EDF Energy Cup 4th round draw

This is an all National Two clash with Blackheath currently occupying 4^{th spot and Halifax 14th and last place.}

The two have already met in the league this season, Blackheath running out 32-15 winners at Halifax on 1 December. Overall the two sides have met five times in the league with Halifax victorious just once: 27-24 at home on 7 January 2006.

Blackheath travelled to Paignton in round 3 of the EDF Energy National Trophy and won 23-3, whilst Halifax took a trip to Westcombe Park and won 41-3.

Cambridge play their rugby in National Two and are in 8th place in the league table. Cambridge entertained London Scottish in the 3rd round of the EDF Energy National Trophy and won 19-3. They have not lost at home in a national cup competition since North Walsham were the visitors in the 1st round of the senior cup in September 2004.

Rotherham Titans are in 12th spot in National One. This is the Titans’ 4th successive away tie in the National Trophy, and they have never been knocked out of a national cup competition by a team from a lower league.

The two sides have never met before in league or cup.

The match of the round is an all National One clash between Cornish Pirates and Northampton Saints who are presently in 5th and top places in the league table respectively.

The Pirates are the defending EDF Energy National Trophy winners after beating Exeter 19-16 in last season’s final at Twickenham. Their only previous loss in a National Trophy tie was 20-36 at Plymouth Albion in November 2005.

Northampton are playing in their 82nd national cup tie but their 1st in the National Trophy.

The two teams have already met twice before in National One this season with the Saints taking both clashes: 35-26 at Camborne in September and 26-10 at Franklin’s Gardens on 22 December.

Doncaster Knights currently lie in 4th place National One. The Knights reached the last eight of the EDF Energy National Trophy last season before losing 10-13 at the hands of eventual champions, Cornish Pirates.

Richmond are flying high at the top of London One with a perfect played 13, won 13 record, and are bidding to become just the 3rd level five side to reach the 5th round of the National Trophy, after London Scottish and Canterbury did so in 2005/06.

Richmond have already won three games to reach the 4th round of the EDF Energy National Trophy, beating London Nigerian 101-0, Dings Crusaders 23-11 and Westoe 20-10.

The only previous cup meeting between the two was on 3 January 1998 in the 4th round of the Senior Cup with Richmond winning 58-8 at the Athletic Ground.

Esher, who are currently in 8^{th place in National One, fell at home at their first hurdle in last season’s EDF Energy National Trophy, slipping up 12-22 to Redruth.}

Worthing occupy 2nd spot in London One, and are bidding to become just the 3rd level five side to reach the 5th round of the National Trophy, after London Scottish and Canterbury did so in 2005/06. Worthing have already beaten Civil Service (18-5), Weston-super-Mare (21-13) and Rosslyn Park (25-6) to arrive in the 4th round of the EDF Energy National Trophy.

The two sides have not met since they were both in the London 2 South league in season 1993/94.

Henley Hawks are in 11th place in the National Two table. The Hawks travelled to Macclesfield in round 3 of the EDF Energy National Trophy and won 16-0. Curiously Henley have not won a home game in a national cup competition since beating Newbury 39-17 in the 3rd round of the senior cup in October 2003.

Plymouth Albion currently lie in 7th place in National One. Albion’s previous two ventures in the National Trophy perished at the quarter-final stage in 2005/06 and in the semi-finals last season, in their only two previous away matches in the competition so far.

The two clubs have met on eight previous occasions in league play: Henley won the first four clashes between 1996-98, but Plymouth have won the last four in National One in seasons 2003/04 and 2004/05.

This Birmingham derby is an all National One clash between 14th placed Moseley and 16th and last placed Pertemps Bees.

Moseley fell at their first hurdle in last season’s EDF Energy National Trophy, losing 0-48 at fellow National One outfit Cornish Pirates. Moseley have not won a home game since they beat the Bees 23-11 at Billesley Common on 8 September.

Bees were semi-finalists last season but lost 12-19 at Exeter at that stage.

The two sides have met twice in National One this season with Moseley taking both encounters 23-11 at Billesley Common and 21-7 at Sharman’s Cross Road. Prior to this season the teams had met on eight occasions in league play with Bees winning seven and one game drawn.

Nuneaton are in 13th place in the National Two table, and beat Havant 18-11 in the 3rd round of the EDF Energy National Trophy to make it this far.

Launceston occupy 15th spot in National One. The only time Launceston have been knocked out of a national cup competition by a team from a lower league was when they entertained Halifax in the 3rd round of the senior cup on 16 October 2004 and lost 5-9.

The two sides have met four times in league play with the Cornish All Blacks winning three to one by the Nuns. Launceston have won on both their previous visits to Liberty Way: 19-6 in November 2004 and 27-15 in March 2007, both in National One.

Otley, who are the leaders of the National Two table, quarter-finalists in 2005/06, and entertained Kendal in the 3^{rd round of the EDF Energy National Trophy winning 29-9.}

Bedford are in 6th spot in National One. The Blues were unluckily eliminated from last season’s EDF Energy National Trophy when they entertained Exeter in the 5th round: the teams were locked at 13-all after Extra Time but the Chiefs progressed as the away team in a drawn game with tries scored also level.

Bedford have visited Cross Green before in the National Trophy, winning a thriller 14-13 at the quarter final stage in January 2006.

In addition the two sides have met in league play 16 times with Otley winning five to Bedford’s 10 with one game drawn.

Preston currently preside in 6th place in National 3 North. Preston have already knocked out Malvern (63-17), Leigh (57-0) and Lydney (8-6) to arrive at the 4th round of the EDF Energy National Trophy.

Blaydon, who lie in 9th spot in National Two, beat Old Patesians 15-6 in the 3rd round and have never been knocked out of a national cup competition by a team from a lower league.

Blaydon just have the edge in previous league encounters between the two clubs, winning five games to three from the Grasshoppers.

Sedgley Park are currently in 13th position in National One. The Tigers have lost their last six games played in national cup competitions since they beat Stourbridge 33-13 in the 2nd round of the senior cup on 29 September 2001.

Ealing play their rugby in the National 3 South league and are currently in 5th place. The Trailfinders obtained a walk-over from Andover in round 1 of this season’s EDF Energy National Trophy, and then beat St Ives (40-3) and Waterloo 20-13 to make it into the 4th round.

The two sides have never met before in league or cup.

Tynedale are setting the pace in National 3 North with a played 15, won 14 record, and beat Broadstreet 46-13, Darlington Mowden Park 17-11 and Hull 17-8 in the first 3 rounds of the EDF Energy National Trophy. Tynedale have won their last six home games in national cup competitions since tripping up 32-37 at home to Waterloo in the 2nd round of the senior cup on 5 October 2002. In addition, Tynedale have won their last 23 home games in cup and league since Blaydon won there on 9 September 2006.

Manchester, who currently sit in 3rd spot in National Two, beat Caldy 11-0 in the 3rd round – their first national cup tie win since 2004.

The two sides have not met in league or cup since Tynedale visited Manchester in North One on 11 November 1995 when Manchester won 22-11.

Wharfedale are playing their first home cup tie since they entertained Pertemps Bees in the 4th round of the senior cup in November 2003. Wharfedale are in 12th place in National Two, beat Hull Ionians 23-10 in the last round of the EDF Energy National Trophy.

Exeter Chiefs are hot on the heels of leaders Northampton in National One. The Chiefs were losing finalists in last season’s EDF Energy National Trophy.

The two teams have met just twice before in league play, way back in season 1996/97 in the old 3rd division with Exeter winning both encounters: 29-17 at Wharfedale and 14-8 at the County Ground.

Mounts Bay are leading the way in National 3 South with just one defeat in 15 league games so far. Since Mounts Bay first entered the leagues in season 2000/01 they have played 84 home games in league and cup and lost just five. Only one of those was a cup tie; 25-28 to Weston-super-Mare in the 5^{th round of the Intermediate Cup in January 2006. Mounts Bay have already beaten Barking, Hertford and Southend to arrive in the 4th round of the EDF Energy National Trophy.}

Coventry are in 9th place in the National One table. The only time Coventry have been knocked out of a national cup competition by a team from a lower league was when they entertained Plymouth Albion in the 2nd round of the senior cup on 5 November 1988, losing 7-12 at Coundon Road.

The two sides have never met before in league or cup.

This all National One clash brings together 3rd placed Nottingham and 10th placed Newbury. Nottingham were semi-finalists in the National Trophy in 2005/06; Newbury were quarter-finalists last season.

The two teams have already met in National One this season with Nottingham winning 31-19 at Meadow Lane on 4 November. Nottingham won the only previous cup tie between the two 38-23 at Newbury in the 3rd round of the senior cup on 16 October 2004.

Things could not be more even in the 20 previous encounters between the two in league and cup, with each side securing ten wins apiece.

Redruth beat fellow National Two outfit Stourbridge 64-7 in the last round of the EDF Energy National Trophy. They currently lie in 10th spot in National Two.

London Welsh occupy 11th place in National One. This is the Exiles’ fourth successive away tie in the National Trophy, whilst they have won just once on the road in a national cup competition since 2002: 32-5 at Dings Crusaders in last season’s 4th round.

Redruth won the only previous cup meeting between the two 16-7 at the Recreation Ground in the 3rd round of the senior cup on 28 November 1992.

In addition there have been five other clashes in league play between 1991-97 with Redruth winning three to the Exiles’ two.

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