Author: Bill Sley
Subject: B&I Cup - 2014/5
Posted: 11 Sep 2014 at 16:02
Welsh teams confirmed for British & Irish Cup
For immediate release: Thursday 11 September 2014
Issued on behalf of Rugby Football Union by Nicol McClelland
Pontypridd, Cross Keys, Carmarthen Quins and Aberavon will represent Wales in the British &Irish Cup after all four secured victories in the final qualifying round.
Pontypridd get the chance to put right last year's semi-final heartbreak after they beat Cardiff RFC 40-12 at Sardis Road. Alex Webber, Tom Williams, Owen Sheppeard and Gavin Dacey got the tries for last season's Principality Premiership and SWALEC Cup champions - with 20 points coming from the boot of outside-half Simon Humberstone.
Dean Gunter kicked four penalties in reply for the BT Sport Arms Park club but Ponty romped into Pool A.
They will play 2011 winners Bristol, Connacht and London Scottish - who they came up against in last season's competition.
Carmarthen Quins will represent the Scarlets region after running out 37-13 winners in the battle of West Wales against Llandovery. Chris Banfield scored a hat-trick of tries with flying wing Jason Harries and back-rower Sion Bennett also getting on the scoresheet.
The Drovers led 13-10 at the break thanks to a Rhodri Jones try whilst the Quins were down to 14 men and two Ian Brooks penalties. But the Scarlets region qualifiers stormed into this year's competition with three second half tries at The Park.
Aberavon claimed a dramatic victory over Bridgend Ravens to earn the right to represent the Ospreys region in this year's pool stages. Ceiron Thomas converted a match-winning drop goal in the ninth minute of injury time at the Brewery Field.
Aberavon raced into a 17-8 lead at half-time after Ospreys academy product Ben John and David Pritchard both crossed the try-line. But the Ravens hit-back through Adam Williams who pounced on a charged-down kicked and raced down the touchline to score.
Ashleigh James forced his way over before Luke Price kicked a late penalty which looked to have secured victory. But Thomas found the time to slot home a last minute drop-goal and earn his side a place in this season's British & Irish Cup.
Cross Keys secured their spot after they overcame Gwent rivals Newport 31-12 at Pandy Park. Wales Under-20 starlet Angus O'Brien starred as the Keys raced to a 17-0 lead.
He set up Nathan Trowbridge for the opening score before he claimed a cross-kick from flanker Scott Matthews to touchdown himself. Newport hit-back with a tries by full-back Geraint O'Driscoll and Dan Robinson to go in 20-12 down at the break. Adam Powell rounded off the win inspired by O'Brien - who scored 21 points on the day.
2014/15 British & Irish Cup
Pool 1 – Pontypridd, Bristol Rugby, Connacht and London Scottish.
Pool 2 – Aberavon, Rotherham Titans, Ulster Ravens and Yorkshire Carnegie
Pool 4 – Cross Keys, Bedford Blues, Cornish Pirates and Doncaster Knights
Pool 5 – Carmarthen Quins, Jersey, Leinster A and Plymouth Albion
Teams
* 12 Greene King IPA Championship clubs – Bristol Rugby, Bedford Blues, Cornish Pirates, Doncaster Knights, Jersey, London Scottish, Moseley, Nottingham Rugby, Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans, Yorkshire Carnegie, Worcester Warriors
* 4 Welsh Principality Premiership clubs – Pontypridd, Aberavon, Cross eys, Carmarthen Quins
* 4 Irish provinces – Connacht, Munster, Leinster 'A' and Ulster Ravens
Pool Stages
*Taking place on 11, 18, 25 October, 29 November and 6, 13 December 2014
* 5 pools of 4 playing home and away
* 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 bonus point for a) scoring 4 or more tries and/or b) losing by 7 points or less
Quarter finals
* Taking place on 24 January 2015
* Top side in each pool progress to knockout stage, plus three best runners-up
* 8 quarter-finalists ranked with teams ranked 1-4 having home advantage
Semi-finals and final
* Four winning quarter finalists progress to semi -final draw which takes place on weekend of 13/14/15 March 2015
* Winning semi-finalists progress to final to take place on weekend of 3/4/5 April 2015