Italy sink Samoa 24-6 to halt long losing run

ROME (Reuters) - Italy ended a 13-match losing run by beating Samoa 24-6 in a scrappy affair in the central city of Ascoli Piceno on Saturday.

The visitors had wing Henry Fa'afili sent off in the 59th minute for a dangerous high tackle on Azzurri fullback Luke McLean.

The hosts, with inspirational captain Sergio Parisse in crutches on the sidelines after sustaining a serious knee ligament injury in training, took the upper hand at the start of a match dogged by errors, infringements and missed kicks.

Wing Mirco Bergamasco put Italy, who had not won since defeating Argentina in June last year, ahead with a penalty in the seventh minute before McLean danced through a series of sloppy attempted tackles to touch down a minute later.

Fullback Titi Esau put Samoa on the scoreboard with a long-distance penalty, but the visitors wasted a fine chance to go over with a loose pass close to the line and Bergamasco extended Italy's lead with another penalty.

Flyhalf Craig Gower, who missed some chances in last week's 32-10 defeat by South Africa, temporarily took back the kicking duties to land a penalty inside his own half before Esau brought Samoa back to 14-6 at the break with a place-kick of his own.

Scrumhalf Tito Tebaldi scored a sweet drop goal in the 50th and Bergamasco scored the extras after the Azzurri were awarded a late penalty try as they attempted a push-over.

"The results have been getting better with good work and finally we have a victory," Tebaldi told Sky television as his side finished November on a high note after losing to the Springboks and a brave 20-6 defeat by New Zealand in Milan.

"I think we deserve it. We certainly can't make do with this. The work we do for the Six Nations must be even more fruitful."

Samoa's first defeat in four matches against Italy means they go away from Europe empty handed after being thrashed 43-5 in France and giving Wales a scare in a 17-13 defeat in Cardiff.

(Writing by Paul Virgo in Rome, editing by Justin Palmer)