England hang on for narrow win over Wales

Two first-half tries by winger Jonny May were enough for holders Englandto beat a gutsy Wales side 12-6 in an absorbing Six Nations battle atTwickenham yesterday. On a freezing wet day in west London, May tookadvantage of two moments of magic to race over as England claimed a 15thsuccessive home victory in the competition to stay joint top of thestandings with Ireland.England led 12-3 at the interval and although Wales threw everything atthem in the second half, Eddie Jones’s disciplined side produced aresolute rearguard action. Gareth Anscombe’s late penalty gave Wales aglimpse of victory but England held out. Ultimately the outcome wasdecided by tiny margins over 80 brutal minutes and Wales could feeljustifiably hard done by.Anscombe, playing at fullback in place of the injured Leigh Halfpenny,had a try controversially disallowed before the break after the videoreferee adjudged he had not grounded the ball. England were alsoindebted to an astonishing try-saving tackle by replacement flanker SamUnderhill who denied Scott Williams what looked like being a certainscore in the corner.“It was a good old-fashioned arm wrestle today but we’re getting good atwinning those arm wrestles,” Jones said. “It’s great to see that whenwe’re not quite at our best we are getting the results. Wales are tough,well-coached and a good side.”England got off to a flying start and were a try to the good with onlythree minutes on the clock. Anthony Watson got the better of RhysPatchell to knock back a 50-50 high ball and when Owen Farrell gatheredhe instantly spotted a yawning gap behind Welsh lines.His grubber kick was perfect and there was only going to be one winneras May raced through to gather and dive over. Farrell missed theconversion and Patchell failed with a long-range penalty for Walesbefore England launched a concerted assault on the Welsh line.Wales defended desperately for phase after phase in front of their ownposts but eventually were breached in the corner when an audaciousoffload by lock Joe Launchbury opened the door for May to dash over forhis second try. This time Farrell kicked the conversion.Patchell’s grubber kick put Anscombe in a race with Jonathan Joseph andalthough the Welshman appeared to have got the touchdown the videoreferee saw it differently. Patchell’s simple penalty was all Wales hadto show for their efforts at halftime. England made a change at theinterval with Underhill replacing Sam Simmonds in the back row and theywere forced into another substitution when Watson tweaked a hamstringand was replaced by Jack Nowell. Wales could make little headway ashandling errors and ferocious England tackling frustrated their efforts.Winger George North replaced Patchell with 25 minutes left and Waleswere in the ascendancy without ever opening up the hosts. Even when they did Williams was denied by Underhill’s heroic last-ditchtackle and England, with all eight replacements on the pitch, had justenough in the tank to hang on for their 24th win in 25 games underJones.