Jonny on the spot: Ice-cool Jonny Wilkinson slots over one of his seven successful kicks against France at Twickenham on Saturday

And Alred, who kick-started Rob Andrew and Paul Grayson as prolific, record-breaking English international points scorers, believes the gifted Newcastle centre can only improve with age.

Wilkinson enjoyed a 100 percent success-rate for the second time in three Five Nations Tests this season, booting seven penalties to leave France floundering 21-10 at Twickenham.

Only Andrew, against Scotland in 1995, and Simon Hodgkinson, whose seven penalties saw off Wales four years earlier, had previously achieved such a feat.

Wilkinson's remarkable Five Nations haul shows 16 kicks landed from 17 shots, his solitary failure being the conversion attempt of full-back Matt Perry's try in Dublin two weeks ago.

And if Wales prove as undisciplined as France at Wembley next month, then Wilkinson could even threaten Jon Webb's England Five Nations points record for one season - 67 - set seven years ago. He is currently on 44.

"Jonny enjoys kicking like people enjoy playing golf," said Alred, delighted with his star pupil's latest exam result.

"His success is the product of many, many hours' hard work. Great kickers like Grant Fox and Ollie Campbell did the same, and there really is no secret about it.

"Jonny has only been working on his kicking for three years, but he's so determined to keep improving.

"People think that he is calm and doesn't get ruffled, yet he becomes very angry and annoyed when things don't go right. He will stay out there practising and practising until it is right, just like any professional golfer," Alred added.

"The first two kicks on Saturday he didn't hit properly at all, but because his lines were so good in leg and head, they still went the right way."

Wilkinson gives Alred all the credit for making minor, but significant, alterations to his goalkicking action.

"I first met Dave three years ago, and he analysed that my action was inefficient in terms of what I was trying to achieve - it was kind of a wasted effort," he said.

"Dave sent me in the right direction, and now he refines and defines what I do each week. I am still nervous with each kick though, and I always breathe a huge sigh of relief every time one goes over.

"Part of my job is to kick when we get a penalty, and I work hard all week to try to ensure that when the chance arises, I take it."

Despite his new-found fame as the Michael Owen of English rugby, Wilkinson's old head on young shoulders will guarantee that he won't get carried away, even if it is difficult to play down such a scintillating six-cap Test career.

"I am only scratching at the surface of international rugby - I still feel that I have got a very long way to go," he admitted.

Wales warmed up for their meeting with England at Wembley on Sunday, April 11, by hammering Italy 60-21 in a friendly in Treviso, while Scotland kept their hopes of a share in the Five Nations championship with a 30-13 triumph over Ireland at Murrayfield.

Dazzling Roberts shines in York victory

by Mike Allerton

York came from 12-0 down to beat Northallerton 28-12 in a scrappy friendly encounter at Clifton Park on Saturday.

The visitors opened the scoring with a third minute converted try and doubled their lead after 14 minutes - the visiting pack being prominent in both touchdowns.

York changed their game play and ran the ball out wide for the first time. Nigel Durham, at scrum half, took a quick tap penalty and fed Simon Bullough. He fed Andy Brown, who slipped an inside ball to the charging Charlie Kama to run through two half tackles to score.

York full back Tom Copeland came off with a hamstring pull to be replaced by speedy second team winger Mick Parsonage.

York's injury woes continued when Bullough became the latest casualty when he left the field bound for York District Hospital with a suspected fractured hand. Grant Williams replaced him.

York were, however gaining control, and Brown kicked a penalty after Northallerton killed the ball following a wonderful move which saw Mark Roberts flow through between the centres to feed Sean Bass some 50 yards later.

Northallerton were just worth their 12-9 interval lead but York were certainly coming back into contention via the quality of their three-quarters.

The second period started with Brown's skilful left boot forcing the visitors deep into their 22metres area and Roberts, 20 yards out, sliced through the North defence line to score a fine try for Brown to goal the extras and put York in front for the first time.

Brown put the home side further ahead when he used the wind to perfection to land a 50-yard penalty to punish North's repeated tactic of killing the ball when in trouble.

Captain for the day Roberts was having a wonderful match and again carved his way out of deep defence to carry play over the half way line.

Brown's touch-kicking was a feature of the match and after both sides were warned for allowing over aggression into the game he put York feet from the visitors try line with yet another superb touch kick from a penalty.

Centre Roberts 'scored' but the referee brought him back for receiving a forward pass with ten minutes on the clock to go.

York then charged down a North 22m drop-out and Durham freed Parsonage who raced in by the flag, Brown kicking the extras. Brown later kicked a superb 38 yard penalty after Mick Pawson had a try disallowed.

York's backs looked a class above Northallerton, but the visitors' were in charge, though up front York could learn something from their recycling skills.

Bennett off as Selby slide out of cup

Selby gave a battling performance in the Independent Agriculture Yorkshire Cup quarter-final at Doncaster, but went down 29-11.

Thwaites North One side Doncaster, who hammered York earlier in the competition, rested several players but took a second minute lead when Michael Harfoot powered over for a try.

But Selby, who have enjoyed a marvellous season, went into half-time 6-5 ahead thanks to two penalty goals by Carl Paterson.

However, any hopes of a shock victory nosedived when winger Charlie Bennett was sent off for foul play.

Doncaster soon regained the lead when Mike Bailey drove over from a scrum. The home side made the most of their extra man when half time replacement Richard Senior made good ground down the touchline and when he was held just short of the line, the ball was slipped inside to winger Chris Conway who went over. Dave Fairclough tagged on the extras.

Hooker Dave Atkinson soon added another Doncaster try, but Selby refused to give up and their Yorkshire Under 21 fly half Paterson raced away for a 50-yard interception try.

But Doncaster underlined their superiority when Simon Greenslade fed Conway for his second try, Fairclough kicking the conversion.

The first round tie between Bridlington and Old Brodleians ended 24-24 at Dukes park with the referee awarding the match to Brods as the away team.

However, Bridlington will be appealing to the Yorkshire committee because extra time was not played.

In the Yorkshire Silver Trophy quarter-final, Knaresborough lost 18-15 at home after leading 15-0 at the interval.

Scarborough suffered only their second defeat of the season and in successive weeks when they were knocked out of the quarter-finals of the Independent Agriculture Yorkshire Shield at Moortown on Saturday.

Apart from a sole penalty by their skipper, Grant Lenton, by way of scant solace 'Boro were never in the game as their Yorkshire Two stable-mates, Moortown controlled the game scoring tries through their wing forward, Steve Thomas, Centre, Mark Thompson and prop forward, John Peach scored, with Simon Pogson adding a conversion and a penalty goal.

Newsome's debut try

Pocklington always looked likely winners at home to Thornensians, but two tries from inside his own half by the Thorne full back kept his side in the game, until Pocklington scored twice in the last quarter to pull away to a 31-17 victory.

Thorne opened the scoring with a penalty, but Pocklington looked to be set for a runaway win when they scored three first half tries in quick succession.

Wing Ben Connolly went under the posts from a switch pass, Gary Pearce converting, then prop Mark Floyd plunged over from close range, followed by centre Rob Jackson diving over in the corner after a touchline raid.

But the Thorne fullback then went 60 yards to score under the posts, and when he repeated the dose for his second solo score ten minutes into the second period it left the scored tied 17-17.

For a while Pocklington were unable to turn their pressure into points, and four near misses by Pocklington, and Thorne's spoiling tactics somehow kept the two sides on level terms. Pocklington kept plugging away and finally made their superiority tell as former Malton and Norton skipper, Jonny Newsome, darted under the posts from 20 yards for a try to cap an excellent Pocklington debut, Pearce converting.

And in the last minute Connolly got his second when he backed up a forward drive and spun clear, with Pearce's third conversion completing proceedings.

Salem too strong

Bradford Salem beat a York RI XV 24-17 with tries from Andrew Luxton (2), Steve Brown and Damean Cope who also added a conversion. Craig Buxton also kicked two conversions for Salem.

RI, who were 17-0 down at half-time, replied with tries through Steve Rudd, Kevin Hollinrake and Steve Leeming, Dave Moore adding the conversions.

North Ribblesdale beat their visitors, Ripon 18-15 with tries through fly-half Sean Kennedy, full-back Gareth Evans and scrum half Neil Gemmell, Chris Judd adding a drop goal.

Ripon, who trailed 10-3 at half time, scored tries through centre Jim Buckley and prop Al Ross, Richard Moss kicking a conversion and a penalty goal.

A Wetherby side containing a strong element of their colts section, beat Rodillians by three tries to two, Wetherby's tries being touched down by Chris Nussey, Alex Fraser and Gary Massingham, Bryn Wilson adding a conversion and a penalty.

Harrogate, Malton and Norton, Nestl Rowntree and Whitby did not have senior games on Saturday.

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