only in the final comes the reaction of Italy, but not enough to really reopen the game. The blues still close the tournament with two wins (Scotland and England) and three defeats. “I like to finish with this second time, it leaves me satisfied even if it was not a good race. We didn’t quit. It was a good Six Nations but there is still so much to work” the words of the Quesada ct after the match. The start is all of Wales. The blues try to contain the initial pressure and find a good turnover with Ruzza and Niccolò Cannone, while Garbisi tries to gain territory with two deep kicks towards the corner. After a study phase, Italy lights up thanks to an extraordinary recovery of Lamaro. Menoncello finds space and travels almost fifty meters before serving Ioane. The blues enter the 22 Welsh but fail to realize: Lynagh remains isolated and loses the ball on the held.
At 11’ Italy won the first place of the game after an up&under of Garbisi, but the same number 10 did not hit the poles and the score remained on 0-0. Wales, however, hits the first real occasion. After a turnover conquered by putting under pressure Fusco, the hosts enter the 22 and go halfway with Wainwright, which breaks two plaques and crushes between the poles for the 7-0. Italy reacts with a great Brex defensive intervention on Rees-Zammit and a recovery of Lorenzo Cannone, but shortly after the Welsh stretch: first Wainwright scores again after an advancing maul, then Dewi Lake finishes another identical action bringing the score on 21-0. It is the result that teams go to the range. Even in the shooting Wales start strong. After a long multi-phase action, Dan Edwards finds the space for the fourth goal worth the 28-0, and shortly after he signs a lovely 31-0 drop. Italy finally tries to react to 51′. From a touche in 22 was born a well organized maul that advances to the goal of Di Bartolomeo for 31-7. In the same action also comes the yellow card for Griffin. Blues do not immediately exploit numerical superiority but continue to build game.
Menoncello lights the attack with one of his accelerations and Allan serves Ioane, but stopped a few meters from the line. At 69′ the second Italian goal comes: after a beautiful initiative of Brex, Garbisi serves Allan who manages to crush shortening on 31-14. In the final, Italy has repeatedly challenged the third goal, with Menoncello and Marin protagonists of some good offensive initiatives, but the Welsh defense holds. Paolo Garbisi is in time to find the goal that fixes the score on the 31-17 final.
IL TABELLINO
GALLES: Rees-Zammit Mee (39’st Murray), James, Hawkins, Adams; Edwards (28’st Evans), Williams (39’st Hardy); Wainwright, Botham, Mann (32’st Cracknell); Carter, Jenkins, Francis (38’pt, Griffin), Lake (Cap, 5’st Elias), Carre (11’st Smith). Coach: Tandy. ITALY: Pani (25’st Allan); Lynagh, Brex (31’st Marin), Menoncello, Ioane, P.Garbisi, Fusco (14’st Varney); L.Cannone (23’st Odiase), Zuliani, Lamaro (Cap); Ruzza, N.Cannone (31’st Favretto); Hasa (5’st Zilocchi), Nicotera (5’st Di Bartolomeo; 21’st Nicotera), Fischetti (5’st Spanish) Coach: Quesada. ARBITRO: Ridley (Fra). Markers: p.t. 15′ m. Wainwright tr. Edwards (7-0); 25′ m. Wainwright tr. Edwards (14-0); 29′ m. Lake tr. Edwards (21-0) s.t. 3′ m. Edwards tr. Edwards (28-0); 8′ drop Edwards (31-0); 13′ m. By Bartolomeo tr. P.Garbisi (31-7); 30’m. Allan (31-12); 41′ m. P. Garbisi (31-17). NOTES: first time 21-0. Cartellini: 14’st yellow to Griffin. Calciatori: P. Garbisi (1/4); Edwards (4/4). Drop: Edwards (1/1). Player of the Match: Wainwright. Ranking points: Wales 5; Italy 0.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
