Match Centre

FULL-TIME: Italy 28 - Scotland 4.

Turnover Scotland.

Scotland take the short kickoff.

What scramble from the Azzuri. Line dropout coming up.

That might be the best play for the Scots... Only problem is it went backwards by 5 meters.

Poor kick from Robinson and Scotland now working it away from their own end.

Can Scotland remove the duck-egg off the scoreboard??

PENALTY SCOTLAND

PENALTY SCOTLAND: Kane Linnett hit late by Nathan Brown.

Set restart Scotland - ruck infringement.

PENALTY SCOTLAND: Offside from the scrum.

First challenge for the match - Italy challenging this one.

Another clever grubber from Radean Robinson. Italy getting it right.

Radean Robinson's grubber is well weighted and it's a goal-line dropout.

Set restart Scotland - markers not square and involved.

Better play from the Scots there. Gotta be next to score.

James Bell with a good shot. James Graham in commentary says he got lucky.

The short ten is recovered by Italy. Brendan Santi is down.

VIDEO REF: Smith has a try and we're confirming he stays in.

Atkinson is away, but a great tackle from Ryan Brierley saves a certain 4 pointer! WOW!

We're back 13 v 13.

Italy complete their set after points.

VIDEO REF: Todd Smith has a TRY confirming the grounding for Jake Maizen.

Clever kick from Jack Campagnolo and Ryan Brierley is taken in the in-goal by Jake Maizen.

Fast start for Italy. Daniel Atkinson going down the left. Jack Campagnolo putting it on a string here. Scotland now working it out of their own end.

Here we go for the second half. Todd Smith blows his whistle and Italy get first use of the second 40.

Half-Time: Italy 12 - Scotland 0.

Clean tackle on Gahan which saves a try from Luke Poiselli

Scotland hang on at the first time of asking.

Dan Atkinson wasn't happy with the treament in that tackle.

Italy's defence hangs on.

Must hang on for the Azzuri...

Oh dear. Walmsley had an easy intercept there, he needed to do it or else Italy would've had try number three.

PENALTY ITALY: Late contact on Nathan Brown here.

PENALTY ITALY: Offside (inside 10m)

Hayward's grubber is recovered by Nathan Brown. Little bit of a rush of blood for the young half.

Next to score territory here for the Scots.

PENALTY SCOTLAND: Anton Iaria guilty of the strip.

Ryan Brierley had many goes at that kick, but fortunately recovers for Scotland. Italy only now making their first change in this one

The stop/start fortunes of the early minutes seemed to play in favour of the Italians.

Clever kick from Jack Campagnolo finds the sideline, Italy starting to get the ascendency. Scotland desperately need some fortunes going their way.

Great soccer skiills from Walmsley to stop the bomb going out on the full. Luke Poiselli is able to recover it and the Italian side is working it out of their own end.

Italy complete their set after points.

PENALTY ITALY: Much needed penalty for the Azzuri. Six in the opening quarter for Todd Smith.

Luke Poiselli and Anton Iaria save the day after the Italians were caught out defensively.

Logan Bayliss-Brow is held-up over the line. This defence is incredible.

Criticise their methods, but the Azzuri have hung in so far!

PENALTY SCOTLAND: Strip is the ruling. Four on the bounce... is the sin-bin given here?

PENALTY SCOTLAND: That tackle looked awkward. It's a cannonball esque tackle. Luca Moretti guilty.

PENALTY SCOTLAND: Strip is the ruling here, Dean Parata is the guilty offender.

PENALTY SCOTLAND: Brendan Santi guilty of the high tackle there. Just got it wrong.

Italy complete their set after points. It appears the early rust is being phased out. The synthetic turf is causing some awkward bounces.

VIDEO REF: Todd Smith has a TRY and on first glance, it looks good for the Azzuri!

Italy on the attack here. Ethan Natoli asking questions

Set restart Italy - ruck infringement.

PENALTY ITALY: High tackle from the rookie Bailey Hayward.

VIDEO REF: Todd Smith is starting NO TRY, confirming a possible knock on.

Good tackle from Daniel Atkinson brings an end to the section for Scotland. Ryan King placed on report for a late-shot.

Dean Parata's grubber just has a bit too much on it. Scotland go back on the attack with Kieran Buchanan racing back up field.

First chance for Italy here.

Scotland will get first use of the football here. This match is being played on a synthetic turf.

OFF WE GO! The first match-up for these two Group B sides is underway as Todd Smith blows time on. Scotland/Italy will receive it first here.

Todd Smith is the man in charge, with Paki Parkinson from New Zealand and Marcus Griffiths from the Super League as our touch-judges. The video referee for this clash is Rob Hicks, also from the Super League.

On the team front, Scotland are showing their best available line-up with Kane Linnett and Euan Aitken forming a unique back-row combination. Italy have the experience of grand finalist Nathan Brown captaining the side beef up the forward battle. Whilst in the backline, exciting young fullback Luke Polselli gets his chance at the back for the Italians. Further, Gioele Celerino becomes the first Italian domestic player to feature in a World Cup game.

League Unlimited’s rolling coverage of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup continues with European powerhouses Scotland and Italy going head-to-head from Kingston Park in Newcastle. Both sides will be eager to show that they are not here to just make up the numbers with a competitive showing here tonight. These sides played in the 2013 World Cup, with the sides sharing the spoils in an entertaining 30-30 draw.