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England edge Scotland 16-15 in Six Nations thriller / Photo: © AFP
England edge Scotland 16-15 in Six Nations thriller
England just did enough to end a run of four straight defeats by Scotland with a 16-15 win at Twickenham on Saturday as they maintained their Six Nations title hopes.
Scotland outscored England three tries to one but Finn Russell was off target with all three conversions -- including Duhan van der Merwe's 79th-minute score -- as the hosts prevailed by a point for the second match in a row following their 26-25 win over France.
Scotland led 10-7 at half-time, scoring tries through Ben White and Huw Jones either side of Tommy Freeman's lone converted score for England as Van der Merwe once more tormented the hosts' defence.
Two Marcus Smith penalties and a long-range effort from Fin Smith put England 16-10 up with 10 minutes to play.
The visitors might still have won the game, with Van der Merwe sprinting in for what was his seventh try against England -- extending his own Scotland record for the fixture. Russell, passed fit to play after a sickening head injury last time out against Ireland, skewed the conversion.
In regaining the Calcutta Cup, England made it two wins from three championship matches this season as they stayed in touch with unbeaten Ireland, who maintained their bid for an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title by beating Wales earlier Saturday.
O. Larsen--BTZ
