Scotland and England share Six Nations spoils

Scotland 15 England 15

Scotland and England drew 15-15 in a scrappy Six Nations match in which all the points came from the boot on Saturday at Murrayfield.

The first draw between the sides since 1989 effectively ended the slim hope England had of winning the tournament but gave last-place Scotland its first point this season.

Dan Parks struck four penalties and a drop goal for Scotland while Jonny Wilkinson kicked three penalties for England before going off hurt. His replacement, Toby Flood, kicked England's remaining points with two more penalties.

Flood had a chance to snatch victory after his forwards engineered a drop goal opening in the last move of the match, but his kick was charged down.

The scrappiness of an intense game was typified by the fact that Scotland's two best try-scoring opportunities came from mistakes: Both were set up by moves that started with second-half penalty attempts hitting the same right-hand post.

England had plenty of time to clear the first but scrumhalf Danny Care sliced his clearing kick straight into touch close to the 22. Scotland set up an attacking platform from the ensuing lineout, and back-rower Kelly Brown was left one-on-one with wing Ugo Monye in a race for the corner, but they clashed heads in the tackle and both went off injured.

Having failed to chase that first kick, Parks' Scotland teammates charged in when the next penalty hit the post and were rewarded with possession. England just managed to hold out in front of the posts but only at the expense of a penalty, which Parks kicked for 15-15.

England did show flashes of attacking intent, especially after Flood, Ben Foden and Ben Youngs all went on as replacements, but never led until the 50th and never looked likely to score a try.

Flood still had two chances to win the match late on. He hit the post with a 47-meter (yard) penalty before his charged-down drop goal.

But England was lucky to have trailed only 9-6 at the end of an attritional first 40 minutes.

Scotland had 66 percent of first-half possession and was undone only by a failure to find the final pass at the end of its multiphase moves, while England missed several tackles and again gave away needless penalties.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Special report: Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported

Special report

Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported
The problem with social mobility

The problem with social mobility

Politicians who say they want to break down Britain's social barriers have been told to unlock closed-shop professions – starting in their own backyard
France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, by the way)

France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, btw)

Next month expats in the stronghold of South Kensington will have a big say in who is returned as the first French overseas MP
Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Two years on from the disaster that shook the Caribbean state, its eastern neighbour, the Dominican Republic, fears a new wave of illegal immigrants could hurt its economy
Mean streets at the movies

Mean streets at the movies

Plan B's new film explores the urban tensions that led to last summer's riots – and he's not the only one finding cinematic inspiration in social unrest
Romney hits the magic number, but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test

Romney hits the magic number...

... but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test
Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Weeks after the demise of Sarkozy, the TF1 star he's said to have dated finds herself out of office too
Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Can a network of hi-tech terminals and online medics make the connection?
The 10 Best cycling gear

The 10 Best cycling gear

It’s summer, it's sunny... it’s the perfect time to get on your bike.
Song of the suicide bomber: How 'Babur in London' negotiated a cultural minefield

Song of the suicide bomber

Daring new opera 'Babur in London' features British terrorists planning an attack.
The school that brought the International Baccalaureate to the East End

Bringing the IB to the East End

The International Baccalaureate is not just for pupils in leafy suburbs.
England must beware brilliant Belgium

England must beware brilliant Belgium

They may have missed out on the Euros but the Belgians have a rash of young players who, thanks to the unifying skills of their coach, look to have a bright future
James Lawton: Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job

James Lawton

Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job
2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

Three Lions will play their Euro 2012 games in front of only a few thousand of their fans
What's wrong with Rory?

What's wrong with Rory?

Is the trouble with the defending US Open champion in his head, in his swing, with his girlfriend – or is it all in the minds of others?