KEY POINTS:
EDINBURGH - Scotland flanker Allister Hogg scored three tries in an impressive 42-0 win for the home side over Romania in their rugby World Cup Pool C match at Murrayfield this morning.
Hogg scored in the 17th minute, secured a bonus point for the Scots with their fourth try five minutes after halftime and completed his hat-trick seven minutes later.
The victory will put the Scots in good heart for the match against tournament favourites New Zealand on Sunday. They can also look forward to their key game with Italy next week that should determine who gets the runners-up spot in the pool.
In blustery conditions, Scotland grabbed their first points with barely a minute gone.
From the kick-off Scotland set up a rolling maul that seemed unproductive until first five-eighths Dan Parks used the possession with a towering kick that put the Romanian defence in trouble.
When the ball spilled loose wing Chris Paterson pounced for the score, before making it a seven points contribution with a difficult conversion.
Romania had a chance to reply only for Ionut Dimofte to pull his attempted goal kick to the right. The Scots too missed a scoring opportunity when Paterson was hauled down a metre short of the try line.
When Scotland's forwards tested their muscle power against the tough Romanian pack from a driven lineout Hogg claimed his side's second try, Paterson converting from wide out.
Breaks by Simon Webster and Sean Lamont showed the Scots' potential, realised four minutes before halftime when inside centre Rob Dewey, taking a reverse pass, threatened the Romania line.
When the ball was recycled, Parks was on hand to supply a long pass to Rory Lamont for the fullback to crash over for Scotland's third try, Paterson's third successive conversion giving the Scots a 21-0 interval lead.
Scotland's hopes of achieving a quick score in the second half were thwarted by handling errors.
But when replacement Romanian halfback Velentin Calafeteaunu had his kick charged down, Simon Taylor showed his skills with a clever flip to Mike Blair, before Hogg raced over for the bonus-point try. Paterson converted again.
With the four-try barrier broken, Scotland were able to relax and soon added another score as Simon Webster supplied the pass for Hogg to complete his hat-trick.
Romania tried desperately to break their duck but despite eight phases of pick-and-drive play from their forwards, they failed to cross the Scotland line.
Their despair became greater as Scotland hit back with a second try by Rory Lamont, made by the clever midfield running of replacement hooker Scott Lawson.
Paterson, who had moved to first five-eighths, duly slotted the conversion, his sixth success from six kicks, for the final points of a good Scotland performance.
- REUTERS
