Fly-half Rory Clegg created two tries and chipped in with 12 points with the boot in a composed performance with Harlequins teammate Charlie Matthews crossing just before the break.

However there will be elements of the performance that will concern coach Mark Mapletoft: notably the failure to kick on in the second half and the three yellow cards to Calum Green, Sam Smith and Will Welch.

But his side did make the perfect start to the game with Leicester starlet Forsyth touching down Clegg's grubber kick after an outstanding passage of play from the visitors.

Clegg converted and then exchanged penalties with opposite number Alex Blair before Leicester lock Green, fresh from an impressive performance in the Tigers' defeat of London Irish, became the first visitor to enter the sin-bin.

But despite their numerical disadvantage, England got the game's second try when they stole Scottish lineout ball before Clegg sent Watson in for a debut score. The Quins man nailed the extras.

An offside offence gave Blair the chance to reduce the deficit but the game was effectively put to bed moments before halftime when Smith and captain Jacob Rowan combined to put Matthews over. Clegg kicked the conversion which would proved to be the final score of the game.

Still England acted as their own worst enemies at times when Smith took out Oliver Grove in the air to again take England down to 14 men.

Blair - so often the bright spark in Scotland's attack - should have brought the home side back into the game but the ball squirmed out of his grasp in the process of diving over the line having done all the hard work.

Even when Welch became the third player to enter the bin, Scotland could not find a way past a well-organised defensive line as England kept their Championship dream on line.