ITALY'S dream of pulling off a third Six Nations victory over Scotland was dashed in a thrilling encounter at the Stadio Flaminio. The home side was undone by a lack of discipline when it mattered . . .right at the end . . . when the cool head and accurate boot of Chris Paterson completed Scotland's best Six Nations campaign.

This was the first time Scotland had recorded three victories in the tournament since Italy were added to the mix and they certainly earned it, once again their back row was in masterful mode. But Italy did not disgrace themselves, contributing mightily to a game of rugby that was filled with thrills and kept supporters of both sides on the edge of their seats. The way the home fans had belted out the Italian national anthem had suggested that Scotland might have their hands full and that impression was confirmed with the way Italy started.

They pressed hard at every opportunity and competed like demons at the breakdown. When a probing kick by Pez put Chris Paterson under pressure, the clearance went just five metres.

Then at the line-out, from which Italy just scrabbled possession, out-half Ramiro Pez put up a perfectly-weighted chip which Paterson could only half parry. Mirco Bergamasco thundered onto the ball and crashed over for his third try of the tournament.

But soon after, Scotland drove from a line-out, before replacement scrum-half Mike Blair broke through. He was held up short, but the ball popped out and Paterson scooped it up before diving over, his subsequent conversion levelling proceedings.

There was little to separate the sides at this stage, but, finally, Gordon Ross edged the Scots ahead on the stroke of half time with a simple drop goal after the forwards had taken him well into his strike range.

Italy came straight back at the beginning of the second half and Pez knocked over a kick from 42 metres to square the affair once more.

Back came Scotland, however, and with the seconds ticking away they were awarded a penalty 45 metres out in the third minute of added time which Paterson landed amidst a cacophony of desperate whistling from the home support.

ITALY C Stoica; P Canavosio, G Canale, M Bergamasco, L Nitogli; R Pez, P Griffen; S Perugini, F Ongaro, MCastrogiovanni, S Dellape, M Bortolami (c), S Parisse, M Zaf"ri, J Sole. Subs S Picone for Griffen, 12-21 mins; E Galon for Stoica, 24 mins; A Zanni for Zaf"ri, 54 mins; A Lo Cicero for Castrogiovanni, 56 mins; C Festuccia for Ongaro, 63 mins; C Del Fava for Dellape, 68 mins. Scorers M Bergamasco, try; R Pez, pen, con

SCOTLAND H Southwell; C Paterson, M Di Rollo, A Henderson, S Lamont; G Ross, C Cusiter; G Kerr, S Lawson, B Douglas, N Hines, S Murray, J White (c), A Hogg, S Taylor Subs M Blair for Cusiter, 10 mins; C Smith for Douglas, 56 mins; D Parks for Ross, 63 mins; A Kellock for Murray, 70 mins; S Webster for Lamont, 74 mins; D Hall for Lawson, 77 mins.

Scorers C Paterson, try, con, pen; Ross, drp g Referee A Rolland (Ireland)