Rugby story by Boris Webb, Sun, 26 Feb 2006 15:04:00 GMT


24 hours before the 123rd Calcutta Cup encounter with the old enemy, Scots' captain Jason White said the team believed that it could beat England. And 24 hours later his team vindicated his words as they clinched a memorable 18-12 win over England at Murrayfield.

England's hopes of a Grand Slam thus lay buried in the rugged Scottish coast, but to give the Scots the credit that they thoroughly deserved, they put in a splendid display of attacking, but equally defending rugby. Charlie Hodgson and Chris Paterson's penalties in the first half meant that both the teams went into the break on par.

Hodgson then put England's noses ahead but Paterson put in two penalties, while a drop goal from Dan Parks put Scotland 12-6 ahead. In the last 20 minutes Hodgson appeared to have given England some hope with two penalties, but Paterson again rose to the occasion and slotted home two penalties to take Scotland to a famous win.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden praised the pluck shown by his players as they clinched the Calcutta Cup, "I'm so proud. It was an awesome defensive effort because England are such a hard team to play against," he said. "There was no let up in our defensive effort. Sometimes you see the bigger, heavier, stronger side wear the other team down but that didn't happen."

England coach Andy Robinson said that the ineffectual possession let his team down, "We had a lot of possession but we were not able to keep the continuity in our attacks," he said. "Scotland defended magnificently well. They turned us over on many occasions, they took their opportunities with their kicks and deserved to win."

Match Details
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland).

Scotland: Southwell; Paterson, Di Rollo, Henderson, Lamont; Parks, Blair; Kerr, Hall, Douglas; MacLeod, Kellock; White (capt), Taylor, Hogg.
Substitutes: Ford, Smith, Hines, Petrie, Cusiter, Ross, Webster

England: Lewsey; Cueto, Noon, Tindall, Cohen; Hodgson, Ellis; Sheridan, Thompson, White; Borthwick, Grewcock; Worsley, Moody, Corry (capt).
Substitutes: Chuter, Freshwater, Shaw, Dallaglio, Dawson, Goode, Voyce.

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