2012–13 British and Irish Cup

2012–13 British and Irish Cup
Tournament details
Countries	England Ireland  Scotland  Wales
Tournament format(s)	Round-robin and knockout
Date	October 2012 — May 2013
Tournament statistics
Teams	32
Matches played	103
Attendance	106,987 (1,039 per match)
Tries scored	602 (5.84 per match)
Top point scorer(s)	James Pritchard (Bedford Blues) (88 points)[1]
Top try scorer(s)	Mark Kohler (Bedford Blues) James Stephenson (Bedford Blues) (8 tries)[2]
Final
Venue	Kingston Park
Attendance	3,838
Champions	Leinster A (1st title)
Runner-up	Newcastle Falcons

The 2012–13 British and Irish Cup was the fourth season of the annual rugby union competition for second tier, semi-professional clubs from Britain and Ireland. The final was contest on 17 May 2013 and won by Leinster A with a 78th minute penalty by Noel Reid to beat Newcastle Falcons 18–17 at their home ground Kingston Park. The defending champions Munster A were eliminated in the semi–finals by the eventual winners and Bedford Blues was the other losing semi–finalists.

There has been four different winners and four different losing finalist of the competition. The format of the competition has been considerably revamped, with expansion to 32 teams playing each other home and away in the pool stages. Previously, 24 teams played home or away in the pool stages. First round matches began on the weekend of 13/14 October 2012 and the final was held on 17 May 2013.^[3]

Teams

The allocation of teams was as follows:

• – 12 clubs from RFU Championship
• – 4 Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams
• – 4 top clubs from the Scottish Premiership
• – 12 clubs from the Welsh Premier Division

England	Ireland	Scotland	Wales[4]
Bedford Blues Bristol Cornish Pirates Doncaster Jersey[lower-alpha 1] Leeds Carnegie London Scottish Moseley Newcastle Falcons Nottingham Plymouth Albion Rotherham	Connacht Eagles Leinster A Munster A Ulster Ravens	Dundee HSFP Gala Melrose Stirling County	Aberavon Bedwas Bridgend Ravens Cardiff Carmarthen Quins Cross Keys Llandovery Llanelli Neath Newport Pontypridd Swansea

Competition format

The pool stage saw a considerable change in format and consisted of eight pools of four teams playing home and away matches. Pool matches took place on the same weekends as the Heineken and Amlin Cups. The top team from each pool qualified for the quarter-finals.^[3]

Pool stages

The fixture weekends have been announced.^[5]

Round 6 matches were badly effected by adverse weather. Pitches were frozen or snow-covered, or teams were unable to travel.

Pool 1

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TB	LB	Pts
Bristol	6	6	0	0	203	73	130	26	3	0	27
Ulster Ravens	6	4	0	2	199	100	99	26	5	2	23
Bridgend Ravens	6	2	0	4	93	183	–90	7	0	0	8
Cardiff	6	0	0	6	68	207	–139	7	0	0	0
Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

---

---

---

---

---

• This match was postponed from 20 January 2013 as the pitch was deemed frozen and the surrounding areas unsafe for supporters.^[6]

• Match postponed from 19 January 2013 as Ulster were unable to fly due to the bad weather.^[7] Despite this match being a dead rubber (the outcome of this game will have no bearing on qualification for the knockout stages nor on the ranking of the qualifiers), the match was rearranged^[8] as Bridgend would lose revenue otherwise.^[9]

Pool 2

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TB	LB	Pts
Bedford Blues	6	6	0	0	354	89	265	55	6	0	30
Stirling County	6	2	0	4	141	228	–87	13	2	1	11
Neath	6	3	0	3	137	229	–72	21	2	0	10[n 1]
Bedwas	6	1	0	5	116	222	–106	15	2	1	7
↑ Neath were deducted 4 competition points for fielding 2 ineligible players.[10]
Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

---

---

---

---

---

• This match was originally scheduled to be played on 19 January 2013. Due to bad weather, the Bedwas team was unable to travel to Bedford.^[13]

Pool 3

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TB	LB	Pts
Cornish Pirates	6	5	0	1	179	88	91	22	3	1	24
Carmarthen Quins	6	4	0	2	150	123	27	16	2	1	19
Swansea	6	2	0	4	98	137	–39	11	1	0	9
Dundee HSFP	6	1	0	5	85	163	–79	9	0	2	6
Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

---

---

---

---

---

Pool 4

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TB	LB	Pts
Newcastle Falcons	6	6	0	0	255	27	228	38	5	0	27[n 1]
Newport	6	3	1	2	106	205	–99	11	0	0	14
Cross Keys	6	1	1	4	88	180	–92	9	1	1	8
Connacht Eagles	6	1	0	5	91	128	–37	7	0	3	7
↑ Newcastle Falcons were deducted 2 competition points for fielding an ineligible player.[14]
Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

---

---

---

---

---

• This match was postponed as the Newport team were unable to fly out of Bristol on 18 January due to snow^[16]

---

---

• This match was originally scheduled to be played on 19 January 2013 but was postponed due to heavy snow.^[17] The match was a dead rubber and the outcome had no bearing on qualification for the knockout stages nor on the ranking of the qualifiers.

Pool 5

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TB	LB	Pts
Leinster A	6	4	1	1	181	107	74	24	3	1	22
Pontypridd	6	4	1	1	157	113	44	18	2	0	20
Leeds Carnegie	6	1	1	4	134	177	–43	17	2	2	10
Jersey	6	1	1	4	107	182	–75	10	0	1	7
Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

---

---

---

---

---

• This fixture was moved to South Leeds Stadium^[21] as the RFU Championship game against Plymouth (on 6 January 2013) went to uncontested scrums within 16 minutes on the new pitch at Headingley.^[22] Subsequently, the match was moved to West Park Leeds RUFC as the pitch at South Leeds Stadium was uncovered and frozen.^[23] Finally, the game went ahead on the 3G pitch.^[24]

• This match, originally scheduled for 19 January, was postponed due to the ground being under a seven to nine inch layer of snow and unplayable.^[25] Despite this match being a dead rubber (the outcome of this game will have no bearing on qualification for the knockout stages nor on the ranking of the qualifiers), the match was rearranged.^[26]

Pool 6

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TB	LB	Pts
Llanelli	6	4	0	2	184	148	36	22	3	0	19
Moseley	6	4	0	2	134	146	–12	15	2	1	19
London Scottish	6	2	0	4	151	128	23	18	2	3	13
Gala	6	2	0	4	106	153	–47	13	1	1	10
Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

---

---

---

---

---

Pool 7

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TB	LB	Pts
Munster A	6	5	1	0	123	77	46	15	1	0	23
Rotherham	6	4	1	1	184	102	82	22	2	0	20
Plymouth Albion	6	2	0	4	131	141	–10	18	2	1	11
Aberavon	6	0	0	6	73	191	–118	7	0	3	3
Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

---

---

---

---

---

• This match was postponed from 19 January 2013 due to a frozen pitch.^[29] Although this match is a dead rubber (the outcome of this game will have no bearing on qualification for the knockout stages nor on the ranking of the qualifiers), a new date was arranged.^[30]

Pool 8

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TB	LB	Pts
Nottingham	6	4	0	2	167	128	39	21	3	1	20
Llandovery	6	4	0	2	149	123	26	19	3	1	20
Doncaster	6	2	0	4	132	123	9	16	2	4	14
Melrose	6	2	0	4	121	195	–74	15	1	0	9
Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

---

---

---

---

---

• This match was postponed from 19 January after a pitch inspection deemed it unfit.^[31]

Knock–out stages

Qualifiers

The eight pool winners proceed to the knock out stages. The quarter-final matches were:^[32]

• Seed 1 v Seed 8
• Seed 2 v Seed 7
• Seed 3 v Seed 6
• Seed 4 v Seed 5

Teams are ranked by

1. Competition Points (4 for a win, 2 for a draw, etc)

2. where Competition Points are equal, greatest number of wins

3. where these are equal, aggregate points difference

4. where these are equal, greatest number of points scored

There are further criteria that can be applied if necessary.^[33]

	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TB	LB	Pts
Pool 2	Bedford Blues	6	6	0	0	354	89	265	55	6	0	30
Pool 4	Newcastle Falcons	6	6	0	0	255	27	228	38	5	0	27[n 1]
Pool 1	Bristol	6	6	0	0	203	73	130	26	3	0	27
Pool 3	Cornish Pirates	6	5	0	1	179	88	91	22	3	1	24
Pool 7	Munster A	6	5	1	0	123	77	46	15	1	0	23
Pool 5	Leinster A	6	4	1	1	181	107	74	24	3	1	22
Pool 8	Nottingham	6	4	0	2	167	128	39	21	3	1	20
Pool 6	Llanelli	6	4	0	2	184	148	36	22	3	0	19
↑ Newcastle Falcons were deducted 2 competition points for fielding an ineligible player.[14]

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	6 April 2013 - Goldington Road
	Bedford Blues	32
					27 April 2013 - Goldington Road
	Llanelli	18
					Bedford Blues	15
	5 April 2013 - Kingston Park
					Newcastle Falcons	18
	Newcastle Falcons	72
									17 May 2013 – Kingston Park
	Nottingham	17
									Newcastle Falcons	17
	7 April 2013 - Mennaye Field
									Leinster A	18
	Cornish Pirates	9
					26 April 2013 - Garryowen FC
	Munster A	10
					Munster A	15
	7 April 2013 - Memorial Stadium
					Leinster A	17
	Bristol	26
	Leinster A	30

Quarter-finals

---

---

---

---

Semi-finals

---

---

Final

Top scorers

Geography

Team	Stadium	Capacity	City/Area/Country
Aberavon	Talbot Athletic Ground	3,000	Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
Bedford Blues	Goldington Road	4,684	Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
Bedwas	The Bridge Field	Unknown	Bedwas, Caerphilly County Borough, Wales
Bridgend Ravens	Brewery Field	8,000	Bridgend, Bridgend County Borough, Wales
Bristol	Memorial Stadium	12,100	Horfield, Bristol, England
Cardiff	Cardiff Arms Park	13,500	Cardiff, Wales
Carmarthen Quins	Carmarthen Park	Unknown	Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Connacht Eagles	Dubarry Park[34]	10,000	Athlone, Leinster, Ireland
Cornish Pirates	Mennaye Field	4,000	Penzance, Cornwall, England
Cross Keys	Pandy Park	Unknown	Crosskeys, Caerphilly County Borough, Wales
Doncaster	Castle Park	3,075	Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England
Dundee HSFP	Mayfield Playing Fields	Unknown	Dundee, Scotland
Gala	Netherdale	6,000	Galashiels, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Jersey	St. Peter	5,000	Saint Peter, Jersey
Leeds Carnegie	Headingley Stadium[n 1]	21,062	Headingley, Leeds, England
Leinster A	Donnybrook	7,000	Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
Llandovery	Church Bank	5,000	Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Llanelli	Parc y Scarlets	14,870	Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales
London Scottish	Richmond Athletic Ground	4,500	Richmond, London, England
Melrose	Greenyards	Unknown	Melrose, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Moseley	Billesley Common	3,650	Birmingham, West Midlands, England
Munster A	Musgrave Park	8,300	Cork, County Cork, Ireland
Neath	The Gnoll	7,500	Neath, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
Newcastle Falcons	Kingston Park	10,200	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Newport	Rodney Parade	10,500	Newport, Wales
Nottingham	Meadow Lane	19,588	Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Plymouth Albion	The Brickfields	8,500	Plymouth, Devon, England
Pontypridd	Sardis Road	7,861	Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
Rotherham	Clifton Lane	2,500	Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England
Stirling County	Bridgehaugh	4,000	Stirling, Scotland
Swansea	St Helens	4,500	Brynmill, Swansea, Wales
Ulster Ravens	Ravenhill	12,125	Belfast, Ulster, Northern Ireland

Notes

Notes

References

External links

• Unofficial British and Irish Cup website - latest news, teams etc