Wilkinson puts Wales to the sword (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Wilkinson puts Wales to the sword

1:00pm Monday 8th February 2010 in

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JONNY Wilkinson kicked 15 points as England got their Six Nations campaign off to a winning start against Wales on Saturday.

The former Lord Wandsworth College student was successful with three penalties and three conversions as England won 30-17 at Twickenham.

Wilkinson opened the scoring with a penalty, only for Stephen Jones to level the match up after 28 minutes.

The game turned five minutes before the break, when Alun Wyn Jones was sent to the sin-bin for tripping, with England scoring 17 points while he was off the field.

First Wilkinson kicked a penalty, then James Haskell barged over the line from close range just before the break, with Wilkinson’s conversion making the score 13-3 at half-time.

Danny Care dashed through soon after the break, with Wilkinson’s boot making it 20-3, but Wales fought back, tries from Adam Jones and James Hook reducing the lead to just three points.

England looked to be in trouble but an interception from London Irish full-back Delon Armitage helped turn the tide, Haskell running in for his second try of the night after a sweeping move that included a fabulous behind the back pass from Matthew Tait.

Again Wilkinson added the extras, while another penalty completed the scoring close to the end.

Ugo Monye, another former Lord Wandsworth pupil, played the full 80 minutes on the wing for England, while London Irish’s Steffon Armitage was a late replacement. North Hampshire stars Tom Rees and Tom Croft missed the game through injury.