Gloucester centre Twelvetrees went over just after half-time with Chris Ashton, Geoff Parling and Danny Care also on the scoresheet for England.

Those who expected a stodgy match, as many previous Anglo-Scottish clashes have been, were mistaken as both sides carried the fight to each other and it was England who proved too strong on the day.

England began in ferocious fashion and edged ahead when Owen Farrell notched his first penalty of the day after just three minutes following infringement at the breakdown from Scotland.

But back came Scotland almost immediately - Stuart Hogg fielding Mike Brown's big boot and streaking through the England defence before offloading to scrum-half Greig Laidlaw.

And as England scrambled players back to defend their try-line, the ball was spread to the right where New Zealand-born winger Sean Maitland bundled his way over for his first international try on debut.

Laidlaw missed the target with the conversion however, and England, unperturbed by Scotland's score, continued to set about taking the game to their opposition.

Twelvetrees, on debut, saw plenty of the ball while back rows Tom Wood and Ben Morgan were also in the thick of the action.

And Farrell was handed the opportunity to restore England's lead when Scotland were penalised for not releasing on 14 minutes - a chance he duly accepted.

The Saracen made it three from three four minutes later but Scotland hit back to reduce the deficit to one with Laidlaw nailing his first kick of the game after Tom Youngs was pinged for coming in at the side midway through the first half.

Flying winger Tim Visser, who had notched four tries in his first five Scotland appearances, then booted clear and chased his kick as Scotland refused to bow to the home side's pressure.

But England refused to panic and the warning signs were evident when Brad Barritt made a half-break, only to be penalised for not releasing near the Scotland line on 26 minutes.

Five minutes later however, Ashton notched his 17th England try, pouncing after good work from forwards Joe Marler and Joe Launchbury.

Farrell then made it five from five with another crisply-struck penalty but Laidlaw grabbed one of his own just before the interval, ensuring Scotland were clinging to England's coattails, 19-11 down at the break.

Intent on running the ball where possible, it was England's patience that proved key to their second try, just four minutes into the second half as they worked the ball from left to right deep into Scotland territory before Ben Youngs fired to the onrushing Twelvetrees who dotted down his debut try.

Farrell again bisected the posts with the conversion and ten minutes later, Launchbury thought he had scored his first international try, only for referee Alain Rolland to rule it out for an infringement by Tom Youngs.

Undeterred and with Scotland palpably tiring, England regrouped and came again and after a scything break from Ben Youngs, Farrell's looping pass found Parling out wide, who cruised over for his first England try.

Farrell then missed his first kick of the match but England were fizzing and Scotland were clinging on.

Further patient build-up almost saw captain Chris Robshaw go over on 60 minutes as England threatened every time they got the ball in hand.

But Scotland stood firm and then hit back with a fine score of their own.

Replacement David Denton made the initial break deep inside his own half and he fed Maitland, whose kick forward was perfect for the chasing Hogg to dive on to.

Laidlaw was on target with the conversion to take the score to 31-18 but England had the final say as replacement Care sniped his way under the posts at the death.

Farrell drop-kicked the conversion to rubber-stamp the victory while Scotland's wait for a win at Twickenham will extend to at least 32 years and 2015, when they next return to south west London.