TALK about a tale of two halves.

England were coasting along and leading 31-7 at half-time against Twickenham Calcutta Cup visitors Scotland, only to end up tying their final RBS Six Nations match of the series 38-38.

It was incredible stuff and you've got to tip your bearskin to the Scots as their resolve and fortitude throughout the second-half saw them blast back to lead with five minutes to go.

England – to their credit – didn't panic, though, hitting back and camping out on the Scots' line for the final few minutes and rewarded with a very late try from George Ford, whose conversion salvaged the draw.

It was a huge shock, but lets hope it sharpens the mind ahead of this year's World Cup.

There were no such problems for Grand Slam winners Wales, who eased past a disappointing Ireland 25-7, while Italy missed a golden opportunity to beat France and eventually went down 25-14.

In terms of club rugby, last weekend was a bye week, but I'd like to say well done to Berkshire Under 20s on beating Dorset & Wilts 25-22 last Sunday, putting them in the national quarter-finals.

The Berkshire pack put in a great stint with open-side Maidenhead flanker Todd Muil outstanding.

The game went right to the wire before a Louis Ellis penalty finally sealed their passage into the last four, and there's some pretty useful players emerging in this squad.

We're back in full flow this Saturday, with Greene King IPA Championship leaders London Irish hosting their St Patrick's Party at home to Doncaster Knights on Saturday (3pm).

Elsewhere, National Two South table-toppers Rams – 12 points clear of Canterbury with five games remaining – travel to Worthing Raiders, while in Southern Counties North, my boys Reading, currently ninth in the table, make the short trip to High Wycombe, where they will be looking to get back to winning ways during the last three matches of the season.

In the same league, seventh-placed Reading Abbey go in a very similar direction to us when they take on Buckingham, looking to put a halt to their recent woes having lost their last three games.

And, to complete the mass exodus, Berkshire Shire Hall, with some trepidation, visit Abingdon, who crushed them 50-0 earlier in the season.