Owen Farrell dedicates win to terminally ill lad in victory over Wales

By Alex SpinkWin against Wales was redemption for record loss one year before

REUTERS

Victory: England's Owen Farrell kicks a penalty against Wales

England 29 Wales 18

Owen Farrell kicked England into a Six Nations title showdown – then dedicated victory over Wales to a terminally-ill boy.

Farrell  who landed 19 points as England won their first Triple Crown in 11 years, celebrated by performing the “Joining Jack” salute – hooking his two index fingers together.

“Jack is a lad of a friend that dad played with at Wigan,” said Farrell, referring to ex-Warriors’ forward Andy Johnson.

“He has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and I’m trying to raise awareness for the charity.”

Farrell’s kind gesture came on a special day for England, who moved level on points with Ireland and France.

Stuart Lancaster and his men will be champions if they beat Italy on Saturday and Ireland lose in France, whose points difference is 29 worse than theirs. But an Irish win will give them the title as they hold a +49 points differential advantage over England.

Yesterday was about redemption for England after the record loss to Wales a year ago.

“It’s a massive scalp,” said Chris Robshaw. “There was a lot of emotion beforehand as certain things had been said.”

Wales’ Leigh Halfpenny dislocated his right shoulder.

Charlton v Bristol City Npower Championship Preview - 11

Match preview: Bristol City duo Stephen McManus and Cole Skuse down for six weeks off and will miss Sunday's clash with Middlesbrough Charlton.McManus mortgage, has weighed on all Skuse ligament surgery shortly a fractured cheekbone - both sustained their injuries on Tuesday night 2-0 defeat at Birmingham. Louis Carey, however, an hour of football under his belt in a game reserve so it offers another option with defender James Wilson. And manager Derek McInnes hopes that the fact his side play on Sunday will improve the chances of leading scorer Steve Davies back in action. The Scot was touch and go for the home clash with Charlton and his return would be a big boost for struggling city. McInnes side have lost their last six games and are now at a point and a place above Ipswich in tatters.
Charlton will be without a host of new players defenders Lawrie Wilson, and Cedric Evina Rhoys Wiggins and forward Ricardo Fuller and Yann Kermorgant all remain in room.Wilson treatment for a couple of weeks after injuring his thigh in front Evina long season with a knee problem and Wiggins is somewhat lower than the return from a foot injury .......

Team news:
Fuller remains concerned Kermorgant a muscular problem and is another long-term absentee after breaking his ankle.
Founder Chris Powell could accommodate Jordan Cook, however, after missing Tuesday's 5-4 victory over Cardiff epic due to illness.
Fellow forward Danny Haynes lasted 68 minutes in his first game of the season with hamstring problems and should be involved again.
Second to bottom Bristol City, who have lost six straight, are Stephen McManus (knee) and Cole Skuse (fractured cheekbone). Top scorer Steve Davies could be back in contention, however, after his dismissal because of a hamstring injury ..........

Tete-a-tete
Charlton have won half of their league matches against Bristol City, from 27 to 54.
The clubs were last seen together in the same division in 2008/09 in Bristol City completed a championship double in the Addicks.
The Robins need reinforcements to take their total goals at home against Charlton 50.

Bristol City
Bristol City are in danger of equaling the club record of seven league defeats, suffered three times and the last time in December 2005.
They are without a win in nine years, since a 2-1 win away to Peterborough on 18 September, and remain the only club without a clean sheet in the league.
Eight of the 31 goals shipped Robins have been granted in the last 10 minutes.

Charlton Athletic
The Addicks travel supported by the odd goal in the midweek victory over nine large constituency of Cardiff, his first victory in five years.
Chris Powell side are unbeaten in four on the road, two wins and two draws in the second and most recent defeats of his away against Derby on September 18.
Michael Morrison is anticipating 150 career league appearance.


Report: Bristol City v Charlton
Date: Sunday 11th Novober 2012
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Location: Ashton Gate