JONNY AT THE DOUBLE AS ENGLAND SEE OFF WALES

Jonny May ran in both tries as England kept their Grand Slam aspirations alive by edging Wales 12-6 in a brutally competitive Natwest 6 Nations clash at Twickenham.

May crossed twice in the first half to help sweep the champions 12-0 ahead in the 20th minute, but Warren Gatland’s men bravely clawed their way back into a captivating Test played in treacherous conditions.

Controversy clouded the result, however, after television match official Glenn Newman ruled out a try for Gareth Anscombe when Wales trailed 12-0 in the second quarter.

Anscombe appeared to exert downward pressure with an outstretched hand at the end of an attack down the left wing, but Newman thought otherwise and a key moment had fallen in England’s favour.

The decision proved critical as a late penalty by Anscombe reduced their lead to six points.

It took a try-saving tackle from Sam Underhill to again deny Wales in a second half dominated by the visitors, who were missing seven Test British and Irish Lions including Leigh Halfpenny, a casualty before kick due to an unspecified injury.

Eddie Jones ignited the build when asking if Rhys Patchell had the “bottle” for the occasion and whether the mind games affected Wales’ fly-half only he will know, but he endured a disappointing afternoon.

At one point in the second half the ball squirted unexpectedly out of his hands as he staged a counter-attack, summing up his afternoon, and he was replaced shortly after.

Opposite him George Ford, brilliantly assisted by Owen Farrell, excelled through his kicking, but it was the two defences that emerged with enhanced reputations after refusing to buckle.

Dylan Hartley had departed for a head injury assessment after only 42 seconds but his exit failed to knock England off their stride.