LONDON -- England edged Ireland 13-10 in a test of breathless intensity at Twickenham to open up the Six Nations into a four-team race at the halfway point on Saturday. K.J. Wright Jersey . Ireland was the last unbeaten side in the championship after France fell to Wales on Friday, and was favoured to end a three-match losing run to England with a side with more than twice as many caps, rampant momentum, and added incentive to celebrate Brian ODriscolls world record-tying 139th test cap. But England, with unexpected daring, overturned a 10-3 deficit to lead again within eight minutes, and more than a quarter of the match to go. In a match marked by gritty, desperate defence, the young English withstood a firestorm finish from Ireland to register what coach Stuart Lancaster called the best win in his tenure, considering the context. "Given the experience of the Ireland team, the form they were in, the quality of the coaching and the players theyve got and some of the relative inexperience we have, Im just so proud of the boys," Lancaster said. "We showed great maturity in closing out the game. It was character, spirit, playing for the shirt. Ireland, fair play to them, threw everything at us, and once we got that lead we just clung on in there." Four teams were tied at the top, with Ireland ahead only on points difference from England, Wales and France. The next decisive matches appeared to be England hosting two-time defending champion Wales in two weeks, and France closing the tournament at home against Ireland. England and Ireland scored one converted try each, with the difference on the scoreboard provided by Englands Owen Farrell, who knocked over two of his three penalty attempts. Jonathan Sexton hit the only penalty shot he had. Irelands scrum was dominant, taking advantage of England tighthead David Wilson playing with basically only a half of rugby in two months. But for all of the ball Ireland had, it couldnt turn pressure into points as Englands defence and discipline was top shelf. England fired the first shot in the thriller. Left wing Jonny May should have crossed in the right corner early but he was slowed by Ireland flanker Peter OMahony and scrumhalf Conor Murray arrived just as May was diving over the line to knock the ball from his grasp. Then Ireland worked a brilliant move, with Sextons crosskick caught by Andrew Trimble on the right wing, but his offload inside to fullback Rob Kearney was bobbled, and he was swallowed by Englishmen. Farrell was lucky soon after not to be sin-binned. His late shoulder charge on Murray conceded only a penalty. Referee Craig Jouberts decision was critical, because Farrell then kicked the only points of the half, a penalty from 50 metres. Farrells second penalty chance hit the upright, and the teams could both be happy where things stood at the break. Just 90 seconds into the second half, Ireland was even happier. Ireland worked lineout ball to the middle of Englands 22, No. 8 Jamie Heaslip stood wide of a ruck and England believed he was spreading it wide. He was waiting for Kearney to scream up inside him, slice clean through and curve towards the posts untouched. Sexton converted for 10-3, and added a penalty in the 49th for 13-3. Then England turned on the pressure, and Ireland was happy to concede three points rather than five. Farrell obliged and the deficit was four. Englands try came from surprising ambition inside its own half. Farrell, under pressure in space, could have kicked the ball for relief but passed to Jack Nowell, who found Mike Brown inside speeding into a gap on halfway. Brown blew through, and scrumhalf Danny Care came up his inside to finish off between the posts. Farrell converted, England had the lead back, and this time kept it. 12th Fan Youth Jersey .Va. -- Drew Brees stood on the sideline throughout the Saints first scrimmage of training camp on Saturday, resting a strained abdominal muscle on his left side and likely watching with envy as his backups cashed in on the big-play potential of rookie receiver Brandin Cooks. Steven Hauschka Youth Jersey . All that matters to the son of a high school coaching legend is that hes the one they selected. "Its been my life-long dream to be an NFL head coach," Pettine said Thursday, "and however that opportunity presents itself, its fine with me.MORRIS, Man. - A well-known member of the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame will speak out against racism later this month in a southern Manitoba town thats trying to shed any image that its racist. Milt Stegall, a former star wide receiver with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, will be outside a restaurant in Morris called Theas Diner on Dec. 14 to deliver a message about tolerance. Thea Morris, the restaurants Jamaican-born owner, recently said shes closing her business because of racist behaviour on the part of some peeople in community. Jon Ryan Youth Jersey. . The 53-year-old woman has said shes received an email referencing the Ku Klux Klan and has been told by one of her customers that people are avoiding her business because she is black. Ron DErrico, president of Winnipegs Impact Security Group, says he contacted the U.S.-born Stegall about what was happening in Morris and he was very upset. DErrico says Stegall will talk about what racism does to a community and will strongly encourage Morris residents to work together. wholesale nfl jerseyswholesale jerseys ' ' '
