EDINBURGH (Reuters) -Finn Russell slotted a penalty eight minutes from time to earn Scotland a narrow 20-17 win over England on Saturday as they took benefit of a penalty attempt to a yellow card for the guests to edge a nerve-shredding Six Nations conflict.
Scotland, 10-6 up at halftime, have been 10-17 down after they have been awarded a penalty attempt after England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie batted away a excessive cross-field cross. He was despatched to the sin bin for 10 minutes.
It proved the turning-point as with the one-man benefit, Scotland received a late penalty to snatch victory at Murrayfield and take the Calcutta Cup for a second successive 12 months.
But Scotland have been pressured to maintain out for a nerve-jangling success as England chased victory within the closing levels, denied by dealing with errors as errors crept in amid the fatigue.
Ben White scored Scotland’s different attempt whereas all England’s factors got here from flyhalf Marcus Smith, who scored a wonderful attempt to wasted little time in imposing his expertise on the Six Nations.
Scrumhalf White made a dream debut, approaching as a head harm alternative for Ali Price after 12 minutes, and ending off a sweeping counter-attack initiated by Stuart Hogg however arrange by Darcy Graham’s jinking motion and burst of tempo earlier than White ran in for the sport’s opening attempt.
Russell transformed the rating and added a long-range penalty on the stroke of halftime as a buoyant Scotland went into the break forward.
But England lowered the rating to 10-9 via a Smith penalty within the forty eighth minute — his third of the sport — and took the lead 5 minutes later, with their forwards driving the ball upfield earlier than Ben Youngs popped it up for Smith, operating an ideal line, to crash over for the attempt.
Another Smith penalty prolonged the rating to 17-10 however Scotland have been again stage when Cowan-Dickie’s folly handed them a lifeline.
He was making an attempt to cease a excessive cross subject kick touchdown within the arms of the unmarked Graham on the Scotland wing however his motion in smacking the ball ahead left referee Ben O’Keeffe with no choice however to award a penalty attempt to ship him off in a vital interval through which Scotland have been within the ascendancy.
“I’m completely satisfied to bits,” stated Scotland captain Stuart Hogg.
“We wished to come out and placed on a present, and present what we’re about. And at instances we bought it proper, at instances we have been up in opposition to it. You know England are a unbelievable facet… however we’re completely delighted with that.”
Scotland play subsequent at Wales on Saturday whereas England are away at Italy subsequent Sunday.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ed Osmond and Christian Radnedge)
