Wales maintain Six Nations winning run

CARDIFF, Wales -- Wales maintained their 100 percent record in the Six Nations Championship when they overpowered Italy 47-8 in Cardiff while luckless Scotland suffered a third successive defeat when they crashed 34-13 in Ireland.

Shane Williams and Lee Byrne scored two tries apiece for Wales and Tom Shanklin celebrated his 50th cap with a score.

Williams' double took his international tally to 39, one short of the record held by Gareth Thomas.

Stephen Jones kicked 18 points with the boot, and the win matched Wales' highest score in the Six Nations and was their highest victory margin in the Championship.

"Three wins from three and the show goes on," said Wales skipper Ryan Jones whose team added Saturday's win to the victories over England and Scotland.

"The boys were fantastic and got the rewards they deserved."

Wales were 13-8 ahead at the break but then took complete control.

"We wanted to come out more physical, tighten things up and went wide. We did all we wanted to do and scored some fantastic tries," added Jones.

Italy posed an early threat following Martin Castrogiovanni's try but eventually crumbled as Wales gave an outstanding exhibition of speed and skill after the break, scoring 34 points without reply.

Wales went 6-0 up in 10 minutes when Jones punished Italian errors at the breakdown but Italy responded well.

The recalled Matthew Rees overthrew a defensive lineout and the grateful Castrogiovanni snapped up the loose ball to cross for his eighth international try.

Andrea Marcato's conversion attempt struck the left upright but Italy should have gone in front after 21 minutes when their backline ruthlessly carved through the Welsh three quarters only for Gonzalo Canale to drop the try scoring pass with the line at his mercy.

Shane Williams brought Wales to life. The Ospreys flyer effortlessly sliced through the Italian defense to send Matthew Rees free on the left and when the hooker was held up short, Williams spurned the opportunity of a kick at goal to quickly tap and go for the line.

He was then held up inches short but the ball was recycled and a long pass to the right flank sent Byrne over unopposed. Jones landed a touchline conversion.

Marcato hit an upright again soon after but did manage to notch three points just before the break.

Things swung sharply in the home side's favor on the resumption.

Shanklin celebrated his 50th cap when he intercepted a speculative pass from Andrea Masi to race fifty meters for a try.

Jones converted and added another two penalties in quick succession to leave the score at 26-8.

After 56 minutes Shane Williams went over over unopposed and Byrne soon added his second with a great individual effort.

Williams completed the scoring, from a well weighted pass by replacement James Hook, who converted.

Geordan Murphy, originally dropped by Ireland, took the man-of-the-match award in their hammering of Scotland, whose second row replacement Jim Hamilton broke a leg near the end.

The Scots made a promising start but failed to produce the points and were made to pay as Ireland scored five tries to one at Croke Park.

After 21 scoreless minutes David Wallace went over for Ireland's opening try following a five-meter scrum and Ronan O'Gara converted.

Chris Paterson cut the deficit with a 40-meter penalty but Murphy started a move which resulted in Robert Kearney scoring in the corner. O'Gara, playing his 80th Test, landed the kick.

Paterson was on target with another penalty but soon after the restart Marcus Horan went over for a third Irish try. O'Gara missed the kick but soon afterwards put over another penalty.

Scotland then had the satisfaction of scoring their first try of the season through Simon Webster, Paterson converting, to cut the lead to nine points.

But in the 62nd minute Tommy Bowe was awarded a try after replay official Roman Poite had delberated. O'Gara converted and Bowe scored a second try after Hamilton had been carried off on a stretcher. E-mail to a friend