Saturday 23 February 2008

Bedford Blues v Northampton Saints

Goldington Road , 3PM

Bedford Blues are currently in 6 th place in the National One table, despite their 15-17 reversal at Cornish Pirates last Saturday which ended a five game winning run for the Blues in all competitions. Bedford reached the final of the EDF Energy National Trophy in 2005/06 where they suffered their only national cup defeat since December 2004 losing to Harlequins 23-39 at Twickenham. The Blues also won the Challenge Cup at Twickenham in April 2005.

Northampton Saints have a perfect played 24, won 24 record in all competitions this season. The last time the Saints lost a national knockout cup tie was at this stage in the senior cup in January 2005 when Leeds beat them 24-19 at Franklin 's Gardens.

These two great East Midlands rivals have clashed on 13 previous occasions in league and cup over the years, with Bedford's only victory to date being 17-16 at Goldington Road in a 2 nd division match on 21 November 1987. Northampton have won both league encounters this season: 34-23 at Goldington Road in September and 35-9 at Franklin 's Gardens last month.

The teams have met three times before in national cup competitions, all at Franklin 's Gardens and all won by the home side.

EDF Energy Path: How Blues got here

4 th Rd : 12/1/2008 – Otley (8) 8, Bedford Blues (19) 22

Team: Brendan Burke; Alex Page(1T), Liam Roberts, Matt Allen, James Pritchard(1T, 2C, 1PG); Ben Patston, Karl Dickson; Matt Volland, Dan Richmond(1T), Bruno Fortuna; Jon Phillips, Mouritz Botha; Nic Strauss (sin bin 28-38), Sacha Harding, Rory McKay.

Bench: Greg Sammons, Marco Cecere, James Graham, Arthur Brenton, Brett Daynes, Will Chudley, Jim Hinkins.

Replacements used: Graham for Fortuna 46, Cecere for Volland 55, Hinkins for Roberts 55, Brenton for Botha 66, Daynes for Strauss 66, Sammons for Richmond 78.

5 th Rd : 2/2/2008 – Bedford Blues (18) 42, Sedgley Park (3) 20

Team: Brendan Burke; Alex Page, Liam Roberts, Matt Allen, James Pritchard(3T, 4C, 3PG); Ben Patston, Karl Dickson; James Graham, Dan Richmond, Bruno Fortuna; Jon Phillips, Mouritz Botha; Nic Strauss(1T), Rory McKay, Ben Pienaar.

Bench: Greg Sammons, Alistair Lyon, Arthur Brenton, Sacha Harding, John Elrick, Jim Hinkins, Craig Moir. Penalty Try:1.

Replacements used: Lyon for Fortuna 51, Brenton for Phillips 58, Harding for McKay 58, Moir for Roberts 63, Elrick for Patston 63, Sammons for Pienaar 75, Hinkins for Burke 80.

EDF Energy Path: How Saints got here

4 th Rd : 12/1/2008 – Cornish Pirates (3) 3, Northampton Saints (15) 15

Team: Stephen Myler(1C, 1PG); Chris Ashton, Jon Clarke, James Downey(1T), Bruce Reihana (capt); Carlos Spencer, Johnny Howard; Tom Smith, Dylan Hartley, Euan Murray; Matt Lord, Alex Rae; Paul Tupai, Ben Lewitt, Mark Hopley(1T).

Bench: Joe Gray, Soane Tonga'uiha, Barry Stewart (sin bin 80), Phil Hoy, Mark Easter, Mark Robinson, Paul Diggin.

Replacements used: Stewart for Murray 32, Tonga'uiha for Smith 59, Easter for Hopley 67, Robinson for Howard 67, Gray for Hartley 79, Hoy for Rae 79, Diggin for Ashton 79.

5 th Rd : 2/2/2008 - Doncaster Knights (3) 3, Northampton Saints (12) 17

Team: Bruce Reihana (capt)(4PG); Neil Starling, Jon Clarke(1T), James Downey, Paul Diggin; Carlos Spencer, Mark Robinson; Tom Smith, Paul Shields, Barry Stewart; Matt Lord, Alex Rae; Mark Easter, Darren Fox, Mark Hopley.

Bench: Dylan Hartley, Soane Tonga'uiha, Phil Hoy, Paul Tupai, Johnny Howard, Stephen Myler, Joe Ansbro.

Replacements used: Hartley for Shields 51, Tonga'uiha for Smith 64, Howard for Robinson 64, Tupai for Hopley 73, Myler for Spencer 78, Hoy for Lord 78, Ansbro for Clarke 80.

Exeter Chiefs v Esher

Sandy Park, 3PM

Exeter Chiefs are in 2 nd place in National One, although they did suffer a 4 th league defeat of the season last Saturday at Newbury. The Chiefs were losing finalists in the EDF Energy National Trophy last season, and have lost just one home cup tie since November 2000: 35-37 to Bedford in the semi-finals of this competition in 2005/06. Exeter 's only defeat in their last 23 league and cup matches at Sandy Park since November 2006 was 11-25 to table topping Northampton Saints on 10 November 2007.

Esher are contesting their first ever national cup/trophy quarter final, and lie in a creditable 11 th spot in the National One league table after winning promotion from National Two last season.

The two clubs have met just once before in league or cup: earlier this season, on 17 November at the Pillar Data Arena where Exeter ran out 47-13 victors.

EDF Energy Path: How Chiefs got here

4 th Rd : 12/1/2008 – Wharfedale (5) 24, Exeter Chiefs (29) 39

Team: Gary Kingdom; Stephen Ward(1T), Alifatu Junior Fatialofa, Wade Kelly(1T), Josh Drauninui; Tony Yapp(3C, 1PG), Clive Stuart-Smith; Shane Kingsland(1T), Simon Jenkins, Joe Horn-Smith; Chris Bentley, Lewis Stevenson; Tony Walker(1T), Gary Willis, Chad Slade(1T).

Bench: Sam Blythe, Brett Sturgess, James Hanks, Andy Miller, Kevin Barrett, Danny Gray(1T), Mark Fatialofa.

Replacements used: M.Fatialofa for J.Fatialofa 11, Barrett for M.Fatialofa 52, Sturgess for Horn-Smith 59, An.Miller for Walker 59, Hanks for Bentley 71, Blythe for Jenkins 71, Gray for Stuart-Smith 74.

5 th Rd : 2/2/2008 - Exeter Chiefs (24) 24, Coventry (0) 0

Team: Sean Marsden; Jason Luff, Alifatu Junior Fatialofa, Wade Kelly, Gary Kingdom; Tony Yapp(1T, 3C, 1PG), Kevin Barrett(1T); Shane Kingsland, Sam Blythe(1T), Craig Dunlea; Chris Bentley, James Hanks; Chad Slade, Tom Johnson, Richard Baxter (capt).

Bench: Simon Jenkins, John Andress, Tom Skelding, Tony Walker, Clive Stuart-Smith, Mark Fatialofa, Stephen Ward.

Replacements used: Skelding for Hanks 66, M.Fatialofa for Yapp 66, Jenkins for Blythe 74, Walker for Slade 74, Ward for Luff 74, Andress for Johnson 79.

EDF Energy Path: How Esher got here

4 th Rd : 12/1/2008 – Esher (17) 39, Worthing (3) 8

Team: Neil Hallett(4C, 2PG); Stuart Turton, Kevin Fisher, Toby Clouston(1T), Dougie Flockhart(3T); Dave Hewitt, Graham Barr; Graham Dewes(1T), Michael Mayhew (sin bin 39-49), Jamie Pearson; Mark Butterworth, Paul Barker; Mike Blakeburn, Thomas Yellowlees, Lee Starling.

Bench: Andrew Alexander, Emmanuel Amapakabo, David Millard, James Campbell, Simon Gaynor, Ian Barnes, Richard Briggs.

Replacements used: Briggs for Hewitt 41, Campbell for Yellowlees 46, Yellowlees for Campbell 49, Alexander for Pearson 54, Millard for Dewes 54, Campbell for Mayhew 54, Gaynor for Blakeburn 61, Barnes for Barr 61, Amapakabo for Butterworth 69.

5 th Rd : 2/2/2008 - Esher (11) 17, Blaydon (7) 13

Team: Neil Hallett(4PG); Matt Moore(1T), Dougie Flockhart, Toby Clouston, Richard Briggs; Dave Hewitt, Ian Barnes; David Millard, James Campbell, Andrew Alexander; Gary Johnson, Paul Barker; Mark Soden, Thomas Yellowlees, Lee Starling.

Bench: Tom Warren, Adam Harris, Mike Blakeburn, Simon Goldsmith, David Slemen, Chuck Baumberg, Llyr Lane .

Replacements used: Harris for Barker 23, Blakeburn for Yellowlees 38, Warren for Alexander 46, Slemen for Moore 58, Goldsmith for Campbell 67, Baumberg for Clouston 68.

Nottingham v Launceston

Meadow Lane, 7.45PM

Nottingham lie in 3 rd spot in National One and are bidding to reach the semi-finals of the EDF Energy National Trophy for the second time in three seasons. Nottingham have won both the previous cup ties ever played at Meadow Lane, and have won their last seven matches in all competitions at the home of Notts County FC.

Launceston are contesting a national cup/trophy quarter final for the first time in their history, but are struggling in National One this season after gaining promotion last season and currently lie in 15 th place in the league table. The Cornish All Blacks five game winning run in all competitions ended last Saturday with a 0-38 defeat to London Welsh at Old Deer Park.

The two teams have clashed on three previous occasions: twice in National Two in season 2002/03 where each side won its respective home game, and earlier this season on 10 November at Polson Bridge where Nottingham ran out 31-23 winners.

EDF Energy Path: How Notts got here

4 th Rd : 13/1/2008 – Nottingham (17) 55, Newbury Blues (10) 24

Team: Greig Tonks(2C); Andy Savage(1T), Matt Smith(1T), Tim Molenaar, Alex Dodge; Ben Thompson, Chris Pilgrim; Matt Parr, Alex Loney(1T), Nigel Hall; Lee Morley, Nic Rouse(1T); Craig Hammond, Luke Sherriff(2T), Dan Montagu.

Bench: Ryan Hopkins, Joe Duffey, Tim Stannard, Sam Raven(1T), David Jackson(1T, 3C), Josh Kay(1T), Rohann Nirmalendran.

Replacements used: Hopkins for Parr 52, Raven for Rouse 70, Stannard for Montagu 70, Jackson for Molenaar 71, Nirmalendran for Tonks 71, Kay for M.Smith 78, Duffey for Loney 80.

5 th Rd : 3/2/2008 - Nottingham (12) 18, London Welsh (7) 10

Team: Rohann Nirmalendran; Alex Dodge, Matt Smith, Tim Molenaar, David Jackson(1C, 2PG); Ben Thompson, Timothy Usasz; Matt Parr, Joe Duffey, Nigel Hall; Lee Morley, Sam Raven(1T); Craig Hammond, Luke Sherriff, Dan Montagu(1T).

Bench: Ryan Hopkins, Alex Loney, Neil Fowkes, Tim Stannard, Charlie Hayter, Chris Pilgrim, Josh Kay.

Replacements used: Stannard for Raven 54, Kay for Nirmalendran 54, Loney for Duffey 54, Pilgrim for Usasz 65, Hopkins for Parr 65.

EDF Energy Path: How All Blacks got here

4 th Rd : 19/1/2008 – Nuneaton (7) 14, Launceston (10) 41

Team: Jon Fabian(1C, 1PG); Matt Jess(1T), Ryan Westren, Steve Perry, Marc Dibble(1T); Scott Ireland(4C, 1PG), Ben Turner; Richard Liddington, Keith Brooking, Wayne Reed(3T); Dave Sims, Mike Myerscough; Josh Lord, Tony Roques, Tinus Du Plessis (sin bin 31-41).

Bench: Jason Bolt, Tom Hurdwell, Bryn Jenkins, Tom Rawlings, Sam Alford, Pete Fisher, Mark Scrivener.

Replacements used: Fisher for Fabian 38, Alford for Turner 51, Jenkins for Sims 54, T.Rawlings for Du Plessis 62, Scrivener for Westren 62, Hurdwell for Liddington 62, Bolt for Brooking 69.

5 th Rd : 2/2/2008 - Launceston (25) 61, Blackheath (8) 15

Team: Jon Fabian(4C, 1PG); Matt Jess(2T), Ryan Westren(2T), Pete Fisher, Marc Dibble(1T); Scott Ireland, Sam Alford(2T); Richard Liddington, Keith Brooking, Wayne Reed; Steve Pape, Bryn Jenkins; Josh Lord(1T), Tom Rawlings(1T), Mike Myerscough.

Bench: Jason Bolt, Tom Hurdwell, Dave Sims, Wayne Sprangle (sin bin 49-59)(1T), Mark Scrivener, Steve Perry, Hamish Smales.

Replacements used: Sprangle for Myerscough 44, Smales for Dibble 52, Perry for Fisher 55, Sims for Pape 63, Bolt for Liddington 63, Scrivener for Jess 63, Hurdwell for Reed 67.

Rotherham Titans v Plymouth Albion

Clifton Lane , 2PM

Rotherham Titans are in 13 th place in the National One table and tripped up 11-13 at home to Moseley last Saturday. This game is Rotherham's third national cup quarter final tie, losing at that stage to London Irish in the senior cup in 2002/03 and to Exeter in the EDF Energy National Trophy in 2005/06.

Plymouth Albion are in their third successive quarter final of the EDF Energy National Trophy. Albion lie in 7 th spot in National One despite slipping to five league defeats in a row. This game in Plymouth 's 4 th in succession away from home in the National Trophy, but their only defeat in the competition since this stage in 2005/06 was at eventual winners Cornish Pirates in last season's semi-finals.

The clubs have been regular protagonists in league play since they first met in 1994/95, but they have met just once before in a national cup competition: Plymouth winning a thriller at Clifton Lane 17-16 in the 3 rd round of the senior cup in October 2004. Albion also won the league encounter at Brickfields in November with a 15-0 scoreline.

EDF Energy Path: How Titans got here

4 th Rd : 12/1/2008 – Cambridge (8) 15, Rotherham Titans (16) 16

Team: Charlie Spon-Smith; Jim MacDonald, Mark Lawson, Rob Connolly, Geoff Griffiths; Jamie Lennard(1C, 3PG), Neil Chivers; Jamie Kilbane, Frazer Wilford, Anton O'Donnol; James Waterhouse, Tim Maslanyk; Barry Jacobsz(1T), Jamie Sutton (sin bin 52), Ben Wade.

Bench: Phil Boulton, Nigel Conroy, Mike McComish, Lou Reed, Jamie Blackwood, Tom Allen, Chris Hallam.

Replacements used: Boulton for O'Donnol 60, Allen for Lawson 62, Blackwood for Spon-Smith 76.

5 th Rd : 9/2/2008 - Rotherham Titans (7) 32, Manchester (20) 28

Team: Jamie Lennard(3C, 2PG); Jon Feeley(1T), Tom Allen, Mark Lawson, Geoff Griffiths; Mike Whitehead, Neil Chivers; Stuart Corsar, Nigel Conroy, Anton O'Donnol; James Waterhouse, Louis McGowan(1T); Barry Jacobsz, Neil Cochrane(1T), Alex Dunlop(1T).

Bench: Jamie Kilbane, Frazer Wilford, Simon Bunting, Ryan Burrows, Jamie Sutton, Stephen Grissing, Chris Hallam.

Replacements used: Grissing for Whitehead 21, Hallam for Chivers 33, Bunting for O'Donnol 41, Burrows for Waterhouse 73, Wilford for Conroy 77, Kilbane for Corsar 77.

EDF Energy Path: How Albion got here

4 th Rd : 12/1/2008 – Henley Hawks (3) 3, Plymouth Albion (15) 27

Team: Nat Saumi; Wihan Neethling(1T), Emyr Lewis, Keni Fisilau, Darren Ritchie; Brad Davies(1T, 2C, 1PG), Matt Newman; George Davis, Richard Oxley(2T), Steve Barretto; Tom Hayes, Mike Lewis; Jannie Bornman, Adam Kettle (sin bin 23-33), Chris Lowrie.

Bench: Nigel Cane, Ross Laidlaw, Arran Cruickshanks, Tim Mathias, James Owen, Brett Stroud, Mike Denbee.

Replacements used: Cruickshanks for Saumi 33, Saumi for Cruickshanks 41, Cruickshanks for Fisilau 50, Denbee for Hayes 70, Mathias for Barretto 76, Stroud for Bornman 78.

5 th Rd : 2/2/2008 - Pertemps Bees (3) 3, Plymouth Albion (5) 22

Team: Emyr Lewis; Ed Lewsey, Arran Cruickshanks, Keni Fisilau(1T), Nic Sestaret; Brad Davies(2C, 1PG), Nigel Cane; Tim Mathias, Richard Oxley, Scott Zimmerman; Mike Lewis, Tom Hayes; Adam Kettle, Mike Denbee, Jannie Bornman.

Bench: Dan Hawkes, Nat Saumi, Brett Stroud, Gareth Evans, James Owen, Colin Stewart, Chris Lowrie. Penalty Try:2.

Replacements used: Owen for Oxley 69, Stewart for M.Lewis 69, Lowrie for Bornman 69, Stroud for Kettle 73, Saumi for Cane 77, Hawkes for E.Lewis 80.