Championship play offs

Posted on Feb 27, 2012 in Championship, English Rugby

Stage 2 pools & play-off dates

Note: the number of points carried forward from Stage 1 is indicated in brackets.

Pool A: Bristol Rugby (3), London Welsh (2), Nottingham Rugby (1), Doncaster Knights (0)
Pool B: Bedford Blues (3), Cornish Pirates (2), Leeds Carnegie (1), Rotherham Titans (0)
Pool C: London Scottish (6), Moseley (6), Plymouth Albion (6), Esher Rugby (4)

Round 1 – 09-11 March
Pool A
Doncaster Knights v Bristol Rugby
London Welsh v Nottingham Rugby
Pool B
Rotherham Titans v Bedford Blues
Cornish Pirates v Leeds Carnegie
Pool C
Esher Rugby v London Scottish
Moseley v Plymouth Albion

Round 2 – 16-18 March
Pool A
Bristol Rugby v London Welsh
Nottingham Rugby v Doncaster Knights
Pool B
Bedford Blues v Cornish Pirates
Leeds Carnegie v Rotherham Titans

Pool C
London Scottish v Moseley
Plymouth Albion v Esher Rugby

Round 3 – 23-25 March  
Pool A
London Welsh v Doncaster Knights
Nottingham Rugby v Bristol Rugby
Pool B
Cornish Pirates v Rotherham Titans
Leeds Carnegie v Bedford Blues

Pool C
Moseley v Esher Rugby
Plymouth Albion v London Scottish

Round 4 – 30 Mar-1 April

Pool A  
Bristol Rugby v Nottingham Rugby
Doncaster Knights v London Welsh
Pool B
Bedford Blues v Leeds Carnegie
Rotherham Titans v Cornish Pirates

Pool C
London Scottish v Plymouth Albion
Esher Rugby v Moseley

Round 5 – 13-15 April
Pool A
London Welsh v Bristol Rugby
Doncaster Knights v Nottingham Rugby

Pool B
Cornish Pirates v Bedford Blues
Rotherham Titans v Leeds Carnegie

Pool C
Moseley v London Scottish
Esher Rugby v Plymouth Albion

Round 6 – 21-April
Pool A  
Bristol Rugby v Doncaster Knights
Nottingham Rugby v London Welsh

Pool B
Bedford Blues v Rotherham Titans
Leeds Carnegie v Cornish Pirates

Pool C
London Scottish v Esher Rugby
Plymouth Albion v Moseley

All dates and KO times will be confirmed by the host club.

Semi-finals: May 4-7 & 11-13
Final: May 23 & 30

Championship top two clash at Memorial Stadium

Posted on Nov 18, 2011 in Bristol, Championship, Cornish Pirates, English Rugby

This Sunday at the Memorial Stadium, Bristol (ko 3pm), the Cornish Pirates have yet another mightily interesting Championship encounter, it a top of the table clash between second-placed Bristol Rugby and league leaders the Pirates.

The Cornish side have not yet beaten ‘Bris’ away in a Championship match, so there’ll be a deep desire among both the players and the coaching staff to start putting the records straight in a contest that deserves a label as ‘game of the month’.

Skipper Gavin Cattle returns to the side having sat on the bench away to Munster in the British & Irish Cup, and his partner at fly-half will be a fit again Ceiron Thomas.

The selection is a strong one, and includes flanker Chris Morgan who led the team so well in Ireland. Chris, who made his 100th appearance for the Pirates in their last successful Championship outing at home to Rotherham Titans, will also have incentive to help record a win at the Memorial Stadium, having played for Bristol in the past.

Also included on an impressive looking ‘bench’ is experienced prop Alan Paver, who’ll be keen for a return to action following an injury suffered when playing in the Premiership on loan at Exeter Chiefs.

Cornish Pirates: R. Cook, G. Pointer, D. Locke, A. Suniula, D. Doherty, C. Thomas, G. Cattle (capt), K. Marriott, P. Burgess, C. Morgan, I. Nimmo, L. McGlone, C. Rimmer, D. Ward, R. Storer.

Replacements: P. Andrew, R. Elloway, A. Paver, C. Walker-Blair, B. Cowan, T. Kessell, M. Evans.
For those supporters unable to travel to Bristol on Sunday, it is worth noting that the match is being covered ‘live’ on Pirates TV. For further details please visit www.cornish-pirates.com

McCall signs on at Rotherham

Posted on Nov 10, 2011 in English Rugby, Rotherham Titans

Rotherham Titans have signed Scottish Sevens star Dave McCall on a one month loan deal from Glasgow Warriors, with a view to making the deal permanent.

McCall, 24 years-old, prefers to play at outside centre, although he has previously played on the wing and at full back. McCall trained with Rotherham on Wednesday and is expected to start against Swansea in the British & Irish Cup on Saturday.

Currently under contract with Glasgow, McCall briefly explained a little about his rugby background, “When I left school I went to Edinburgh and was there from about 18-20. I then went to university for a couple of years but had a bad shoulder injury and so took a year out of the game. I came back and played some club rugby for one year with Heriot’s and then I got signed by Glasgow and I’ve been there since I was 22.

While I was at Glasgow I spent around 8 months out with a torn hamstring, but that’s all good now. When I first joined Glasgow I had a good run of games, but then I had the injury and that kind of dropped me down the pecking order and then it’s quite difficult to get back in, because there’s tight competition for spots. It’s harder to get your place back once you loose it and I’ve always been fighting to try and get the spot back.”

McCall went on to explain how and why the opportunity to join Titans came about, “I wanted to play some games and my agent spoke to Andre and I’m happy to come to Rotherham and try to play some games in the Championship. The whole aim of rugby is to play and that’s what I want to do.

“I don’t follow the Championship too much, but I know Rotherham are doing very well at the moment and there are a lot of talented players here. I understand the standard of the Championship is pretty good, I’ve experienced it a little in the British & Irish Cup but I know in general it’s a good standard and it’s going to be hard.”

McCall who has represented his country at all school levels and also for the National Sevens is hopeful of taking the opportunity offered by Rotherham, he remarked, “If it goes well at Rotherham then I would love to stay, but I’m at my happiest when I’m playing regular rugby.

If you’re at a place and you’re playing well and you are appreciated, I don’t know why you would want to change that.”

British and Irish Cup: enter the dragons

Posted on Nov 8, 2011 in British and Irish Cup

The Welsh entrants to the B&I Cup make their tournament bow this weekend with games between Llanelli and London Scottish, Swansea and Rotherham Titans, Bristol Rugby and Neath, Nottingham and Pontypridd, Cross Keys and Moseley and London Welsh entertaining Aberavon.

It’s the matchup between high flying London Welsh, coached by Lyn Jones and table-topping Aberavon that wets the appetite. Jones has a point to prove to Welsh rugby after being dropped by the Ospreys, but turning his career around by making London Welsh one of the best sides in the Championship; a team that has a serious shot at breaking into the Aviva Premiership. This should be a game to savour.

The first- ever finalists in the British & Irish Cup go head to head in the next round of the competition, which sees the belated introduction of the six Welsh, three Scottish and three Irish sides.

Having enjoyed two rounds of all- English affairs, cross- border rivalry is now added to the mix and Munster ‘A’ will not need any motivation ahead of the visit of Cornish Pirates, who claimed the first title at their expense in 2010. The Pirates have started this season’s competition in fine fettle, claiming bonus- point wins in both their opening fixtures to sit proudly on top of Pool 1.

The only other game on Friday night sees a quick return to his native Northern Ireland for Doncaster’s summer signing David McIlwaine. The full- back, who appeared in the Heineken Cup for the Irish province last season, has been in sensational form for the Knights in the Championship.

All seven of Saturday’s ties are cross- border affairs with Cross Keys entertaining Moseley at Pandy Park, and fellow B&I Cup new boys, London Scottish, taking a trip in the other direction to tackle Llanelli. Aberavon, who sit proudly on top of the Welsh Premiership, are at London Welsh, Plymouth take on Ayr at Brickfields and there is a first- ever meeting between Swansea and Rotherham at St Helen’s.

On Sunday, holders Bristol welcome Neath to the Memorial Stadium, Leeds are at home to Currie and Nottingham, who boast two wins from two to top Pool 6, take on 2011 semi- finalists Pontypridd.

 

Copeland thrilled with Titans progress

Posted on Nov 2, 2011 in Championship, English Rugby, Rotherham Titans

Robin Copeland, (pictured) Titans’ man of the match in their 44-6 demolition of league leaders Bristol, believes his side are now serious Championship contenders!

The 24 year old former Leinster Academy and Plymouth Albion back-rower is proving to be a key member of Andre Bester’s new look squad.
Copeland is enjoying his time at Clifton Lane and believes any Championship side would be foolish to underestimate the South Yorkshire outfit.

Copeland said, “Teams are underestimating us at their own peril. We are really starting to come together as a team and every week we are improving so much. Players are getting that bit more confident… watch this space!

“That’s the third time this season that we have beaten the top of the league and that’s the plan, that’s why we are here, we’re here to win.

“It was a brilliant team performance against Bristol and we were absolutely ecstatic at the end… we totally deserved the victory. We scored at all the right times in the game and that was crucial, getting points on the board when we needed to and that’s what won us the game. It’s not that we scored tries; it was the times we scored them. Mentally for them they put their head down.”

The highlight of Titans four try destruction of Bristol was Copeland’s 60 metre dash for his sides 2nd try of the match. The likeable Irishman drooled, “The try… I love scoring those kind of tries, I couldn’t be happier.

“The ball popped out on this side, Jimmy Williams gave me the pass while he was half being tackled and I just took it up. My momentum brought me round infield and I knew they wouldn’t be chasing up on that side and a hole just kind of opened up and I backed myself and put my head down and I was really pleased to score a try like that.

“I’m delighted with the win and the performance and my parents came over for this game which makes it all the more special for me.”

Are Rotherham becoming a threat themselves in the Championship now?
Copeland continued, “You have to believe we are; if you don’t think you are here to compete, there’s no point in being here. Just because the team didn’t do as well last year doesn’t mean anything this term.
This is a whole new team and we are a bunch of players that know we can go on and do well and we can win this league.

“If people don’t believe that now… then that’s their own fault!”