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 try.

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)