England (9) 22 / Scotland (9) 16 (Final score)
England edged closer to their first Six Nations title and grand slam for eight years when they beat Scotland 22-16 on Sunday but they were made to work hard for their fourth successive victory.
Scotland, who had lost their opening three games and not won at Twickenham since 1983, scrapped furiously throughout in a game strewn with errors and turnovers and were deservedly level at 9-9 15 minutes into the second half.
A try by replacement flanker Tom Croft plus four Toby Flood penalties took England 10 points clear after 79 minutes and though a Max Evans try brought the Scots back to within three, replacement Jonny Wilkinson finished things off with a penalty in the final minute.
England top the championship standings with eight points from four wins. Wales, second on six points, are the only team who can deny Martin Johnson’s team the title but to do so they would need to see England lose in Ireland next week and beat France in Paris.
Scoring:-
England: Penalties – Flood (4) Wilkenson (1)
Try – Tom Croft, Conversion – Jonny Wilkenson
Scotland:Penalties – Paterson (2), Drop goal Jackson (49th min)
Try – Nick Evans, Conversion – Chris Paterson
Teams –
| England | |
| 15 | Ben Foden |
| 14 | Chris Ashton |
| 13 | Mike Tindall |
| 12 | Shontayne Hape |
| 11 | Mark Cueto |
| 10 | Toby Flood |
| 9 | Ben Youngs |
| 8 | Nick Easter |
| 7 | James Haskell |
| 6 | Tom Wood |
| 5 | Tom Palmer |
| 4 | Louis Deacon |
| 3 | Dan Cole |
| 2 | Dylan Hartley |
| 1 | Alex Corbisiero |
| SUBSTITUTES | |
| 16 | Steve Thompson |
| 17 | Paul Doran-Jones |
| 18 | Simon Shaw |
| 19 | Tom Croft |
| 20 | Danny Care |
| 21 | Jonny Wilkinson |
| 22 | Matt Banahan |
| Scotland | |
| 15 | Chris Paterson |
| 14 | Simon Danielli |
| 13 | Joe Ansbro |
| 12 | Sean Lamont |
| 11 | Max Evans |
| 10 | Ruaridh Jackson |
| 9 | Rory Lawson |
| 8 | Kelly Brown |
| 7 | John Barclay |
| 6 | Nathan Hines |
| 5 | Alastair Kellock |
| 4 | Richie Gray |
| 3 | Moray Low |
| 2 | Ross Ford |
| 1 | Allan Jacobsen |
| SUBSTITUTES | |
| 16 | Scott Lawson |
| 17 | Geoff Cross |
| 18 | Richie Vernon |
| 19 | Alasdair Strokosch |
| 20 | Mike Blair |
| 21 | Dan Parks |
| 22 | Nick De Luca |
Brown is off, moving his arms promisingly, but pressure is now on Ford who has a throw on his own line again
Johnson is furious with the referee for ending England’s advantage moments before they knock it on themselves after a good attack from Hape and then Ashton
52 England win a penalty for the scrum, but then concede the penalty 10m downfield, at a tackle. This is shocking rugby. These are meant to be professional players and they perform like amateurs.
51 Free kick to England for a skew feed at the scrum.
50 Another Scottish shocker at the line-out, but England return the favour with a forward pass near halfway.
48 England turn the ball over on the Scottish 22 and then concede a penalty on halfway, as the Scottish chase on the clearing kick was just too quick for the retreating English defenders.
Dan Parks is on for Jackson and Mike Blair is on for Lawson as well
Danny Care is on for Youngs for England as well and he’s got options as he orchestrates England attack in the Scottish 22
Poitre blows up and Barclay is off for 10. The French referee has sin binned him
ENGLAND PENALTY Flood kicks the simple penalty and Scotland now must survive 10 with 14 men
Good surges from Evans and Ansbro but Poitre blows up for an injury – to himself! He’s pulled a hamstring and Andy Robinson is furious as Scotland were on the attack
59 Referee Romain Poite is helped from the field after pulling a calf muscle.
20 minutes remaining at Twickenham and it’s going to go down to the last minute surely
60 Dan Parks tries a drop-goal, but it was nowhere near the target. Poor effort.
scrappy from Engalnd – Ashton the latest culprit as he flung a pass straight to the impressive Gray
Scotland are weathering Barclay’s absences well so far – 5 minutes on the sin bin clock
England have summoned the replacements – Thompson, Wilkinson and Croftall waiting to join the fray
64 Scotland scrapping very hard on the floor, despite being a man down among the forwards.
What a tackle from Paterson in the left corner to save a certain try. Simply sensational from the Scottish fullback
He made up a massive gap, chased down the express England fullback and managed to drag him into touch after Foden looked to round off a great break from England on the left
Scott Lawson is on for Ross Ford and he immediately has a throw on his own 5m line – pressure
It’s risky from Lawson with a huge throw but it pays off as Scotland win the penalty at the breakdown and will clear
ENGLAND TRY Tom Croft has scored in the left corner on his comeback. Twickenham gasps with relief
Wilkinson adds the conversion from the touchline
Scotland must respond now – will they regret having Parks on at 10 now? Barclay is back on
Super surge from Haskell in midfield takes England forward and the ball goes wide to the left but Croft can’t control the ball
72 Scotland win a tackle penalty and set up a line-out near the English 22.
There was real suspicion of a forward pass from Cueto to Croft for the try but there was no doubt to the way in which Croft thundered over – the fastest man in the England squad
Scotland are taking the game into England’s 22 – but do they have the gile to get over the line?
SCOTLAND TRY The try is given. Never in doubt.
75 Chris Paterson slots the conversion and the score is 16-19
74 TRY – A moment of brilliance from Scottish wing Max Evans, who – after several phases inside the English 22- chips and collects to flop over. The call goes to the TMO and he rules that it is a try.
Scotland proved they’ve got the gile as the ball comes out to the blindside and Evans, seeing only a white wall, chips it delicately over the top before collecting. Conversion added
Drop missed by Wilkenson 3 min to go
76 Jonny Wilkinson is wide with a drop-goal attempt – this game is now on a knife’s edge.
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