WALES made the worst possible start to World Cup year when they fell at the first hurdle, going down against England in the Six Nations opener at the Millennium Stadium last night.

It was their eighth game without a victory and they now have only two wins to show from their last 14 matches.

England shot into a 10-0 lead and were never headed. Though Stephen Jones kept Wales in it with three penalties England shaded the try count 2-1, Chris Ashton getting both, and they always looked like taking the spoils.

It’s going to be tough for coach Warren Gatland and his players now, for they face three away games out of four, starting with the trip north to take on Scotland next Saturday.

After a week of sniping at one another the rival camps for once agreed on something pre-match, that the roof should be shut following a day of storms which would have spoiled the spectacle.

England signalled their intent immediately when they moved the ball wide, but it almost spelled disaster for Wales as outside half Jones went down heavily trying to halt Ben Foden.

He resumed after lengthy treatment and a further boost came at the first scrum when England were pulled up, but Jones was just off target from long range.

James Hook showed his dancing feet and after a carry by Dan Lydiate, Bradley Davies made more ground, earning a penalty which Jones should have converted, but he put the ball wide.

England’s juggernaut pack regained the initiative only for skipper Mike Tindall to throw an impossibly high pass to Ashton who promptly slipped and fell over to the amusement of the crowd.

But he had the last laugh when outside half Toby Flood tore through an inviting gap and passed infield to Ashton with the line open and he was celebrating before he even crossed the line with an exaggerated dive for the try which Flood converted.

Flood added a penalty, but Jones found the target – he could hardly miss – at the third attempt when he put the ball over from point blank range after James Haskell was penalised for being on the wrong side.

But Jones recklessly put the ball straight into touch from outside his 22, new cap Tom Wood won the line-out and Shontayne Hape almost got through, but Wales countered with Morgan Stoddart making a terrific run down the right flank.

Stoddart almost broke clear down the left and then Lydiate produced a great charge which was halted only at the expense of a yellow card, conceded by lock Louis Deacon for preventing release. Jones again obliged by landing the penalty and Wales were back in it.

But Flood replied with his second after Powell was penalised again, the No 8 limping off to be replaced by former captain Ryan Jones.

Wales trailed 13-6 at the interval, but within three minutes of the resumption Jones landed his third penalty only for new prop Craig Mitchell to be yellow carded for preventing release.

Flood put the resultant penalty over and, unlike Wales, made their numerical advantage count when they scored their second try to kill he game off.

Lock Tom Palmer powered down the middle and when the ball was recycled there was loads of space on the right and Flood lobbed out a pass to Ashton who dotted the ball down for his second try which Flood converted.

But just when all seemeæd lost Wales revived. Back up to 15, they scored their first try when the lively Stoddart finished off a burst by Ryan Jones and a clever kick by Shane Williams, Jon Davies putting him over near the corner for Stephen Jones to convert. Gatland made it a last throw of the dice when he took Stephen Jones off, put Lee Byrne on and moved Hook up to 10.

The fly half quickly added a penalty, but England replacement Jonny Wilkinson nailed victory down with a penalty five minutes from the end.

Wales: J Hook, M Stoddart, J Roberts, J Davies, S Williams, S Jones (L Byrne 66), M Phillips (D Peel 69), P James, M Rees, captain (R Hibbard 71), C Mitchell (J Yapp 71), B Davies, A W Jones, D Lydiate (J Yapp 5G2-57, J Thomas 69), A Powell (R Jones 33), S Warburton.

Scorers -- try: M Stoddart; conversion: S Jones; penalties: Jones (3), Hook.

England: B Foden, C Ashton (M Banahan 69), M Tindall (captain), S Hape, M Cueto, T Flood (J Wilkinson 66), B Youngs (D Care 62), A Sheridan (D Wilson 61), D Hartley (S Thompson 69), D Cole, L Deacon, T Palmer (S Shaw 69), T Wood, N Easter, J Haskell (J Worsley 62).

Scorers -- tries: C Ashton (2); conversions: T Flood (2); penalties: Flood (3), J Wilkinson.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).

Attendance: 74,276.

Argus star man: Morgan Stoddart.