After making a superb start in which they stretched the English defence almost to breaking point, Wales conceded the first points of the match. Jonny Wilkinson, a points-scoring whirlwind in this match, slotted over a drop goal on three minutes before he provided Will Greenwood with a try-scoring effort after ten minutes played. (Craig and Kevin Morgan just failing to hold the ball off the ground).
Wilkinson’s conversion and a further penalty took England into a commanding 13 point unanswered lead as the teams entered the second quarter of the clash.
Iestyn Harris secured Wales’s first points of the match as the half hour mark passed but the boot of Wilkinson added two penalties to Harris’s one, taking the scores at the interval to 19-3 in favour of the home side.
Just three minutes after the intermission England’s catalyst Wilkinson increased the scoreboard once more. He crossed the Welsh line for a try and duly converted his own effort before the final stake in Wales’s coffin came in the shape of Dan Luger. Two quick-fire tries by the winger pushed England into an unassailable lead, Wilkinson’s boot providing no mercy for the Welsh.
Despite the forty point deficit, Wales hit back with an albeit consolatory effort from league convert Harris. Wales’s sole points scorer of the afternoon, Harris breached the English defence and converted his try to give Wales something to take away from the match. However, England had the last say of the game as Tim Stimpson gained an injury time try to make it a record-breaking showing for England; their forty point winning margin bettering their previous of 34 points.
