Sean Lamont of Scotland (L) tries to avoid the tackle of Dan Cole of England during the RBS Six Nations International rugby union match at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland on March 13, 2010. The game finished 15-15. Getty Images/PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/Getty Images
Scotland and England fought out their first draw for 21 years when a try-less, error-strewn Six Nations game ended 15-15 at Murrayfield on Saturday, severely denting the title hopes of the visitors.
Dan Parks kicked four penalties and a drop goal while three penalties from Jonny Wilkinson and two from Toby Flood kept England in it, though Flood missed a long-range effort to win the game two minutes from time.
Scotland, beaten by France, Wales and Italy and seemingly on course for the wooden spoon, produced a spirited performance to please their coach, former England supremo Andy Robinson.
England, needing a win to have a realistic chance of their first title since 2003, once again looked desperately shorn of ideas and invention and never threatened a try.
France, who host Italy on Sunday, top the standings on six points and are heavily favoured to take the title with a grand slam.
Ireland, who beat Wales 27-12 earlier, are on six from four games. England have five, Italy and Wales two points and Scotland one.
"Overall this game was a tale of missed chances but the draw doesn't bring our progress to a halt," England manager Martin Johnson told reporters. "We did some very good things today but we also did some very silly things.
"The players are a bit frustrated but we have a massive test (against France) in Paris next week. It's a good game for us to finish with."
Scotland, seeking a third successive Murrayfield win over England, made most of what little running there was in a disjointed first half.
RE-SET SCRUMS
Almost every one of the many first-half scrums had to be re-set as the referee struggled to control the front rows. Two penalties apiece for Parks and Wilkinson had the teams level before a Parks drop goal gave Scotland a 9-6 halftime lead.
Wilkinson levelled again with a penalty early in the second half but was then replaced by Flood after being left dizzy following a tackle.
Scotland lock Kelly Brown and England wing Ugo Monye followed him to the sidelines, Monye on a stretcher, soon after as a result of a sickening head collision.
Two more penalties apiece had it level at 15-15 going into the final quarter.
Monye was replaced by uncapped 20-year-old scrumhalf Ben Youngs as the game descended into a chaotic series of blunders.
The closest either side came to a try was when Scotland briefly pressured the England line after a Parks penalty came back off a post.
Flood had the chance to win it with a 48-metre penalty but left it short and also had a stoppage time drop-goal charged down.
"There is an underlying progress for us," said Scotland captain Chris Cusiter. "This was not the result we wanted but after what has happened this season, particularly in Cardiff, we're comfortable with the draw.
"We can take a lot from this match. We were in control for much of the game."
Scotland play Ireland in Dublin next Saturday.