England kept their Six Nations title hopes alive with a comprehensive 50-10 win over Wales at Twickenham this afternoon. Jonny Wilkinson led the way with one of England's five tries, and added four penalties, five conversions and a drop goal to take his overall points tally to 30. England's other tries came from Dan Luger, who crashed over twice in quick succession in the second half, a controversial first-half score from Will Greenwood, and an injury-time effort from Tim Stimpson.
England's victory moves them level on points with unbeaten leaders France who were to face Scotland at Murrayfield later. Wilkinson broke sustained early Welsh pressure with a well executed drop goal, and Greenwood followed that up minutes later when he barged his way over between the posts despite Kevin Morgan's tackle following a delicate Wilkinson ship.
Three Wilkinson penalties to one for Wales from Iestyn Harris gave England a 19-3 half-time lead. The industrious Wilkinson gave England a dream start to the second-half, when a change of pace enabled him to find a gap in the Wales defence and claim a try, which he duly converted.
After a fourth Wilkinson penalty, England cut loose with two tries from Dan Luger. Wilkinson converted both and England led 43-3. Harris at least managed to find a way through England's defence to claim a consolation try for Wales and he added the conversion. However, England had the last word when Tim Stimpson claimed the home side's fifth try in injury time and Wilkinson landed the conversion to bring up the 50-point mark.
Filed by Shane Murray
