Scotland Lift Calcutta Cup

Scotland 15 – 9 England Scotland won what could be their most important RBS 6 Nations game for some time this afternoon as they not only posted their first win of this year’s competition, but they defeated England to lift the Calcutta Cup. After the game, Scotland head coach, Frank Hadden, said: Given the weather conditions we knew it was going to be very difficult up front. I thought it was a herculean effort from our lighter pack, especially at the set piece. That win was for the supporters – not for the critics.Scotland 15 – 9 England Scotland won what could be their most important RBS 6 Nations game for some time this afternoon as they not only posted their first win of this year’s competition, but they defeated England to lift the Calcutta Cup. After the game, Scotland head coach, Frank Hadden, said: Given the weather conditions we knew it was going to be very difficult up front. I thought it was a herculean effort from our lighter pack, especially at the set piece. That win was for the supporters and not for the critics. Scotland took the early initiative running inventive lines and looking the more dangerous in attack. They eventually took the lead inside the first 10 minutes through the ever-reliable boot of Chris Paterson. England crept back into the game as they battled their way into the Scotland 22, pinning them back onto their line. Scotland found themselves forced into two changes in quick succession as a high ball, collected by Rory Lamont, saw the knee of Iain Balshaw strike Lamont’s head resulting in the Sale fullback/wing being stretchered off. Edinburgh hooker Ross Ford soon followed Lamont down the tunnel as he limped off the field with ankle trouble. Jonny Wilkinson brought England back on level terms as he slotted his 25th minute penalty. That penalty promoted Wilkinson to the plinth of highest ever points scorer in history, eclipsing the previous record set by Neil Jenkins. Paterson replied four minutes later to edge the Scots back in front. Wilkinson later tried to do the same from 45 meters out, his effort falling short of the posts as half time closed in. But it was again the boot of Paterson which proved to be Scotland’s most potent weapon, notching his third successful penalty of the first half with the last play of the half. Half-time score: Scotland 9, England 3 Scotland started the second half as they had ended the first, with Paterson putting the home side more than a converted score out of reach with an early penalty. The eyes of the capacity crowd at Murrayfield then switched to Dan Parks as Scotland opted for distance from their fifth penalty opportunity. The Glasgow stand-off coolly sent the ball between the posts. It was then up to England to get themselves back into contention and they took their chances through Wilkinson. Two penalties in three minutes saw them close the gap to six points. It was then a nervous 30 minutes for players and supporters alike as both sides tussled inside the England half. However, during this period, many were brought to their feet as substitute Jason White put in a trademark hit on Paul Sackey, stunning the winger and sending him a good five meters back. In the end, Scotland held their nerve and saw the game out for the famous victory. Man of the Match Mike Blair then climbed the stairs to the Royal Box to lift one of the oldest trophies in world sport as HRH The Princess Royal presented the coveted Cup to the captain. RBS Man of the Match: Mike Blair (Scotland) Scotland: Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh), Rory Lamont (Sale Sharks), Simon Webster (Edinburgh), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Nikki Walker (Ospreys); Chris Paterson (Gloucester), Mike Blair (Edinburgh) CAPTAIN; Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hines (Perpignan), Scott MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), Simon Taylor (Stade Francais) Substitutes: Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors) for Lamont (20 mins), Fergus Thomson (Glasgow Warriors) for Ford (21 mins), Jason White (Sale Sharks) for MacLeod (63 mins), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester) for Jacobsen (64 mins), Craig Smith (Edinburgh) for Murray (69 mins), Kelly Brown (Glasgow Warriors) for Hogg (71 mins), Rory Lawson (Gloucester) for Blair (75 mins) England: Iain Balshaw (Gloucester); Paul Sackey (Wasps), Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons), Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons), Lesley Vainikolo (Gloucester); Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons), Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks); Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Lee Mears (Bath), Phil Vickery (Wasps) CAPTAIN, Simon Shaw (Wasps), Steve Borthwick (Bath), Tom Croft (Leicester), Michael Lipman (Bath), Nick Easter (Harlequins) Substitutes: George Chuter (Leicester) for Mears, Ben Kay (Leicester) for Shaw and Mathew Tait (Newcatle Falcons) for Flood (all 67 mins), Matt Stevens (Bath) for Vickery and Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks) for Wilkinson (both 69 mins), Luke Narraway (Gloucester) for Lipman (73 mins) Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) Touch-judges: Marius Jonker (South Africa) and Carlo Damasco (Italy) TMO: Tim Hayes (Wales) Our picture shows the contrasting fortunes on the final whistle with Scotland celebrations being led by Simon Webster