Saturday 14 March 2015 20:28, UK
England moved back into Six Nations Championship contention with a 25-13 win over Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday.
Jonathan Joseph, George Ford and Jack Nowell all went over for England, while Ford added two conversions and two penalties to secure the win. However, it was a nervy Twickenham at half-time as Scotland somehow took a 13-10 lead heading into the break.
With Wales beating Ireland at the Millennium Stadium earlier in the day, the Six Nations Championship could well come down to points difference and the 12-point winning margin may not be enough for England with just one more game against France to come.
England dominanted throughout the game but butchered a host of try-scoring chances as they outclassed a gutsy Scotland.
They should have been ahead after just two minutes when Ford released Luther Burrell, but with options on either side, he opted to go himself and was well tackled by Stuart Hogg. It was the first of many chances that England passed up, which denied the home side a convincing win.
However, three minutes later England did get their first try as Ford found Bath team-mate Joseph who produced a stunning sidestep to get around Hogg and score which was converted by Ford.
Scotland rallied with a try from Mark Bennett, and eight points from the boot of Greig Laidlaw gave the visitors a 13-10 lead at the break and hope of a first win at Twickenham in 32 years.
More missed chances
England started the second-half in the same way as the first, except this time they made the most of their chances.
Quick ball saw them on the front foot and they moved back in front when Ford threw a dummy before cruising over under the posts.
His conversion made it 17-13 and five minutes later he increased the lead to 20-13 with a penalty after Courtney Lawes was taken out in the air.
Mike Brown looked to have extended England’s advantage further but replays showed that a pass from James Haskell to his full-back was forward and another chance was chalked off.
England were well on top though and when Scotland did have the ball they could find no way through their hosts' ferocious defence.
Jack Nowell finally got England’s third try when he went over in the corner. The chance came after Ford’s penalty attempt hit the post and England were able to build with Ford making amends for that missed penalty with a skipped pass to Nowell, who did well to get over despite the attentions of Dougie Fife.
Ford could not add the extras and while England will be delighted to have won the Calcutta Cup, the amount of points they left out on the field could cost them the Championship.
