Calcutta Cup: How three try-scoring chances were spurned

Published on Sunday 14 March 2010 23:30

THESE are the three main chances that could have produced Scottish tries:

CHANCE 1 (43 minutes)

Chris Cusiter claimed a poor kick from Delon Armitage and Scotland set up a ruck on their own ten-metre line. Wing Max Evans came into the centre and made 20 metres to halfway with strong running and aggression; Ross Ford battered over halfway; Evans played scrum-half; Hugo Southwell broke over halfway; John Barclay secured ball and Dan Parks moved it wide to Evans, who attacked from halfway to the 22. With England's defence scrambling back, Al Kellock tried to make yards, but he was alone and England turned over the ball.

CHANCE 2 (53 minutes)

A good period of play led to a Parks penalty coming back off the post. There was no follow-up from Scotland players, but England's Ben Foden sclaffed his clearance. Scotland won the lineout at the tail with Barclay, rucked well, Ford charged on, and then Cusiter sold Tim Payne and Danny Care a dummy, darting through before he was snagged by a lunging Dan Cole ten metres out. He popped a pass to Allan Jacobsen, who got to five metres, but the ball came back too swiftly as few English players were committed to the ruck; Cusiter fed Parks, who sent a flat pass to Kelly Brown, but he clashed head-on with Ugo Monye and England were awarded the scrum.

CHANCE 3 (66 minutes)

A second Dan Parks penalty came back off the post and Kellock was first to it. He charged to ten metres, passed to substitute Alan MacDonald who made it to four metres. Rory Lawson passed to namesake Scott left, where England were well guarded. Scotland recycled, Mathew Tait ran offside and Parks opted to chip the ball to nowhere to end advantage to Scotland, spurning an attacking chance on his right. There was no significant overlap but Scots were within ten metres of the English line and had powerful attackers in Nathan Hines, Sean Lamont, Johnnie Beattie and Nick De Luca all waiting for the ball; their frustration at Parks' decision was clearly visible.