Hogg scores three tries in Scotland win

By Alan Lorimer

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scotland flanker Allister Hogg scored three tries in an impressive 42-0 win for the home side over Romania in their World Cup Pool C match at Murrayfield on Tuesday.

Hogg scored in the 17th minute, secured a bonus point for the Scots with their fourth try five minutes after halftime and completed his hat-trick seven minutes later.

The victory will put the Scots in good heart for the match against tournament favourites New Zealand on Sunday. They can also look forward to their key game with Italy next week that should determine who gets the runners-up spot in the pool.

In blustery conditions, Scotland grabbed their first points with barely a minute gone.

From the kick-off Scotland set up a rolling maul that seemed unproductive until flyhalf Dan Parks used the possession with a towering kick that put the Romanian defence in trouble.

When the ball spilled loose wing Chris Paterson pounced for the score, before making it a seven points contribution with a difficult conversion.

Romania had a chance to reply only for Ionut Dimofte to pull his attempted goal kick to the right. The Scots too missed a scoring opportunity when Paterson was hauled down a metre short of the try line.

When Scotland's forwards tested their muscle power against the tough Romanian pack from a driven lineout Hogg claimed his side's second try, Paterson converting from wide out.