Hodgson charged England to 2nd Win

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Category: international_news

Published on Sunday, 12 February 2012 06:16

Written by Sachin David

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England took on Italy in their back yard, the Olympico Stadium in Rome in the 1st game of Week two in the RBS six Nations earlier today.  England managed to maintain their discipline last week and pull off a narrow win through a Charlie Hodgson who charged down a clearance kick of the Scots to score a match winning try at Murrayfield.  The Red rose pulled off a very similar win against the Italians earlier today as Hodgson made his presence count by scoring another game changing try.

England spread the ball wide in the early stages of the game despite the extreme conditions that had engulfed the Italian capital. The forwards spearheaded a lively start only for poor handling to let them down. Italy on the other hand, looking for their first win over England, weathered that early storm and offered some invention of their own but mistakes also plagued their best efforts.

Winger David Strettle booted a loose ball only to be taken out by Italy's Kris Burton as he attempted to chase down his own kick. An advantage may have seen Dowson credited with a try but referee Jerome Garces' decision to blow early meant that England had to settle for three points courtesy of Owen Farrell. Farrell stepped up later in the half to double his tally with a superb long range effort.

A horrible ricochet off scrum-half Ben Youngs then cannoned off fullback Ben Foden before falling kindly for Venditti who gathered the ball to score. Shortly after the kick off, Foden was under pressure again and an ill-advised off load in the tackle was snaffled by Benvenuti who raced away to score under the posts. Burton added the conversion on the stroke of half-time to give his side a surprising six-point cushion.

The second half scoring started with Burtons slotting his second penalty after Parisse had been taken out flanker Tom Croft. England struck back with Hodgson producing another crucial charge down for the second week. This time Italy's Andrea Masi was the man punished for not clearing his lines with Hodgson gleefully scooping up the ball before crossing for the try that was converted by Farrell.

Sensible changes soon brought reward for England when Farrell landed his latest effort to give the visitors the lead once more. Prop Andrew Lo Cicero was penalised for losing his binding and Owen Farrell wasted little time in knocking over the kick to give his side a little more breathing room. England eventually took the game 19-15 after having struggled to hold the Italians all game long.

The second clash of the night between France and Ireland in Paris scheduled to play last night was called off due to the surface at the Stade de France being deemed unplayable. The pitch passed an initial inspection by referee Dave Pearson, only for the official to reverse his decision 10 minutes before the scheduled 2000 GMT kick off time. Paris has been gripped by sub-zero temperatures with the Stade de France had been forecast to plummet to minus eight by half-time. However, the decision was greeted with a chorus of boos when it was announced to a near-full stadium.

However officials have confirmed that the match will be played, most likely  during of the break weekends  of the tournament.

 

 

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