MARK Percival grabbed a try as England bounced back from a shaky start to see off a brave effort from Scotland, but there were few fireworks to write home about.

Although the second half was better, they will have been looking for a wider margin of victory to try and get them through to Anfield - even if they do beat Australia next week.

England struggled in the first half, although Saints fans watching will have been pleased with the industry and impact of the club’s two new props in Scotland’s Luke Douglas and Adam Walker.

Both grafted hard with Douglas in particular putting in some excellent shots.

In the England ranks, full back Jonny Lomax was again generally sound and showed some nice touches when he entered the line.

Percival had limited supply, but what he did get he used well and is worth a prolonged run. Maybe the penny may drop that a strike weapon like that needs service.

It was overall a tougher night for England, and the first half was way too pedestrian and one-dimensional.

Scotland struck first with a simple shift play to the left seeing centre Kane Livett power over on seven minutes.

England sought a response and a clever Luke Gale kick good chase Jonny Lomax almost trapped the Scottish full back behind the line.

After the big men had pounded the line, a last tackle kick from George Williams forced a drop out, but any England knock on scuppered any chance to build pressure.

At the other end Lomax was equal to all the kicks coming his way from Scotland stand off Danny Brough.

McGillvary forced an error with his shot on Russell, but then Lomax spilled the ball on impact as he sought to support a line-clearing break.

That went unpunished, with Scotland in turn coming up with another error as they pressed the England line.

A fired-up Brough was terrorising the England defence and his play on the left created the half chance for Matty Russell to dart in at the corner flag.

After multiple viewings the video referee ruled a try and the Scots were 8-0 up, with Brough missing his second touchline conversion.

With the crowd mumbling discontent, England needed a response and the initial spark provided by a Williams half break, culminated in a straightforward try on 27 minutes from second row Elliot Whitehead.

Luke Gale’s conversion cut the deficit to two points.

Brough diagonal kick threatened across face of goal, but plucked from the air by Mark Percival and the threat was defused.

England went up the other end and hit the Scots with a scruffy, if well-finished, play with Whitehead collecting Gale’s kick for his second.

Gale chipped over his second goal to give England a flattering four-point lead at the break.

England started the second half with some urgency and Sam Burgess was over the line, but foiled by a four man tackle.

A poor attacking kick let England down, but the renewed determination in the England ranks was epitomised by Lomax’s big hit on wing Lewis Tierney.

Brough’s midas touch appeared to be deserting him when his second kick went out on the full to put England back on the attack in a good position.

And from there Williams teased the Scotland defence before picking out Mark Percival who did the rest to give England a 16-8 lead on 50 minutes, with Gale’s conversion hitting the posts.

McGillvary defused an attacking kick at the other end, winning a penalty in the process.

England pressed with Ryan Hall collected a skidding grubber from Williams to score again on 55 minutes and after Brough had been sin-binned for holding down Lomax after the tackle England came back for more.

Using their numbers, they moved the ball right where Lomax’s long pass put McGillvary over in space.

And sensing the urgency for points, with Scotland wilting some, close quarter passing and support play up the middle saw Gale zip over before briskly tacking over the conversion to make it 32-8 on 62 minutes.

Scotland refused to lie down and Dale Ferguson squeezed over 10 minutes from time, again unconverted, to make the score 32-12.

England earned two penalties after the hooter, and sensing the need for more points they run them both with Liam Farrell getting on the end of Williams first play grubber to touch down.

Gale’s boot made the final score 38-12, but will that be enough?

England: Lomax; McGillvary, Watkins, Percival, Hall; Williams, Gale; Hill, Hodgson, Taylor, Farrell, Whitehead, S. Burgess. Subs: T. Burgess, G Burgess, Cooper, Clark.

Scotland: Coote; Tierney, Aitken, Linnett, Russell; Brough, Addy; Walker, Hood, Douglas, Hellewell, Ferguson, Kavanagh. Subs: Cassel, Mariano, Phillips, Brooks.