B&I Cup 2013/14 - Round 4
By stonehousealbion
December 11 2013
Who’d have thought it? For five years, Albion’s record in The Cup That No-one Loves has been one of mediocrity - remember that 3 - 3 draw in the rain at Newport? Then – Wham, Bam! Played 3, won 3, a Munster scalp hanging off our belt and we’re top of the group at the half-way stage. In the pools, everyone has played everyone else once, so it’s time to start taking a longer view. Don’t forget, to move on to the QFs, the six pool winners will be accompanied by the top two runners-up.
At the bottom of the pile in Pool 4 is Stirling County – white washed to date and a 100 point deficit. To be brutally honest, they appear to be going nowhere. Nottingham have won once, and shown a bit of a turnaround in the league. But with limited player resources, you’d have to wonder if they are better off conserving their energy for the Championship. Munster A (B&I Cup holders, of course) have only lost to Albion and still very much in the running. But they haven’t shown blistering form in this competition yet – just squeaking past Notts in their second game.
Albion travel to Waterford RFC this weekend for the return game with Munster, which leads the fixture list for the fourth set of pool games. Doubtless, the Irish side will have had a talking to similar to the many dished out by Shanners this season after the defeat at Brickfields. But their 1st XV priorities will dominate and with an away tie at Perpignan on Saturday, they must surely concentrate on the bigger fish. The Academy team never looked like the sum of the parts last Friday. If Albion make the journey with the right mindset and same clarity of vision, this could be the game that not only puts us in line for progression in the cross-border tournament, but really sets us up with a chance to turn things around in the C’ship.
Here’s the full fixture list:
Fri 13 Dec
Munster A v Plymouth Albion 19:30 Waterford RFC (P4)
Ulster Ravens v Ayr 19:30 Deramore (P6)
Ealing Trailfinders v Moseley 19:45 Trailfinders Sports Club (P1)
Nottingham v Stirling County 20:00 Meadow Lane (P4)
Sat 14 Dec
Bedford Blues v Connacht Eagles 14:00 Goldington Road (P3)
Edinburgh Accies SRU v London Welsh 14:00 Raeburn Place (P2)
Leeds Carnegie v Aberavon 14:00 Hull Ionians RFC (P5)
Rotherham Titans v Llanelli 14:00 Clifton Lane (P3)
Cross Keys v Leinster A 15:00 Pandy Park (P1)
Gala v Bristol Rugby 15:00 Netherdale (P5)
Jersey v Cornish Pirates 15:00 St Peter (P6)
London Scottish v Pontypridd 15:00 Richmond Athletic Ground (P2)
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Come on Albion!
Have a great time and wouldn't it be nice to enjoy some success.
Semper Sersum.
Come on Albion!
Munster A 23 - 9 Plymouth Albion (P4)
Ulster Ravens 38 - 21 Ayr (P6)
Ealing Trailfinders 21 - 18 Moseley (P1)
Nottingham 24 - 14 Stirling County (P4)
Bedford Blues 50 - 12 Connacht Eagles (P3)
Edinburgh Accies SRU 7 - 33 London Welsh (P2)
Leeds Carnegie 72 - 0 Aberavon (P5)
Rotherham Titans 20 - 15 Llanelli (P3)
Cross Keys 30 - 14 Leinster A (P1)
Gala 6 - 17 Bristol Rugby (P5)
Jersey 0 - 24 Cornish Pirate (P6)
London Scottish 26 - 21 Pontypridd (P2)
Pool 4 table: rfu.com
Albion head a tight group by a whisker. All to play for in the New Year.
Wit one more trance of matches left, some C'ship clubs have already qualified for the knock-out stages - other Pool standings: rfu.com
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!