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)

B&I Cup 2013/14 - Round 4

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 11/12/2013 14:40

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
11/12/2013 14:40

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

mismo0905
12/12/2013 11:59

Flew into Cork this morning for business - a coincidence I assure you! Hiring a car to get to Waterford and back tomorrow night. Got my Albi beanie safe. Should be a cracker.

Come on Albion!

Reply Quote Report

noibla
12/12/2013 16:41

Timing is everything in life miso0905. Lucky old you.

Have a great time and wouldn't it be nice to enjoy some success.



Semper Sersum.

Reply Quote Report

mismo0905
12/12/2013 18:48

Thanks Noibla. Hope it's not as cold as last year and that I have some company! Last time the weather trapped everyone but the squad in the UK and I'm pretty sure I was the only Albion supporter at the game! Made plenty of noise though!

Come on Albion!

Reply Quote Report

stonehousealbion
15/12/2013 07:55

Full results round-up from this weekend:

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!

Reply Quote Report

Forum List Message List Search Log In

Your Name:
Subject:

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net