ROME -- Duncan Weirs last-gasp dropped goal lifted Scotland over Italy 21-20 at
Stadio Olimpico on Saturday for its first victory in this years Six Nations.
Wholesale
NFL Jerseys . Italy was heading towards breaking its own duck with
a fourth straight home victory over Scotland after lock Joshua Furnos first
international try, which replacement flyhalf Luciano Orquera converted with less
than 10 minutes remaining. But defeat left Italy winless through three rounds,
while Scotland earned some redemption in rebounding from a 20-0 home loss to
England, regarded as one of its worst displays ever. "Its all a big blur to be
honest," Weir said. "We had a few chances to go for it. I was in the pocket and
Cus (Chris Cusiter) gave me a lovely ball and the rest is history. "You just
have to go back to basics, get your ball drop right, and I managed to execute
it. Its a great feeling and I am delighted for the boys we have come away with
the win. We can kick on from here now." With captain Sergio Parisse and prop
Martin Castrogiovanni marking their record 104th caps for Italy, they were in
the forefront in giving their side a deserved 13-3 lead at halftime. All of its
points came from former Scotland Under-20 flyhalf Tommaso Allan, including his
second international try. Scotland upped its intensity after the interval, and
centre Alex Dunbar scored two tries with Weir converting the second. Captain
Greg Laidlaw missed one kick but weighed in with two penalties. "The quality of
the match was disappointing," Italy coach Jacques Brunel said. "It was the worst
Italy Ive seen since Ive been here. We gifted Scotland the chance to win through
our mistakes. "Were behind in regards to our ambitions. I want to understand why
we were so bad. We have to react. Our defence was good up until a certain point.
But then ... we didnt do our part, we can put on very different performances."
Scotland conceded a third scrum penalty in the 12th minute and from that the
Azzurri went on the attack. As Italy punched at the tryline, roared on by the
vociferous crowd, Allan forced it over but Robert Barbieris pass was forward,
and Italy came away with a penalty. Scotlands indiscipline continued to grow,
with the visitors conceding five penalties in the opening quarter -- and that
was to increase to 10 by halftime. However, Laidlaw evened the score with a
penalty kick in the 23rd. Scotland, which had one try in its last five matches
in the Six Nations, had a great chance on the half hour when Weir broke in the
Italian half but he cut inside instead of using Sean Lamont on his outside and
slipped. Allan put Italy back in front with another kick, and added his
converted try in the final minute of the half, going over from Furnos pass after
Sergio Parisses charge off the back of the scrum. Rather than deflate Scotland,
the late score spurred the visitors to new heights in the new half. They put
Italy under sustained pressure. The breach finally came in the 54th when Weir
jolted the ball from Italy scrumhalf Edoardo Gori. Scotland spread it quick, and
Dunbar sliced through and sped into the right corner to score Scotlands first
try of the championship. It took 12 more minutes to score its second. From a
scrum on halfway, left wing Sean Lamont ran over Allan and Dunbar burst through.
With Laidlaw off, Weir converted for Scotlands first lead at 18-13. Italy looked
to have rescued the win after a big run by left wing Leonardo Sarto up the
middle, finished by Orquera and Parisse sending Furno over in the right corner
for his first try in 16 appearances. Italy had a two-point lead. But for the
last few minutes, Scotlands forwards took control, busily working the phases,
keeping the ball and making hard yards. With 19 seconds left, replacement
scrumhalf Chris Cusiter fired the ball to Weir, who struck it sweet from 35
metres. He was already running back to his half in joy by the time the ball flew
high inside the left post, the Stadio Olimpico stunned into silence.
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China . Coaches are now allowed to challenge both called and
potential defensive pass interference fouls under certain conditions.MINNEAPOLIS
-- Just when Joe Mauer was getting on a roll, pain forced an early exit. Mauer
drove in two runs before leaving with an injury, Eduardo Nunez homered and the
Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Tuesday night. Mauer
extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a two-run double down the
left-field line in the fourth inning, but was noticeably limping as he ran to
second base. The team said he has a strained oblique muscle on his right side
and will be evaluated Wednesday. "Ive been kind of battling this area for about
a week or so, maybe a little more," Mauer said. "Ive been stiff and getting it
loose and everythings been fine, but today on that one swing, ball down the
line, it felt like somebody hit me pretty hard right there." Mauer missed almost
a week earlier this year with a bad back and sat out the final 39 games last
season with concussion-like symptoms. "Ive never had this happen before, so I
hope its a lot sooner than what guys in the past have had," Mauer said. "Ive
been feeling pretty good and getting some results, so its bad timing."
Eric Hosmer had four hits for the Royals. Ricky Nolasco (5-6) earned his first
win in five starts, allowing one run and eight hits in six innings. Minnesota
signed Nolasco to a $49 million, four-year contract in the off-season, hoping he
would help a rotation that had a major league-worst 5.26 ERA last year. Nolasco
has struggled, however, posting a 5.49 ERA. He pitched more than six innings
just once in his past 11 starts. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said before the
game that Nolasco had a good bullpen session last weekend in hopes of improving
his mechanics to get better command of his fastball to set up his breaking
pitches. Nolasco was better Tuesday, but remained far from dominant. He gave up
six hits in the first three innings before settling down and retiring the Royals
in order in the fourth and sixth. "I didnt have too many quick innings, but it
was just kind of battling and I made some pitches when I had to," Nolasco said.
"(My fastball) was better. Just trying not to do too much. Its a step in the
right direction." Kansas City starter James Shields (8-4) was hoping a new month
would change his fortunes.
Wholesale Jerseys. . It didnt. In his
shortest outing of the season, Shields allowed nine hits and five runs -- four
earned -- in five innings. Although he struck out five, he was constantly behind
in the count, leading to a 113-pitch outing. It was his first loss since May 2,
a span of 10 starts in which he had five wins and five no-decisions. The
right-hander has a 5.66 ERA in his past eight starts, and only twice has he
allowed three or fewer runs. "I actually thought I made some pretty good pitches
and they just found a lot of holes today," Shields said. "Its definitely
frustrating that Im not getting outs. Im not getting my job done." Nunez homered
and Sam Fuld had a two-run single as part of a five-run sixth inning for the
Twins. Minnesota scored more than five runs for just the third time in 16 games.
"We got some breaks," Gardenhire said. "They always say it evens out, so
hopefully this is the start of it evening out." A miscue by the Royals gave
Minnesota a 2-1 lead in the third. With Nunez on first, Chris Parmelee hit a
popup to short left field with two outs. Mike Moustakas backpedaled from third
base as left fielder Alex Gordon was coming in. The two nearly collided and the
ball bounced off Gordons glove to put runners on second and third.
Kendrys Morales drove in Nunez with an infield single. "I think Gordy just
thought that he wasnt going to get there, then at the last second realized he
had a chance to get there and they both get there at the same time," Royals
manager Ned Yost said. An RBI double by Parmelee scored Nunez in the first, but
an RBI single by Moustakas evened the score in the second. NOTES: Minnesotas
Brian Dozier, who has started 79 of 82 games at second base, got the night off.
He is in a 1-for-24 slump, and Gardenhire said he could sense some frustration.
... Raul Ibanez started in right field for Kansas City and went 1 for 4. The
42-year-old was signed Monday after being released by the Angels on June 21. ...
Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe hit his career-high 23rd double. ... Twins RHP
Kevin Correia (4-9, 5.08 ERA) faces LHP Jason Verges (7-3, 3.53) in Wednesday
afternoons series finale.
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