England edge past Scotland in thriller to win Calcutta Cup
A hard-fought 16-15 win at Allianz Stadium saw England reclaim the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2020 and keep themselves in the race for the Guinness Men's Six Nations. Tommy Freeman's try, eight points from the boot of Marcus Smith and a long-range Fin Smith penalty sealed the win.
Scotland hit the ground running after three minutes as deft hands on half way released Tom Jordan, who passed inside for Ben White to gallop over, but Finn Russell was unable to convert.
England responded well by winning a penalty a few minutes later. Henry Slade kicked to touch and from the lineout Steve Borthwick’s side launched into phase play. Powerful carries from the forwards drew the defenders, before Freeman powered over on the 13th phase for his third try in three games. Marcus Smith converted to put the hosts ahead by two points.
The following 10 minutes settled into a pattern of box kicks from both scrum halves until Scotland kicked to touch from a penalty. Off lineout ball, Russell unleashed the backs and Duhan van der Merwe’s offload found Jones who crashed over in the corner. However, Russell’s conversion went awry to leave the score at 7-10.
The visitors dominated possession and on the half-hour mark threatened the English line, but as they looked to play wide Kyle Rowe knocked on to offer England respite. Tom Willis carried hard off the back of the scrum and after a few kicks exchanged, Marcus Smith cleared up to half way from a marked kick.
Scotland won a penalty from the lineout but England’s defence stood strong until Blair Kinghorn spilt the ball on the 22 with five minutes of the half remaining.
With Willis off the field for an HIA, the Scots again found themselves in the English 22 as they made the most of broken field, but replacement Ben Curry won an important penalty at the breakdown.
England won a penalty from the final play of the half and showed their intent by kicking for touch. They launched an impressive strike play as Ollie Lawrence burst through a gap before offloading to Marcus Smith.
Smith jinked left and right as England rushed into the Scottish 22, but was tackled short of the line. England recycled and played it wide looking to finish with a flourish, but Lawrence’s offload was too high for Sleightholme to gather and the score remained 7-10 at half-time.
Borthwick’s men started the second half at pace, with a powerful Ben Earl carry providing field position, but Lawrence was unable to hold Slade’s offload.
Van der Merwe continued to threaten with a strong carry and set Scotland up in the English 22, but Maro Itoje stripped the ball to snuff out the danger and England won a penalty at the resulting scrum.
With 55 minutes on the clock, a deft ball by Lawrence found Earl on his shoulder and England won a penalty at the breakdown 30 metres out. Marcus Smith then converted to draw England level with the first points of the half.
Scotland almost bounced back through a Russell break, but Itoje did brilliantly again to steal the ball back and relieve the pressure.
A dangerous tackle by Rowe with 15 minutes remaining handed England the advantage and they kicked to the corner looking to score their second try. Itoje won the lineout and the backs looked to recreate Elliot Daly’s try against France. The plan was thwarted but England had a penalty advantage, allowing Marcus Smith to convert and put England three points ahead.
Five minutes later, a dangerous clearout by the visitors just inside the Scottish half gave Fin Smith a shot at goal from distance, which he duly converted to extend England’s lead to six points.
Scotland looked to come back with a lineout in the English 22, but Itoje disrupted the ball and England showed their defensive ability to keep the Scots out.
With just over a minute remaining Stafford McDowall broke through a gap at the breakdown on halfway. He was brought down in the 22 but Scotland recycled to work it wide for Van der Merwe to score out wide, but the angle proved too much for Russell whose kick drifted wide.
Just one point separated the two sides and England kicked deep from the restart. Scotland looked to go 80 metres and won a penalty for a knock-on in the tackle, with Russell kicking up to the English 10-metre line.
Scotland won the lineout, but loose ball allowed England to hold the ball up and reclaim the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2020 in a thrilling 16-15 victory.
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