England U20s 26 Scotland U20s 11

THE gap has narrowed since England and Scotland met at Under-18 level at Darlington two years ago, resulting in a mostly even contest in tonight's curtain-raiser at The Northern Echo Arena.

The work done in Premiership academies gives the English an edge in physical conditioning, but they couldn't make it count as much as in the one-sided U18 meeting.

Only when scoring three tries in ten minutes towards the end of the first half did England get on top, but it proved enough for them to stay in pole position in their Six Nations Championship.

The Northern Echo:

The Scots made a poor start by kicking off straight into touch and England were quickly on the attack through two breaks by Nick Tompkins.

The Saracens centre obviously enjoys his visits to Darlington as he also impressed at Blackwell Meadows two years ago.

England included two front row men in Yorkshire Carnegie pair Paul Hill and Jack Walker who had already appeared on the ground this season when on loan to Mowden Park. They were the only members of the squad not with Premiership clubs and Hill is to play for Northampton next season.

The Northern Echo:

On a bone-chilling night the first 25 minutes would have done little to warm the cockles of those who were there more for the occasion than the rugby. There was little flow as penalties were traded, Bath fly half Rory Jennings landing three in reply to two by Glasgow's George Horne for England to lead 9-6.

All the close-quarters scrapping, however, seemed to have softened up the Scots and England took control with three tries. Sale scrum half James Mitchell dived over the top of a ruck to score by the posts then, from a similar position, Jennings spotted men unmarked wide on the right and his cross-kick was easily touched down by Hill.

A pushover try from a five-metre scrum, finished by Harlequins No 8 James Chisholm, took the half-time score to 26-6.

The Northern Echo:

The Bravehearts summoned some resistance on the resumption and scored a good try in the right corner through Edinburgh winger Ben Robbins.

The game threatened to open up, with England mounting a thrilling attack from their own line, but the flow wasn't helped by the inevitable rash of substitutions and it ended as scrappily as it had begun.

The Northern Echo: