Wales 27-18 England

James Hook dominated the match at fly-half for Wales

Wales: (18) 27
Tries: Hook, Horsman
Con: Hook
Pens: Hook (4)
Drop-goal: Hook

England: (15) 18
Tries: Ellis, Robinson
Con: Flood
Pen: Flood
Drop-goal: Flood

Wales avoided a Six Nations whitewash and ruined England's distant title hopes as James Hook scored 22 points in a virtuoso performance in Cardiff.

Wales made a rousing start with a second-minute Hook try, Chris Horsman adding a second on 14 minutes.

England hit back through Harry Ellis and Jason Robinson before Toby Flood landed a penalty to level the scores.

Wales dominated the second-half and two penalties and a drop-goal from the outstanding Hook saw them to victory.

Interview: Wales' man-of-the-match James Hook

Interview: Wales' Gareth Thomas

Interview: England coach Brian Ashton

England knew victory by 57 points would snatch the Six Nations title from France, but all such thoughts were soon wiped away as Wales ran riot in the opening stages.

Fly-half Flood took a split-second too long with his clearance kick from near his own try-line and Hook took full advantage to charge it down and then pounce on the loose ball to score.

A rampant Wales fashioned another chance moments later, but Shane Williams took the wrong decision in going for the line himself instead of passing wide to unmarked team-mates.

But the second score soon arrived as prop Horsman - facing the country of his birth for the first time - forced his way over from a yard after a rampaging Gethin Jenkins had been held just short.

Hook, switched from inside centre to fly-half after Stephen Jones was ruled out with injury, hit the post from the conversion, but his earlier success and a penalty meant Wales had raced into a 15-0 lead.

The fly-half began to pull the strings as England barely got out of their own half for the next 15 minutes, but then a piece of Mike Catt magic brought England back into the game.

A midfield dummy fooled the Wales defence, his chip-kick over the covering Hook caused chaos and Ellis was on hand to make the most of a favourable bounce to score.

Flood's conversion and confidently struck drop-goal closed the gap to five points, before Hook's second penalty gave Wales an 18-10 advantage.

But the home defence was again found wanting on the stroke of half-time as Ellis broke away from a ruck and Robinson squeezed over in the left corner.

England lost Catt to a hamstring injury in the opening minutes of the second half but his side's comeback was complete when Flood kicked a 46th-minute penalty.

Wales began to chip away at the England defence, but poor off-loading in the tackle meant openings were wasted.

Hook hit the post with a penalty but the 22-year-old was soon on target to restore the Wales lead as the game entered the final quarter.

A Hook drop-goal after sustained pressure opened the gap to six points, and his superb long-range penalty six minutes from time meant there was no way back for England as Wales ended a hugely disappointing campaign on a high note.

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Wales: K Morgan; M Jones, Shanklin, G Thomas, S Williams; Hook, Peel; Jenkins, Rees, Horsman, Gough, A W Jones, Popham, M Williams, R Jones.
Replacements: Phillips for Peel (68), D Jones for Jenkins (70), A Jones for Horsman (62), J. Thomas for Popham (68).
Not Used: R Thomas, Cockbain, Sweeney.

England: Cueto; Strettle, Tait, Catt, Robinson; Flood, Ellis, Payne, Chuter, White, Corry, Palmer, Worsley, Rees, Haskell.
Replacements: Geraghty for Catt (42), Perry for Ellis (70), Turner for Payne (75), Mears for Chuter (74), Deacon for Palmer (58), Lund for Worsley (9).
Not Used: Noon.

Att: 74,500.

Ref: A Rolland (Ireland).