Reigning Six Nations champions Wales kept their quest for back-to-back grand slams on track with a thrilling 23-15 win over England at the Millennium Stadium here Saturday.

England, much derided as an attacking force against the major nations, outscored Wales by two tries to one.

But they were made to pay dearly for their indiscipline, with Wales kicking six penalties through the boots of Stephen Jones and Leigh Halfpenny.

"It was a huge improvement on last week (when England struggled to beat Italy)," said England flanker and man of the match Joe Worsley whose side were twice reduced to 14 men through two sin-binnings.

"Wales are a fantastic team but we have to react better when we are sin-binned. I hope that next time it won't be such a big issue."

Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips praised England.

"They are a great side with great experience. We knew it would be tough," said Phillips.

"But it was a great effort from us. We have come a long way and we are used to winning big games."

England manager Martin Johnson believed his team could have won.

"We let the match slip away," said Johnson. "We had opportunities to win and we didn't take them."

Wales, who started the defence of their title with a 26-13 win away to Scotland, went into the game without star wing Shane Williams, the world player of the year, who failed a fitness test on an ankle injury and had to be replaced by Mark Jones.

In the third minute they were awarded a penalty in front of the England posts which outside-half Jones converted.

England collected their seventh yellow card in three matches when recalled 2003 World Cup-winning centre Mike Tindall was sin-binned by South African referee Jonathan Kaplan for not releasing the tackled Halfpenny in the 16th minute.

Stephen Jones made no mistake and Wales, against an England team now down to 14 men, were 6-0 up.

England gave away another penalty when a scrum collapsed and from 46 metres Halfpenny was on target.

But it was England, against the run of play, who scored the game's first try in the 24th minute.

New Zealand-born centre Riki Flutey turned the Welsh defence with a superb solo break and, when the ball was worked back, fly-half Andy Goode chipped ahead for a race won in the corner by right wing Paul Sackey.

Goode missed the difficult conversion but the Brive stand-off was on target with a drop-goal that cut Wales's lead to just 9-8.

Wales still looked the livelier side with ball in hand but England's defence, superbly led by open-side flanker Joe Worsley, held firm and the champions had to be content with a one-point lead at half-time.

England soon found themselves a man down again early in the second half when Goode was yellow-carded for killing the ball close to his own line.

Jones kicked the resulting penalty and there was better to come for Wales.

Sackey was turned over by centre Tom Shanklin with open-side Martyn Williams in support, and, from a four-on-two-overlap, full-back Lee Byrne released right wing Halfpenny, roared home by a capacity crowd, for a try.

Although the conversion was missed, Wales were now 17-8 in front.

Jones's scything break took him deep into the 22 and when England were caught offside, the Scarlets star kicked his fourth penalty to extend Wales's lead to 20-8.

However, England hit back with a brilliant individual try by Delon Armitage.

After receiving the ball from Phil Vickery some 40 metres out, his dummy took him through the cover and he outpaced Wales hooker Matthew Rees for a try under the posts which Toby Flood, a replacement for Goode, converted.

Jones's fifth penalty then made it 23-15 and England's hopes of one last recovery faded when Flood's penalty six minutes from time went wide.

Wales continue their campaign away to France on February 27 while on February 28 England are away to Ireland, who face Italy in Rome on Sunday.

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