Wales 21 England 13: Dragons captain Cory Hill the hero as Gatland's men keep Grand Slam dreams alive

The lock’s score in the 69th minute proved to be the key moment of a brutal, snarling Test at Principality Stadium, getting Warren Gatland’s men into a lead that they didn’t let slip.

READ MORE: Five reasons why Wales should not fear England in today's Six Nations showdown

The try might not go down in folklore like Scott Gibbs’ at Wembley 20 years ago but it was nearly as magical and could be as important in deciding the destination of the trophy.

Wales have now set a new record of 12 Test wins on the bounce, but it is another title that they desire the most to provide the perfect run-up to the World Cup.

They now head to Murrayfield to face Scotland and then welcome champions Ireland to Dublin knowing that silverware is within their grasp.

Wales knew that they needed to go through the gears after getting the job done rather than winning in style in Paris and Rome.

While it wasn’t the most free-flowing of games full of enterprise, Gatland’s team stood toe-to-toe with the previously unbeaten English.

They hung in there when under the pump and stayed within a score to strike in the final quarter.

They got stronger, England tired.

It was Hill who was the hero on his return to the XV after recently having to settle for the role of impact sub behind Adam Beard.

The Dragons lock put is a huge performance and capped it with the biggest moment of his career, cutting a glorious line to power over from close range.

That turned a 13-9 deficit into a 14-13 lead and the boot of replacement fly-half Dan Biggar and a finishing score from wing Josh Adams did the rest.

Thankfully Wales now have a rest week to ice their bodies before heading to Edinburgh, for it was a typically intense encounter.

It was brutal from the off with Ross Moriarty fielding the kick-off and charging straight into the white wall and then opposite number Billy Vunipola doing likewise into the red defenders after fielding the clearance.

Referee Jaco Peyper deemed that the Pontypool-raised back rower had been stopped by a no-arms tackle from flanker Justin Tipuric, although the long-range penalty was missed by England full-back Elliot Daly.

Both teams were stifling each other with their staggering line speed, flirting with the offside line, and as a result the kick count was high, as was the ball-in-play time.

A dummied lineout by Ken Owens gave England the chance to hammer away in the 22 but Wales held firm to release the pressure thanks to an Owen Farrell forward pass as the game remained scoreless after 15 minutes.

But that changed from the resulting scrum with loosehead Rob Evans pinged and the visiting captain bisecting the posts with the simple kick.

The three points were cancelled out in the 23rd minute when tighthead Kyle Sinckler didn’t use his arms to bring down Hill in the 22, presenting fly-half Gareth Anscombe with the simple leveller.

But England were seven points clear in the 27th minute after lock Courtney Lawes got his mitts into the middle of a lineout drive to turn the ball over.

Centre Henry Slade ran into the 22 and then flanker Tom Curry exploited some sleepy ruck defence to stretch over for a try, the Sale forward’s first in Test rugby, that Farrell converted.

England, with their rejuvenated defence, are not a side that you want to chase and it took some fine scrambling by full-back Liam Williams to deny Farrell after a chip over the top.

The visitors were then forced to scramble when a scrum against the head led to Anscombe chipping and scrum-half Ben Youngs being scragged a yard from his line.

England escaped and ended the half pressing to move beyond a score, but it was again Wales’ turn to escape.

Gatland would have wanted a rapid start but instead his men were pinned inside their own half by the visitors’ kicking game.

Yet it was Wales that struck first in the second half through the boot of Anscombe on 53 minutes after a cross-kick forced winger Jonny May into holding on.

The English penalty count was rising and tighthead Kyle Sinckler earned a warning after tackling Alun Wyn Jones around the neck, which led to Anscombe making it 10-9 and the Harlequins prop being replaced.

Wales were on top as the hour approach, their progress earning the backing of the home faithful and subduing the large travelling contingent.

But neither team was able to keep the momentum and a Curry jackal from a Hadleigh Parkes carry allowed Farrell to make it 13-9.

Back it swung the other way and Hill smashed over from the 35th phase on an incredible battering over the England line in the 22, the Dragons skipper cutting a sumptuous line after wing George North was dragged down just short.

Replacement fly-half Dan Biggar converted superbly from the right touchline and Wales were three points up with 10 to play.

But there was to be no tense finish.

A huge Welsh scrum earned penalty advantage, Biggar boomed the ball into the air and Worcester wing Adams claimed it ahead of Daly to reach over, sparking bedlam.

Wales: L Williams, G North, J Davies, H Parkes (O Watkin 79), J Adams, G Anscombe (D Biggar 60), G Davies (A Davies 76), R Evans (N Smith 60), K Owens (E Dee 76), T Francis (D Lewis 60), C Hill (A Beard 70), AW Jones, J Navidi, J Tipuric, R Moriarty (A Wainwright 76).

Scorers: tries – C Hill, J Adams; conversion – D Biggar; penalties – G Anscombe (3).

England: E Daly, J Nowell, H Slade, M Tuilagi, J May (J Cokanasiga 69), O Farrell, B Youngs, B Moon (E Genge 76), J George, K Sinckler (H Williams 57), C Lawes (B Shields 75), G Kruis (J Launchbury 63), M Wilson, T Curry, B Vunipola.

Scorers: tries – T Curry; conversion – O Farrell; penalties – O Farrell (2). 

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)