DRAGONS' ROARING SUCCESS! England second best yet again.

Byline: BRIAN DICK at The Millennium Stadium 

WALES 23

ENGLAND 15

DEJECTED England failed to keep up with the Joneses yet again as they slumped to a record third straight Six Nations defeat to the fire-breathing Dragons.

Although this was an improvement to the performance they turned in when they beat Italy last Saturday, they had no answer to the accuracy of Stephen Jones' boot.

The Wales fly half strengthened his claim to a place on the British Lions tour to South Africa with an outstanding kicking display that brought his side 15 points from five penalties.

The other eight came from wing wonder Leigh Halfpenny who scored the hosts' only try and landed a monster penalty of his own to keep alive dreams of a second consecutive Grand Slam.

Martin Johnson's men actually won the try count with two of their own, through Paul Sackey and Delon Armitage.

But a penalty count nearly double that of the hosts and two more yellow cards to add to the two they picked up against the Azzurri leaves Johnson with some hard work to do before he takes England to Dublin in a fortnight.

England started the match just where they had left off against Italy - without wit or wisdom.

Whenever they won the ball they either kicked it away or did nothing with it.

Armitage squandered England's first opportunity in the first few seconds when he hooked an optimistic drop goal wide.

Hoofed By the next time the Red Rose brigade got anywhere near the line they were 9-0 down.

First Jones hoofed over a fourth minute penalty after England were offside.

Halfpenny might have doubled the advantage shortly afterwards only for his long distance attempt to drop just under the bar.

It looked as though the match would swing Wales' way decisively on the quarter hour when Mike Tindall was carded for playing the ball on the ground.

Not only did it hand Jones a simple three-pointer, it also gave his side a man advantage.

Six minutes later Halfpenny made up for his earlier miss when Phil Vickery was spotted not binding properly by referee Jonathan Kaplan.

This time the young wing stroked his attempt between the posts from 40m.

But when they should have taken control of the game the Dragons retreated within themselves as the English defence, led by the outstanding Joe Worsley started to dominate the gain line.

With Tindall still in the sin bin the in form Riki Flutey jinked his way out of his own half in the 23rd minute and put the red shirts on the back foot.

Goode drifted into the line, scooted through and kicked ahead. Although the former Tiger was hauled down, Sackey raced off in search of the ball.

He blazed past Mark Jones and beat Stephen Jones to the touch down for his 11th try in 21 caps. Goode missed the conversion but English tails were up.

Tindall returned and soon Johnson's men were within a point.

Their most sustained attack of the period stretched the home defence and won a penalty when Adam Jones was up too quickly.

But instead of opting for a placekick Goode snapped a quick drop goal from over 40m to make it 9-8.

The half time interval came to Wales' rescue though and when they reappeared they were a different side.

Those three points were to be Goode's last positive contribution.

Halfpenny cut off his wing and tip-toed his way to within 5m of line where he was brought down by England's No 10.

But Goode stopped quick release and he became England's second man to see yellow.

He did not return to the action and was replaced by Toby Flood.

This time England really suffered with one player less. Jones accepted the penalty for 12-8 and then seconds later England were caught short in defence. The Jones boys Adam and Alan-Wyn kept the ball moving wide where Lee Byrne straightened the attack. With the visitors' outflanked he gave Halfpenny an easy run in.

Stephen Jones missed the extras but more than compensated with a 55th minute penalty after he had broken away from Flood.

At 20-8 Jonno's Boys looked out of it.

But then Armitage breathed life into the contest. England used quick ball to move wide where the London Irish full back was brought into the action.

With a lavish dummy and swivel of the hips he cut back and blasted clear to score his first try for his country. Flood converted and the gap was just five.

But Warren Gatland's charges stretched their lead when Luke Narr away infringed at a ruck. Jones booted his fifth penalty for 23-15.

SCORERS - try: Halfpenny; penalties: S Jones (5), Halfpenny.

England - tries: Sackey, Armitage; conversion: Flood; drop goal: Goode.

CAPTION(S):

DELON DELIGHT: England's Delon Armitage breaks away to score his try; NO HALF MEASURES: Wales' Leigh Halfpenny celebrates his try