England Under-20s edged through a hard-fought encounter for the second week running as they overcame a battling Scotland side 21-17 at Myreside to keep their title hopes intact.
The visitors took a slender 14-10 lead into the interval with tries from Theo Dan and Freddie Steward either side of Ewan Ashman’s score.
Scotland showed plenty of muscle and creativity to swing the game back in their favour through a penalty try but having defended doggedly, England sealed the win through Connor Doherty’s late score.
Victory sees England maintain their 100 per cent start to the fresh Under-20s Six Nations campaign, while Scotland fall to successive defeats to all but end their 2020 Championship title ambitions.
The game began at a ferocious tempo with both sides eager to edge their noses in front, and Manu Vunipola missed the first kick at goal in the fifth minute after Dan had led a piercing England attack.
The hosts looked the more likely to go ahead in the early stages however, with Matthew Currie going close after Nathan Chamberlain had squandered a good opportunity to gain valuable territory deep in the England half.
It was Chamberlain who did get the first points of the night though, kicking Scotland in front on the quarter-of-an-hour mark as Sean Lineen’s men looked to capitalise on their impressive start.
But England hit back almost immediately, Dan slipping into space down the blindside after a lineout to go over in the corner and get the visitors off the mark.
Scotland refused to lie down however and duly proved their power up front, Ashman bulldozing over after a determined lineout maul to put the home side back in front.
The away side gradually asserted their authority on the game and after some patient build-up play, Ben Donnell expertly offloaded to full-back Steward who dotted down to give England the lead at the break.
Scotland came out firing in the second half with some direct, attacking play, but Alan Dickens’ men were at hand with some resolute defending as they successfully weathered the storm to retain their advantage.
But with just under 15 minutes of the second period played, the hosts’ sustained pressure told with a penalty try putting them back in front, while Donnell was sent to the sin-bin to further aid their quest for victory.
Despite being quiet for much of the second half, England demonstrated their clinical edge to re-take the lead with just ten minutes left on the clock, Doherty dodging the Scottish defence to squeeze through and go over against the run of the play.
Vunipola missed a late penalty attempt to create a nervy finish for the away side, but Scotland couldn’t break through England’s determined back-line and the visitors held on for the win.
