Well I didn't see that coming. After the debacle against Wales in Cardiff I had mentally switched off from 6 Nations for another year. All the hype surrounding Gregor Townsend's attacking mentality and a fine Autumn series was overblown.
The narrow victory over France was a small comfort but I fully expected England to go through the gears yesterday and quickly go 10 points clear as they eased to another win over Scotland. After all, it was barely a year ago that they hammered 60 points passed us at Twickenham in a record win. My wife and I were up for the match and with ten Scottish friends also there we enjoyed a fine pre-match at Murrayfield where one can now partake of Loch Fine oysters and sip hand-crafted gin if Guinness, beer and wine are too boring for you.
To the match then at the very civilised time of 4.45pm and Scotland were at it from the off. Their tackling was sharp and every English ball-carrier was stopped by a pair of blue shirts within a couple of strides. We were also throwing it about well when we had it and making good distance in possession. The first score was to Scotland after a driving maul had pushed the England line back to inside their 22, the ball was played across the backs to Huw Jones whose ambitious grubber kick was rewarded when it popped up for him to touch down under the posts. Seven-up and better was to come from Scotland with a second try which saw Jones again break the line and run forty metres into the England half before being stopped. The ball was recycled at speed and with men arriving in numbers, Stuart McInally broke through and with England at sixes and sevens, the ball went wide from Russell to Sean Maitland who hurtled down the line and over.
Murrayfield was in full cry but we waited for an English response which apart from a couple of penalties didn't come before Jones again broke through before half-time and who showed great determination to get over with two white jerseys hanging off him. 22-6 at half-time and we dared to believe we might actually beat England. Owen Farrell scored with a smart break just after the restart and I wondered if this would turn the game but the rest of the side looked strangely disinterested and Scotland quickly got back in the groove. I though Nigel Owens was giving Scotland a lot of decisions, some of which looked harsh on England. Very quick to penalise for not releasing and when England did manage a second try on the break that looked good, Owens went to the TMO and disallowed it for a well-spotted knock-on early in the move.
It really was Scotland's day. They don't come along too often so you will excuse me for enjoying this one. England's large following at Murrayfield took the defeat in their stride and Eddie Jones endeared himself to Scottish fans by accepting the defeat and recognising that the better side won.
Disappointing that Charlton lost again in front of a larger-than-normal £5 gate and to fellow-promotion chasers Shrewsbury. We are so dependable on days like these. They sounded good value for the two-nil win and they also managed to miss a penalty or the defeat could have been more embarrassing. AFC Wimbledon away looms large next Saturday when Karl Robinson will need to find a way for his team to fire again after lacking any real against the Shrews.
Welling, meanwhile, won 2-0 at Canvey Island's Concord to move within a place of the play-offs in national league South and I reckon they will manage it if they can keep Joe Healy fit and don't suffer too badly with injuries.
Now, what about that takeover?
Thought Owens had one of his poorer games and his calculation of advantage times seemed a little one sided but that could just be me looking for excuses. Your mob were notably the better side but England cant be so ill disciplined,cant give away so many penalties and then not do their usual strong finish, and expect to win.
ReplyDeleteI think the better team won. The boys in blue wanted it more and were dogged in their defending. Similar to yourself, I didn't expect that result what with their opponents current form.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, a good result for welling.