GEORGE FORD’S redemption kick squeaked another win for England – and extended Wales’ Twickenham hoodoo.
Ford had been at the centre of a bizarre first-half conversion storm as ref James Doleman ruled he had started his approach, denying him the chance to kick after man of the match Ben Earl crashed over the line.
GettyGeorge Ford was left humiliated in the first half[/caption]
AFPWales were able to close down Ford’s conversion attempt as he paused after beginning his run up[/caption]
PABut the fly-half made amends as he kicked the winning points in the second half[/caption]
AFPFraser Dingwall scored a brilliant try to move England within a point of Wales[/caption]
England recovered from being down to 13 men at one point, only for Ford to miss another conversion when Fraser Dingwall went over from close range for his first international score.
But the Sale man, making his 93rd Red Rose appearance, put the wheels back on the chariot with a brilliant 50-22 kick that earned vital possession eight yards out.
And when Wales replacement Ryan Grady deliberately knocked on to prevent a score a score on the left, Ford coolly kicked the points to ensure the Welsh, edged out by a point by Scotland last week, are still waiting for their first Six Nations win at Twickers since 2012.
In truth, it was far from impressive by England. Scarcely, if at all, better than their laboured performance in Rome.
Yet two wins out of two are building blocks and a third in a row at Murrayfield in a fortnight will make those title dreams a little more real, while Wales are now only aiming at avoiding the wooden spoon.
Over the balance, probably, England shaded it. Just.
They had started with genuine intensity – just as new skipper Jamie George had ordered.
Full-back Freddie Steward eluded three red shirts to march into Welsh territory, while Ford kicked probingly for the corner.
ReutersAlex Mann beat two players to score a superb try[/caption]
AFPFord kicked the match-winning points in the 72nd minute[/caption]
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But the pressure came to nothing, with the inspirational Tommy Reffell winning a vital turnover five metres out and then Henry Slade losing the ball in contact as he sought to breach the try line.
The home side were then reduced to 13 men in the space of minutes.
Ollie Chessum was first in the bin for making head contact on Keiron Assiratti with his shoulder.
Ioan Lloyd, making his first start at fly half, kicked for the corner, the line-out rumbled on and a penalty try was awarded for Ethan Roots collapsing the rolling maul, with the flanker also ordered off for 10 minutes by Kiwi Doleman.
But England hit back instantly as Wales coughed up the ball.
Earl, unstinting all afternoon in attack and defence, picked off the back of the scrum and barrelled through four defenders to touch down, giving Ford what should have been a simple conversion.
The fly-half was eyeing up his attempt, making a slight move to the left, triggering the Welsh charge-down as Rio Dyer kicked it off the tee.
To Ford’s disbelief, Doleman said he had begun the kick, prompting outraged Steve Borthwick to leave his seat and head pitchside for clarification from the officials.
Doleman was not going to change his mind on either call.
But getting back to a full complement when Roots returned, without having sustained any damage, was a win for England, as was repelling 25 Welsh phases of possession on their own 22, the white wall holding firm.
Not – as fans of both sides marked the recent passings of Welsh and Lions greats JPR Williams and Barry John – that this was a classic to honour their memories.
Imagination was absent. It was old-fashioned grunt and grind before England cracked on the stroke of half-time.
A simple inside ball off a ruck saw Reffell make the first incision, Tomos Williams scampered through the gap and Alex Mann cantered over, Lloyd adding the extras to put Wales, deservedly, nine clear at the interval.
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England began the second half as they had the first. Pressure, pressure, pressure. But initially no points.
Elliot Daly was bundled into touch as he headed for the corner.
Yet Wales gifted them three when centre Nick Tompkins was offside chasing a clearing kick. Stupid and costly.
It would not have mattered at all if Wales had taken the opportunity carved out by full-back Cameron Winnett’s lightning blast soon afterwards.
Winnett fed Josh Adams on the wing, with England seemingly spreadeagled.
But Daly put the winger under pressure, Ford ensured Dyer could not hang on to the pass Adams flung inside and England escaped.
And within four minutes, they were back within a point.
Three close-range charges were held up before the ball went wide, with Daly doing superbly to hang on to a poor Ford pass and Dingwall delighted to score his first England try.
Ford, though, pulled his conversion, the chance to go ahead squandered, four extra points now gone begging.
Yet the veteran fly-half made amends. His superb kick from inside the Red Rose half bounced before finding touch to give England the line-out option.
Grady, panicking, felt he had no option, sent to the bin for his troubles and Ford’s stick-on penalty put England ahead for the first time in the match.
It was enough, England’s defence holding firm through the final five minutes. Big tackles. Big contact. A big win.