Tigers winger Dodge, who made his Tigers first-team debut in the EDF Energy Cup tie against Northampton this season, gave England the perfect start with a try after just five minutes. The Tigers Academy star picked up a loose ball close to the Azzurri line and crashed over after Italian wing Andrea Bacchetti had misjudged the bounce.
Further tries followed from fly-half Seb Jewell, centre Adam Powell, prop Charlie Beech and skipper Danny Care, who also kicked a drop goal. Full-back Dave Doherty added two conversions and a penalty.
Coach Nigel Redman said: "Overall we were good for 50 minutes. Given the conditions, I thought we controlled and dominated the first half. We picked and went, our defence was good, we brought forwards into play. We scored three good tries and were quite happy for that first half, but we need to do better for longer next time."
England's next matches are away to Ireland U-20 on Friday, February 23, followed by a televised match at Northampton against France U-21 on Friday, March 9 and finally Wales U-20 at Newport on Friday, March 16.
England U-20:
D Doherty (London Wasps); O Dodge (Leicester Tigers), T Youngs (Leicester Tigers), A Powell (Saracens), S Kuadey (Sale Sharks); S Jewell (NEC Harlequins), D Care (capt, NEC Harlequins); C Beech (Northampton Saints), M Mullan (Worcester Warriors), T Mercey (Saracens), D Attwood (Bristol Rugby), P Hoy (Northampton Saints), A Shaw (Leicester Tigers), C Pennycook (Bristol Rugby), D Tait (Sale Sharks).
Replacements: Tom Standfield (London Irish) for Mullan 51min, J Tirrell (Saracens) for Kuadey 57min, H Ellis (London Wasps) for Tait 66min, M Cox (Worcester Warriors) for Hoy 77min, J Forster (Gloucester Rugby) for Beech 77min. Not used: T Parker (London Irish), F Neale (Saracens).
Italy U-21:
G Rubini (Overmach Parma); M Sepe (AlmavivA UR Capitolina), A Sgarbi (Benetton Treviso), D Duca (Consiag I Cavalieri Prato), A Bacchetti (Femi CZ Rovigo); P Buso (Cammi Calvisano), T Tebaldi (Rolly Gran Parma); P Sciamanna (Arix Viadana), L Giovanchelli (Carrera Petrarca Padova), A De Marchi (Overmach Parma), M Tveraga (Stade Francais), L Beccaris (Cammi Calvisano), P Derbyshire (Rolly Gran Parma, captain), F Cristiano (Cammi Calvisano), N Duca (Arix Viadana).
Replacements: D Giazzon (Marchiol San Marco) for Giovanchelli 44min, E Ceccato (Marchiol San Marco) for D Duca 44min, M Wilson (Saracens) for Sepe 60min, A Barbieri (Consiag I Cavalieri Prato) for Duca 66min, N Gatto (Carrera Petrarca Padova) for De Marchi 70min. Not used: G Turroni (Romagna), R Talotti (Arix Viadana).