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Scotland's three British and Irish Cup teams are preparing for their final group game in the inaugural competition with Ayr first up, traveling to Cardiff, followed by Gael Force's mid-week match against Leinster at Bridgehaugh and Heriot's trip to Munster two days later - read on for the full British and irish Cup round five preview. Cardiff v Ayr (POOL D)
6th March. Referee: Darren Gamage (RFU)
Cardiff may still have an outside chance of making the semi-finals if both Pontypridd and Rotherham both beat Doncaster and Cardiff win this fixture. Cardiff are in 6th place in the WRU Principality Premiership and in the British & Irish Cup have beaten Pontypridd, Birmingham and Rotherham but lost out to Doncaster.
Ayr cannot qualify for the last four having a won two, lost two record so far. The Scotsmen beat Rotherham and Birmingham but were defeated by Doncaster and Pontypridd. Gael Force v Leinster (POOL A)
10th March. Referee: Michael Tutty (RFU)
Gael Force are still without a win in the British & Irish Cup having been defeated by Cornish Pirates (8-29), Exeter Chiefs (0-15), Newport (5-27) and Plymouth Albion (0-25).
Following Leinster’s loss at home to Newport last Friday the only way that the Irishmen can progress to the last four now is if Cornish Pirates and Newport draw and Leinster win this game, even then it could come down to bonus points. Before their loss to Newport, Leinster had begun the British & Irish Cup with three victories: 16-13 over Plymouth, 12-10 over Cornish Pirates and 22-10 over Exeter Chiefs. Munster v Heriot’s (POOL B)
12th March. Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
Munster need just two points from this match (less if Nottingham or Bristol do not record a maximum point victory) to guarantee progression into the semi-finals of the inaugural British & Irish Cup competition. The Irishmen are the only side with a played four, won four record in the competition having beaten Coventry, Bristol, Nottingham and Neath so far.
Heriot’s are in 5th spot in the SRU Scottish Hydro Premiership One table but unfortunately have lost all their four encounters in the British & Irish Cup.
POOL A Plymouth Albion v Exeter Chiefs
6th March. Referee: Martin Fox (RFU)
Neither team can make it to the semi-finals but local pride will still be at stake.
Plymouth Albion are in 8th place in the RFU Championship table and have won their last two games against Birmingham in the RFU Championship and Gael Force in the British & Irish Cup. Albion’s other games in this competition are a draw at Newport and losses against Leinster and Cornish Pirates.
Exeter Chiefs are in 2nd position in the RFU Championship having won their last five games in that particular tournament. In the British & Irish Cup the Chiefs have beaten Gael Force but suffered three defeats to Newport, Leinster and Cornish Pirates.
Plymouth ended a seven match losing run against Exeter Chiefs with their 23-13 victory at Brickfields in the RFU Championship on 19 December. Cornish Pirates v Newport
7th March. Referee: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
A winner takes all clash in Pool A of the British & Irish Cup with the victors progressing into the semi-finals.
Cornish Pirates are in 5th place in the RFU Championship table and have won their last three matches in all competitions. Pirates record in the British & Irish Cup is wins over Gael Force (29-8), Plymouth (13-9) and Exeter (37-14) and a defeat to Leinster (10-12).
Newport lie in 5th spot in the WRU Principality Premiership. Newport’ are unbeaten in the British & Irish Cup securing wins against Exeter (21-14), Gael Force (27-5) and Leinster (10-6) and drawing 3-3 with Plymouth.
POOL B Neath v Coventry
6th March. Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)
Neither Neath nor Coventry can progress to the semi-finals of the British & Irish Cup.
Neath currently lie in 2nd spot in the WRU Principality Premiership table three points behind leaders Swansea. Neath’s only victory so far in the British & Irish Cup was 38-21 against Heriot’s.
Coventry lie in 11th spot in the RFU Championship and have also gained just one victory in the British & Irish Cup: 57-12 over Heriot’s in round two. Nottingham Rugby v Bristol Rugby
7th March. Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU)
The winners of this match have a chance to challenge Munster for a semi-final spot, but even this will be academic should the Irish province gain two league points against Heriot’s.
Nottingham are in 6th place in the RFU Championship. Notts 43-17 victory at home to Coventry in the British & Irish Cup ended a four game losing run in all competitions. The Midlanders began their British & Irish Cup campaign with victories over Heriot’s and Neath before slipping up in Munster in round three.
Bristol Rugby continue to lead the RFU Championship table, having won twelve straight games since their 6-18 defeat in Munster in round two of the British & Irish Cup. Bristol have won their other three encounters in this competition: 18-11 at Neath, 40-15 at home to Coventry and 34-17 at home to Heriot’s last Sunday.
Bristol have won the last seven encounters between the two clubs since Nottingham were victorious 22-6 at Memorial Stadium in Courage Division One on 22 September 1990.
POOL C Moseley v Bedford Blues
5th March. Referee: Michael Black (WRU)
Neither Moseley or Bedford can reach the last four of the British & Irish Cup.
Moseley are in 9th place in the RFU Championship table and must beat Bristol at Billesley Common next week if they are to make the promotion playoffs. Moseley have lost all four games they have played so far in the British & Irish Cup.
Bedford Blues are currently in 9th spot in the RFU Championship. The Blues have a won two, lost two record in the British & Irish Cup, having beaten Llanelli and Aberavon, but being defeated by Ulster and London Welsh.
Moseley’s only victory in their last eleven matches against Bedford since 2001 was 44-37 in National One at Billesley Common on 9 September 2006. London Welsh v Llanelli
6th March. Referee: James Matthew (SRU)
London Welsh are currently tied with Ulster Ravens at the top of the Pool C table in the British & Irish Cup with 16 match points apiece. Welsh will need to obtain one more match point than the Ravens in this round if they are to make it to the last four at the expense of the Ulstermen because Ulster won 29-3 when the two teams met last Friday at Ravenhill.
London Welsh occupy 3rd position in the RFU Championship but have won just one of their last four encounters in all competitions. In the British & Irish Cup The Exiles’ other results have been three victories; over Moseley, Aberavon and Bedford.
Llanelli cannot make it to the semi-finals of the British & Irish Cup after losing their opening two games to Aberavon and Bedford, drawing with Ulster and beating Moseley. The West Walians currently are 4th in the WRU Principality Premiership table. Ulster Ravens v Aberavon
12th March. Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Ulster Ravens will know exactly what they have to do to qualify for the semi-finals with London Welsh playing six days earlier at Old Deer Park. All the Ravens have to do is match whatever the Exiles managed against Llanelli in terms of league points because they will be ranked higher than London Welsh in the event of a tie courtesy of their 29-3 victory over the Londoners last Friday at Ravenhill. Ulster are unbeaten so far in the British & Irish Cup having beaten Bedford, Moseley and London Welsh and drawing 21-all with Llanelli.
Aberavon cannot progress to the last four as their won two, lost two record in the British & Irish Cup is not quite enough. The Wizards have beaten Llanelli and Moseley but tripped up to London Welsh and Bedford. Aberavon lie in 7th place in the WRU Principality Premiership.
POOL D Pontypridd and Doncaster play their re-arranged round two game in the British & Irish Cup tomorrow night at Sardis Road. If the Knights win this encounter they will become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals. Rotherham Titans v Doncaster Knights
6th March. Referee: Gwyn Morris (WRU)
Rotherham Titans’ three game winning run in all competitions came to an end at Cardiff on Saturday. The Titans are in 10th place in the RFU Championship and must beat Bedford next week at Goldington Road to give themselves any hope of making the Promotion Playoffs. Doncaster Knights may have already qualified for the semi-finals depending on their encounter at Pontypridd on Wednesday. The Knights have a played three, won three record so far in the British & Irish Cup and lie in 7th spot in the RFU Championship table.
Rotherham have won this local derby against Doncaster just once in the last nine meetings since 2005: 11-7 at Clifton Lane in the Championship on 14 November 2009. Birmingham & Solihull Bees v Pontypridd
6th March. Referee: Paul Haycock (IRFU)
Neither side can progress to the last four of the British & Irish Cup.
Birmingham & Solihull Bees have not won a game since beating Redruth at Sharmans Cross Road in National Two on 25 April 2009. Pontypridd lie in third place in the WRU Principality Premiership, and going into Wednesday’s rearranged British & Irish Cup clash with Doncaster have won four of their last five games in all competitions. |
