ROME (AP) — Wales made it two wins from three in Six Nations rugby by holding off Italy 24-16 in an error-strewn match at Stadio Flaminio on Saturday.
Wales was matched by Italy in the try count with two each, and recalled flyhalf Stephen Jones made the difference with his boot, kicking over four of five attempts.
By contrast, Mirco Bergamasco missed both conversion chances, and he substitute flyhalf Luciano Orquera squandered 10 points in total off the tee, leaving Italy ruing a third straight defeat in the championship after the one game it targeted as the most winnable.
"It is a tough place to come and get a result, but I'm pleased with the result," Wales coach Warren Gatland said. "I'm not pleased with how we played at times as we felt we gave away some soft tries.
"It still puts us in contention for the championship. It's a big one for us next at home against Ireland. This championship is all about confidence and momentum.
"We have ground out two tough games and the next game is home at the Millennium Stadium so we want to go back there and get a result."
Center Gonzalo Canale took advantage of a dropped pass by Wales lock Barry Davies to score an early try for Italy, then winger Morgan Stoddart and flanker Sam Warburton crossed to boost Wales to 21-11 up at halftime. Italy captain Sergio Parisse then drove over to cut the deficit to five, but despite dominating the second half his side couldn't show it on the scoreboard.
When Wales finally made it back into Italy territory, Wales jack-of-all-trades James Hook sealed the win with a drop goal six minutes from time.
"We weren't good enough to win, but we gave 100 percent on the field and created chances," Italy coach Nick Mallett said. "(Alessandro) Zanni got as close as you could get to scoring without scoring and we missed four kicks. In the second half we dominated, but made three or four errors when we were in dangerous positions."
Wales, wary of Italy after losing in Rome in 2003 and 2007, grabbed the lead in the second minute with a Jones penalty.
Italy hit back immediately. Davies threw a loose pass that went to ground, Canale scooped it up, chipped ahead and dived on the ball over the line. Bergamasco couldn't convert and the host's lead lasted four minutes.
Hook shrugged off Canale's attempted tackle, popped the ball to fullback Lee Byrne and he offloaded to Stoddart, who twisted through Canale and scrumhalf Fabio Semenzato to go over in the corner. Stephen Jones missed the conversion from wide out.
Again Italy responded quickly. Flyhalf Kristopher Burton chipped over the Wales defense, Byrne and Stoddart allowed the ball to bounce and after Bergamasco tackled Stoddart, the wing was penalized for not releasing. Bergamasco picked himself up to kick the penalty and level the scores at 8-8.
Wales continued the tit for tat by immediately racing up the other end for its second try. Shane Williams fielded a Semenzato kick, and released Byrne to break through the midfield. Hook was on his shoulder to continue the move and he drew fullback Luke McLean and offloaded to Warburton for a simple run in between the posts that Jones converted.
Italy's problems continued at the lineout, and Alun-Wyn Jones stole Italy's first two throws. Eventually they were rectified and from one Italy felt it scored its second try.
Flanker Zanni took the lineout, and Burton's pass sent center Alberto Sgarbi crashing into Wales' defense. Santiago Dellape, Bergamasco and Semenzato led the charge to the line where Zanni dived over the pile. While the TV official ruled out the try for Stoddart holding up Zanni, referee Wayne Barnes instead awarded Italy a penalty that Bergamasco kicked to make it 15-11.
Wales kept up its attack and Bergamsco stopped center Jamie Roberts close to the line, and Italy winger Andrea Masi put in a try-saving tackle on Ryan Jones to stop an overlap when the No. 8 had three players free outside him. Byrne was denied a try because of a forward pass from Williams, but Wales finished the half with Stephen Jones kicking two more penalties for a 10-point lead at the break.
"I thought we looked really sharp with the ball in hand," Gatland said. "If we hadn't given away a soft early try or had the referee rule out the try for the forward pass I think we could have come out and had a better second half. I was disappointed with the call, I think it would have allowed us to unleash the shackles for the second half."
After a frenetic opening to the second half, Wales captain Matthew Rees put in a neck-high tackle on Burton but Bergamasco pushed the resulting penalty wide.
Eventually, Sgarbi and Canale stole the ball from Williams, and Parisse powered through Stephen Jones and Mike Phillips for Italy's second try.
Midway through the half, Bergamasco was overlooked for a penalty attempt and Italy went for touch. Another penalty was turned into a five-meter scrum but Italy was out-scrummed by Wales.
With the next penalty chance, Orquera kicked wide and when Masi kicked straight to touch, Wales broke into Italy's 22 and Hook celebrated his 50th cap by slotting a drop goal to secure the win.
With the clock ticking down, Orquera put Canale through but Bergamasco knocked on with the line at his mercy.
"Today was a tough game, Italy is a touch physical side," Gatland said. "A criticism a while back was it only played the set-piece of scrum and lineout, but today the players expressed themselves with the ball more."
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Wales 24 (Morgan Stoddart, Sam Warburton tries; Stephen Jones 3 penalties, conversion, James Hook drop goal), Italy 16 (Gonzalo Canale, Sergio Parisse tries; Mirco Bergamasco 2 penalties). HT: 21-11.
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