2011–12 British and Irish Cup

The 2011–12 British and Irish Cup was the 3rd season of the annual rugby union competition for second tier, semi-professional clubs from Britain and Ireland. First round matches began on Wednesday 21 September 2011 and the final was held on Friday 27 April 2012.^[3]

2011–12 British and Irish Cup
Tournament details
Countries	England Ireland  Scotland  Wales
Tournament format(s)	Round-robin and knockout
Date	September 2011 - April 2012
Tournament statistics
Teams	24
Matches played	55
Attendance	48,328 (879 per match)
Tries scored	271 (4.93 per match)
Top point scorer(s)	Noel Reid (Leinster A) (80 points)[1]
Top try scorer(s)	Kristian Baller (Cross Keys) (6 tries)[2]
Final
Venue	Musgrave Park, Cork
Attendance	2,500
Champions	Munster A (1st title)
Runners-up	Cross Keys
← 2010–11 (Previous) (Next) 2012–13 →

Defending champions Bristol had a very poor campaign and were unable to make it out of the pool stages. Munster A lifted the cup, comfortably defeating Cross Keys 31–12 in the final. They became the first Irish side to claim the title, and the third different side to win in the competition's three-year history.

Teams

The allocation of teams is as follows:

• – 12 clubs from RFU Championship
• – 3 Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams.
• – 3 top clubs from the Scottish Premiership.
• – 6 top clubs from the Welsh Premier Division.

England	Ireland	Scotland	Wales
Bedford Blues Bristol Cornish Pirates Doncaster Esher Leeds Carnegie London Welsh London Scottish Moseley Nottingham Plymouth Albion Rotherham	Leinster A Munster A Ulster Ravens	Ayr Currie Melrose	Aberavon Cross Keys Llanelli Neath Pontypridd Swansea

Competition format

The pool stage saw a change in format and consisted of six pools of four teams playing cross-pool matches, giving each team two home and two away matches. Matches between English teams were played mid-week. Pool matches took place from 21 September to 18 December. The top team from each pool qualified for the quarter-finals, together with the two runners–up with the best records.

• Pool 1 teams Ayr, Cornish Pirates, Moseley and Neath, played the teams in Pool 2 Bristol Rugby, Cross Keys, Plymouth Albion and Munster
• Pool 3 teams Aberavon, Bedford Blues, Leinster and London Scottish, played the teams in Pool 4: Esher Rugby, Llanelli, London Welsh and Melrose
• Pool 5: Currie, Doncaster, Rotherham and Pontypridd, played the teams in Pool 6: Leeds Carnegie, Nottingham Rugby, Swansea and Ulster Ravens^[3][4][5]

Pool stages

Pool 1 v Pool 2

Pool 1

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	TB	LB	Pts
Cornish Pirates	4	4	0	0	128	31	+97	17	2	0	18
Ayr	4	2	0	2	44	72	−28	4	0	1	9
Moseley	4	2	0	2	46	106	−60	5	1	0	9
Neath	4	1	0	3	62	108	−46	6	1	0	5

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 4 points for a win; 2 points for a draw; 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less; 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

Pool 2

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	TB	LB	Pts
Cross Keys	4	3	0	1	122	58	+64	15	3	0	15
Munster A	4	3	0	1	67	22	+45	6	1	1	14
Plymouth Albion	4	1	0	3	66	91	−25	8	0	2	6
Bristol	4	0	0	4	62	109	−47	7	0	2	2

Source: ^[6]
Rules for classification: 4 points for a win; 2 points for a draw; 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less; 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

21 September 2011 17:00

Cornish Pirates	50 – 22	Bristol
	Stats

Recreation Ground Attendance: 1,612

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21 September 2011 19:30

Moseley	29 – 25	Plymouth Albion
	Stats

Billesley Common Attendance: 305

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12 October 2011 19:45

Bristol	10 – 14	Moseley
	Stats

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,023

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12 October 2011 19:45

Plymouth Albion	0 – 38	Cornish Pirates
	Stats

The Brickfields Attendance: 1,425

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11 November 2011 19:00

Munster A	6 – 10	Cornish Pirates
	Stats

Clonmel RFC Attendance: 500

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12 November 2011 15:00

Cross Keys	42 – 3	Moseley
	Stats

Pandy Park

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12 November 2011 19:45

Plymouth Albion	17 – 18	Ayr
	Stats

The Brickfields Attendance: 1,077

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13 November 2011 15:00

Bristol	16 – 29	Neath
	Stats

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,865

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19 November 2011 14:30

Neath	9 – 23	Munster A
	Stats

The Gnoll

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19 November 2011 15:00

Ayr	7 – 32	Cross Keys
	Stats

Millbrae

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10 December 2011 14:00

Munster A	9 – 3	Ayr
	Stats

Tralee RFC Attendance: 400

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10 December 2011 14:30

Cross Keys	45 – 18	Neath
	Stats

Pandy Park

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17 December 2011 14:30

Ayr	16 – 14	Bristol
	Stats

Millbrae

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17 December 2011 15:00

Moseley	0 – 29	Munster A
	Stats

Billesley Common Attendance: 854

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17 December 2011 15:00

Neath	6 – 24	Plymouth Albion
	Stats

The Gnoll Attendance: 1,257

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18 December 2011 14:00

Cornish Pirates	30 – 3	Cross Keys
	Stats

Mennaye Field Attendance: 2,259

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Pool 3 v Pool 4

Pool 3

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	TB	LB	Pts
Leinster A	4	3	1	0	117	75	+42	13	2	0	16
Bedford Blues	4	2	1	1	137	104	+33	19	1	1	12
Aberavon	4	1	0	3	89	97	−8	12	1	1	6
London Scottish	4	1	0	3	47	162	−115	4	0	0	4

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 4 points for a win; 2 points for a draw; 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less; 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

Pool 4

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	TB	LB	Pts
Llanelli	4	2	1	1	148	66	+82	16	2	1	13
London Welsh	4	2	1	1	125	85	+40	12	1	1	12
Melrose	4	2	0	2	60	95	−35	7	0	0	8
Esher	4	1	0	3	105	144	−39	15	2	0	6

Source: ^[6][7]
Rules for classification: 4 points for a win; 2 points for a draw; 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less; 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

21 September 2011 19:30

London Scottish	9 – 44	London Welsh
	Stats

Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 853

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21 September 2011 19:45

Bedford Blues	62 – 30	Esher
	Stats

Goldington Road Attendance: 1,544

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12 October 2011 19:30

London Welsh	30 – 33	Bedford Blues
	Stats

The Avenue, Sunbury Attendance: 749

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12 October 2011 19:45

Esher	43 – 10	London Scottish
	Stats

Molesey Road Attendance: 539

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12 November 2011 14:30

London Welsh	27 – 19	Aberavon
	Stats

Old Deer Park Attendance: 840

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12 November 2011 15:00

Esher	18 – 32	Leinster A
	Stats

Molesey Road Attendance: 914

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13 November 2011 14:00

Llanelli	63 – 0	London Scottish
	Stats

Parc y Scarlets

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13 November 2011 14:00

Melrose	19 – 17	Bedford Blues
	Stats

The Greenyards Attendance: 715

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19 November 2011 14:30

Aberavon	22 – 47	Llanelli
	Stats

Talbot Athletic Ground Attendance: 450

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19 November 2011 18:00

Leinster A	42 – 20	Melrose
	Stats

Donnybrook Attendance: 685

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10 December 2011 14:00

Melrose	9 – 8	Aberavon
	Stats

The Greenyards Attendance: 497

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11 December 2011 13:00

Llanelli	13 – 19	Leinster A
	Stats

Parc y Scarlets

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17 December 2011 14:30

Aberavon	40 – 14	Esher
	Stats

Talbot Athletic Ground Attendance: 312

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17 December 2011 15:00

Bedford Blues	25 – 25	Llanelli
	Stats

Goldington Road Attendance: 1,900

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17 December 2011 15:00

London Scottish	28 – 12	Melrose
	Stats

Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,060

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18 December 2011 14:00

Leinster A	24 – 24	London Welsh
	Stats

Donnybrook

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Pool 5 v Pool 6

Pool 5

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	TB	LB	Pts
Pontypridd	4	2	0	2	90	61	+29	12	1	2	11
Rotherham	4	1	0	3	57	76	−19	7	1	2	7
Doncaster	4	1	0	3	76	114	−38	9	1	2	7
Currie	4	1	0	3	83	103	−20	8	1	1	6

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 4 points for a win; 2 points for a draw; 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less; 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

Pool 6

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	TB	LB	Pts
Ulster Ravens	4	4	0	0	115	60	+55	14	2	0	18
Nottingham	4	4	0	0	98	79	+19	10	1	0	17
Leeds Carnegie	4	2	0	2	77	61	+16	12	1	1	10
Swansea	4	1	0	3	64	106	−42	6	0	1	5

Source: ^[6]
Rules for classification: 4 points for a win; 2 points for a draw; 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less; 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

21 September 2011 19:30

Leeds Carnegie	17 – 3	Rotherham
	Stats

Headingley Rugby Stadium Attendance: 785

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21 September 2011 19:45

Nottingham	33 – 29	Doncaster
	Stats

Meadow Lane Attendance: 682

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12 October 2011 15:00

Rotherham	17 – 22	Nottingham
	Stats

Clifton Lane Attendance: 337

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12 October 2011 19:30

Doncaster	24 – 22	Leeds Carnegie
	Stats

Castle Park Attendance: 710

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11 November 2011 19:30

Ulster Ravens	39 – 7	Doncaster
	Stats

Deramore Park

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12 November 2011 15:00

Swansea	6 – 13	Rotherham
	Stats

St Helens Attendance: 250

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13 November 2011 15:00

Leeds Carnegie	31 – 16	Currie
	Stats

Headingley Rugby Stadium Attendance: 925

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13 November 2011 15:00

Nottingham	20 – 17	Pontypridd
	Stats

Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,349

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18 November 2011 19:30

Currie	13 – 28	Ulster Ravens
	Stats

Malleny Park Attendance: 652

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19 November 2011 14:30

Pontypridd	39 – 17	Swansea
	Stats

Sardis Road Attendance: 1,400

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10 December 2011 14:30

Ulster Ravens	17 – 16	Pontypridd
	Stats

Deramore Park

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10 December 2011 15:00

Swansea	21 – 38	Currie
	Stats

St Helens Attendance: 150

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17 December 2011 13:30

Rotherham	24 – 31	Ulster Ravens
	Stats

Clifton Lane Attendance: 581

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17 December 2011 14:00

Doncaster	16 – 20	Swansea
	Stats

Castle Park Attendance: 1,217

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17 December 2011 14:30

Pontypridd	18 – 7	Leeds Carnegie
	Stats

Sardis Road Attendance: 950

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17 December 2011 15:00

Currie	16 – 23	Nottingham
	Stats

Malleny Park Attendance: 310

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Knock–out stages

Qualifiers

The six pool winners and the two best runners up proceeded to the knock out stages. The best four qualifiers (pool winners) had home advantage in the quarter finals.

Qualification	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	TB	LB	Pts
Pool 1 Winner	Cornish Pirates	4	4	0	0	128	31	+97	17	2	0	18
Pool 6 Winner	Ulster Ravens	4	4	0	0	115	60	+55	14	2	0	18
Pool 3 Winner	Leinster A	4	3	1	0	117	75	+42	13	2	0	16
Pool 2 Winner	Cross Keys	4	3	0	1	122	58	+64	15	3	0	15
Pool 4 Winner	Llanelli	4	2	1	1	148	66	+82	16	2	1	13
Pool 5 Winner	Pontypridd	4	2	0	2	90	61	+29	12	1	2	11
Pool 6 Runner-up	Nottingham	4	4	0	0	98	79	+19	10	1	0	17
Pool 2 Runner-up	Munster A	4	3	0	1	67	22	+45	6	1	1	14

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	22 January 2012 – Donnybrook
	Leinster A	32
					6 April 2012 – RDS
	Pontypridd	0
					Leinster A	29
	20 January 2012 – Ravenhill
					Munster A	36
	Ulster Ravens	9
									27 April 2012 – Musgrave Park
	Munster A	20
									Munster A	31
	21 January 2012 – Pandy Park
									Cross Keys	12
	Cross Keys	32
					7 April 2012 – Pandy Park
	Llanelli	8
					Cross Keys	20
	22 January 2012 – Mennaye Field
					Cornish Pirates	16
	Cornish Pirates	33
	Nottingham	3

Quarter-finals

20 January 2012 19:30

Ulster Ravens	9 – 20	Munster A
Pen: Jackson (3) 8', 45', 60'	Report Stats	Try: Scanlon 31' c Deasy 39' c Con: Deasy (2/2) Pen: Deasy (2) 2', 58'

Ravenhill Referee: James Matthew (SRU)

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21 January 2012 18:30

Cross Keys	32 – 8	Llanelli
Try: S Jones (2) 12' c, 21' c Hodge 45' m Trowbridge 53' c Con: S Jones (3) Pen: S Jones (2) 8', 53'	Report Stats	Try: Evans 77' m Pen: Evans 36'

Pandy Park Attendance: 228 Referee: Paul Haycock (IRFU)

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22 January 2012 14:00

Cornish Pirates	33 – 3	Nottingham
Try: Maidment 17' c Short 21' c Ward 65' m Cooper 70' c Cook 79' c Con: Cook (4/5)	Report Stats	Pen: Hallett 34'

Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,492 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

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22 January 2012 14:00

Leinster A	32 – 0	Pontypridd
Try: Gilsenan 14' c Macken (2) 39' c, 53' c Hudson 72' m Con: Reid (3/3) Marsh (0/1) Pen: Reid (2) 2', 5'	Report Stats

Donnybrook Attendance: 780 Referee: Greg MacDonald (RFU)

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Semi-finals

6 April 2012 18:00

Leinster A	29 – 36 (a.e.t.)	Munster A
Try: McGrath 45' c Ryan 49' c Con: Reid (2/2) Pen: Reid (5/9) 13', 33', 57', 61', 80+10'	Report Stats	Try: O'Mahony 51' c O'Dea 54' c Kilcoyne 80+9' c Con: Deasy (3/3) Pen: Deasy (5/7) 8', 23', 38', 64', 80+7'

Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 4,895 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

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7 April 2012 15:00

Cross Keys	20 – 16	Cornish Pirates
Try: Baller (2) 5' c, 50' c Con: S. Jones (2/2) Pen: S. Jones (2) 3', 13'	Report Stats	Try: Penalty try 35' c Con: Cook (1/1) Pen: Cook (3) 29', 44', 54'

Pandy Park Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Cammy Rudkin (SRU)

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Final

27 April 2012 17:30

Munster A	31 – 12	Cross Keys
Try: Williams 26' c O'Dea 43' c Dineen 67' m Con: Deasy (2/3) Pen: Deasy (4/6) 3', 13', 25', 56'	Report Stats	Pen: Tovey (4/6) 3', 6', 16', 36'

Musgrave Park Attendance: 2,500 Referee: James Matthews (SRU)

Top scorers

Top points scorers Rank Player Team Points[1] 1 Noel Reid Leinster A 80 2 Scott Deasy Munster A 67 3 Alex Davies London Welsh 64 4 Jordan Williams Llanelli 58 5 Rob Cook Cornish Pirates 55 6 Steffan Jones Cross Keys 49 7 James Stokes Nottingham 46 8 Jamie Forbes Currie 43 9 James McKinney Ulster Ravens 35 10 Sam Davies Swansea 34

Top try scorers Rank Player Team Tries[2] 1 Kristian Baller Cross Keys 6 2 Brendan Macken Leinster A 5 3 Peter Nelson Ulster Ravens 4 Matthew Nuthall Pontypridd David Ward Cornish Pirates

Geography

Team	Stadium	Capacity	City/Area/Country
Aberavon	Talbot Athletic Ground	3,000	Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
Ayr	Millbrae	Unknown	Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland
Bedford Blues	Goldington Road	4,684	Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
Bristol	Memorial Stadium	12,100	Bristol, England
Cornish Pirates	Mennaye Field	3,500	Penzance, Cornwall, England
Cross Keys	Pandy Park	Unknown	Crosskeys, Caerphilly County Borough, Wales
Currie	Malleny Park	Unknown	Balerno, Edinburgh, Scotland
Doncaster	Castle Park	3,075	Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England
Esher	Molesey Road	Unknown	Esher, England
Leeds Carnegie	Headingley Stadium	21,062	Headingley, Leeds, England
Leinster A	Donnybrook	7,000	Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
Llanelli	Parc y Scarlets	14,870	Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales
London Scottish	Richmond Athletic Ground	1,000 seat stand	Richmond, London, England
London Welsh	Old Deer Park	5,850	London, England
Melrose	The Greenyards	Unknown	Melrose, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Moseley	Billesley Common	3,000+ (650 seated)	Birmingham, West Midlands, England
Munster A	Musgrave Park	8,300	Cork, County Cork, Ireland
Neath	The Gnoll	7,500	Neath, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
Nottingham	Meadow Lane	19,588	Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Plymouth Albion	The Brickfields	6,500	Plymouth, Devon, England
Pontypridd	Sardis Road	7,861	Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
Rotherham	Clifton Lane	2,500	Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England
Swansea	St Helens	4,500	Swansea, Wales
Ulster A	Ravenhill	12,125	Belfast, Ulster, Northern Ireland