Ireland A eclipse Italians after floodlights go out

Ireland A 28

Ireland eventually put away a dogged Italian side in a stop-start game, accentuated by a 20-minute delay when the floodlights failed on 60 minutes.

A fine surge from the pack saw Andrea Lo Cicero deliberately collapse and Barry Everitt kicked his first penalty in front of the posts on four minutes.

David Quinlan, Jeremy Davidson and Miller put in some hard yards before Simon Easterby broke free on the left and side-stepped a couple of defenders to cross wide on the left. Everitt’s conversion came back off the upright.

However, he added another penalty in the 25th minute.

Miller had to retire with a back strain on the half hour and Aidan McCullen replaced him.

The Italians managed just two attacks into the Irish 22 in the first-half. Cagnolo kicked a penalty on 32 minutes and at half-time Ireland led 11-3.

Ireland started brightly on the resumption with Everitt kicking a penalty and Italian second row Enrico Pavanello being yellow carded.

Cagnolo then kicked a penalty for Italy, following a try-saving tackle from Aidan McCullen.

The floodlighing failed in the 60th minute and both sides had to return to the dressing rooms for 20 minutes.

Once power was restored, Ireland restarted well. Italian flanker Salvatore Garozzo was sin-binned on 70 minutes and this time Ireland punished the Italians with two tries. Ted Robinson scored under the posts on 72 minutes and Gordon D’Arcy crossed three minutes later. Both were converted by Everitt.

Just on the whistle, full-back Francesco Mazzariol followed up two huge kicks upfield by Andrea Benatti to score out wide on the right.

Scorers for Italy A: Tries: Mazzariol. Pens: Cagnolo-Paoni 2.

Ireland A: Tries: Darcy, Robinson, S. Easterby. Cons: Everitt 2. Pens: Everitt 3.

IRELAND A: J Staunton (Cunningham 60), J Topping (Lawlor 76) G D’Arcy, D Quinlan, G Robinson, B Everitt, N Doak capt (O’Meara 65) J Fitzpatrick, P Shields (Blaney 76) S Best (Bracken 75), D O’Callaghan, J Davidson (O’Driscoll 67), S Easterby, K Dawson., E Miller (McCullen 30).

ITALY A: M Francesco, M Ravazzolo, A Masi, C Zanoletti, R Pedrazzi, G Cagnolo, M Mazzantini, A Locicero, F Ongaro, C Nieto, F Minello, E Pavanello, S Garozzo, A Benatti, M Zaffiri.