HARLEQUINS 32 - 14 SALE SHARKS
Sixways - Sunday 17th March 2013
KO: 15:00
TWO tries in either half saw Harlequins crowned LV= Cup champions with a thrilling 32-14 victory over Sale Sharks at Sixways to add to their ever-increasing trophy cabinet.
Tom Williams and Tom Guest crossed in the first half while Tom Casson and Luke Wallace followed in the second to hand the Aviva Premiership champions their second piece of silverware of the season, having already won the A League title.
The Sharks played their part in an absorbing final but while Quins were clinical, Sale were wasteful and for all their endeavour, the Premiership strugglers could only muster Johnny Leota's second half score and three Danny Cpriani penalties.
Leota's 56th-minute try was the last scoring action of the match as the Sharks, despite their 18-point disadvantage, manfully battled to find a way back into the contest.
But Quins kept them at bay, ensuring a sixth straight final win and a seventh win in a row over the Sharks in all competitions.
Strong tackles dominated the opening exchanges, but Harlequins took the game's first points though Ben Botica's fifth-minute penalty after Sale were caught offside.
And Harlequins extended their lead in the tenth minute, transferring the ball out wide for Williams to score in the corner, only Botica missed the extras.
In reply, Andy Powell, who was looking dangerous at the base of the scrum for Sale, was stopped ten metres short of the line after a rampaging solo run.
But Sale Sharks then earned their first points of the afternoon through Cipriani's 16th minute penalty, after Nathan Fowles was tackled illegally by Karl Dickson.
The Sharks continued to apply pressure on the Quins defence, and a flowing counter-attack ended with James Gaskell's knock-on midway through the first-half, ensuring Sale left their opponents' half empty-handed again.
And Harlequins punished Sale in the 27th minute, with No.8 Guest peeling away from the scrum to power over the whitewash, with Botica converting.
Sale reduced the deficit in the 31st minute, with Cipriani's penalty gliding over with the help of the left-hand post.
Within minutes however the Quins had pinned Sale back, with Botica's long-range penalty sailing through the posts, giving his side a 12-point lead at half-time.
Sale charged out of the blocks in the second-half, with Cipriani's 41st minute penalty coming at the end of a series of attacking phases.
But Harlequins hit back minutes later with Casson finding a gap in the Sale defence and diving over, with Botica converting.
The reigning Premiership champions were close to a second try in quick succession but hooker Rob Buchanan was held up on the line.
Sale were looking to hit Harlequins on the break, but a period of sustained pressure was ended when Powell knocked-on after a hard tackle.
But Harlequins extended their lead in the 54th minute with Wallace taking the ball from the ruck and bursting over from five metres, with Botica converting.
Sale refused to lie down and responded by switching play to the right wing for Leota to score in the 60th minute, but Cipriani missed the extras.
The Sharks continued to exert pressure on the Quins back-line, but a promising move ended with Nick Macleod knocking-on Cipriani's wayward pass.
Sale fought valiantly until the end, but were unable to alter the score in the last quarter of an hour, with Harlequins defence holding strong, ensuring they remain on course for the LV= Cup, Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup treble.
15 Ross Chisholm 14 Tom Williams 13 George Lowe 12 Tom Casson 11 Sam Smith 10 Ben Botica 9 Karl Dickson 1 Mark Lambert 2 Rob Buchanan 3 Will Collier 4 Sam Twomey 5 Charlie Matthews 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu 7 LUKE WALLACE (C) 8 Tom Guest BENCH: 16 Dave Ward 17 Darryl Marfo 18 James Johnston 19 Pete Browne 20 Joe Trayfoot 21 Jordan Burns 22 Rory Clegg 23 Charlie Walker
SCORERS T: Williams, Guest, Casson, Wallace C: Botica (3) P: Botica (2)
15 Nick Macleod 14 Tom Brady 13 Will Addison 12 Johnny Leota 11 Charlie Ingall 10 Danny Cipriani 9 Nathan Fowles 1 Alasdair Dickinson 2 Marc Jones 3 Tony Buckley 4 Fraser McKenzie 5 Tom Holmes 6 James Gaskell 7 DAVID SEYMOUR (C) 8 Andy Powell BENCH: 16 Tommy Taylor 17 Ross Harrison 18 Henry Thomas 19 Andrei Ostrikov 20 Dan Braid 21 Dwayne Peel 22 Sam Tuitupou 23 Mark Cueto
SCORERS T: Leota P: Cipriani (3)
SF1
HARLEQUINS 31 - 23 BATH RUGBY
Twickenham Stoop - Saturday 09 March 2013
KO: 12:15 HT: 21-10 Att: 6,523
Quins T: Guest, Williams (2), Dickson C: Botica (4) P: Botica 
Smith
Bath T: Louw, Abendanon C: Heathcote (2) P: Heathcote (3) Catt
SF2
SALE SHARKS 21 - 15 SARACENS
Salford City Stadium - Sunday 10 March 2013
KO: 13:00 HT: 11-12 Att: 3,129
Sale Sharks T: Holmes, Fowles C: Cipriani P: Cipriani (2)
Saracens P: Spencer (5)
POOL 1
Aviva Premiership leaders Harlequins booked their place in the 2013 LV= Cup semi-finals this evening following a narrow victory over Ospreys in Bridgend.
A single point was all the 2012 Premiership winners needed to progress through to the knock-out stages of the competition, nudging them above Exeter Chiefs to top Pool A.
Quin’s fly-half Ben Botica provided a kicking master class, edging Danny Cipriani off the top spot in the point scoring tally with 11 to the boot at the Brewery Field. A solo try from Matt Hooper guaranteed Conor O’Shea’s men a space in the final four, joining Saracens, Sale Sharks and Bath Rugby.
POOL 2
Despite struggling at the bottom of the Aviva Premiership table, Sale are proving their worth in the Anglo-Welsh competition, securing their first away win of the season with a narrow 33-30 victory over London Wasps at Adam’s Park on Saturday.
POOL 3
Saracens’ top spot in Pool 3 sees the club move into the knock-out stages following a hard fought victory over Worcester Warriors. Scrum-half Ben Spencer proved vital with the boot, tallying 17 of the visitor’s 22 points at Sixways Stadium.
However, it won’t be the last time Sixways sees LV= Cup rugby this season, as the 2012-13 final will take place at the stadium on March 17.
POOL 4
Amongst the other semi-finalist, Bath enjoyed a triumphant day at the office, beating Gloucester for the first time at Kingsholm since 2006 with 32 points to five. They progress through to the semi-finals for a second consecutive year, having been knocked out of the competition by Leicester Tigers in 2012.
RESULTS
CARDIFF BLUES 10 - 6 LONDON IRISH
Friday 1st February 2013 - Cardiff Arms Park
KO: 19:30 HT: 7-3
Cardiff T: Evans C: Patchell P: Patchell
London Irish P: Homer (2)
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 5 - 32 BATH RUGBY
Saturday 2nd February 2013 - Kingsholm
KO: 14:00 HT: 5-5
Gloucester T: Edmonds
Bath T: Woodburn, Abendanon, Gilbert, Rokoduguni, Donald C: Vesty (2) P: Vesty
LONDON WASPS 30 - 33 SALE SHARKS
Saturday 2nd February 2013 - Adams Park
KO: 14:00 HT: 16-14
Wasps T: Hayter, Davies, Sam Jones C: Stephen Jones. Tommy Bell (2) P: Stephen Jones (2), Tommy Bell Davies, Taylor
Sale T: PT, Myall, Tuitupou, Taylor, Cipriani C: Cipriani (4) Croall
WORCESTER WARRIORS 12 - 22 SARACENS
Saturday 2nd Feb 13 - Sixways
KO: 15:00 HT: 7-13
Worcester T: Cowan, Drauninui C: Goode
Saracens T: Joubert C: Spencer P: Spencer (5)
EXETER CHIEFS 28 - 19 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Saturday 2nd February 2013 - Sandy Park
KO: 18:30 HT: 22-5
Exeter T: White, Nowell, Votu C: Mieres (2) P: Mieres (3)
Northampton T: AM Waller, Dickson (2) C: Myler (2)
SCARLETS 40 - 19 LEICESTER TIGERS
Sunday 3rd February 2013 - Parc y Scarlets
KO: 13:00 HT: 15-19
Scarlets T: Fenby, Owen, Reynolds C: Thomas (2) P: Williams (7) Phillips, Fenby
Leicester T: Waldrom, PT, Forsyth C: Cornwell (2) Andrew, Balmain
LONDON WELSH 14 - 42 DRAGONS
Sunday 3rd February 2013 - Kassam Stadium
KO: 15:00 HT: 9-6
London Welsh T: Williamson P: Davis (3)
Dragons T: Amos, Ieuan Jones, Groves C: Steffan Jones (3) P: Steffan Jones (7)
OSPREYS 12 - 16 HARLEQUINS
Sunday 3rd February 2013 - Liberty Stadium
KO: 17:00 HT: 9-13
Ospreys P: Morgan (4)
Harlequins T: Hopper C: Botica P: Botica (3)
POOL 1
HARLEQUINS are on the verge of qualifying for the semi-finals of the LV= Cup for only the second time since the Anglo-Welsh format was introduced seven years ago. Two points from Sunday’s game away to Ospreys would assure them of a place in the knockout stages regardless of how Exeter fare at home to Northampton. The match is being screened live on Sky Sports from the Brewery Field, Bridgend. Harlequins have never beaten Ospreys in their three previous meetings, losing 8-19 in this competition in December 2007.
POOL 2
POOL 2 is a toss-up between Sale and Leicester, the defending champions. Sale, bottom of the Premiership, lead the way in the LV= Cup by one point from the Tigers after both recorded bonus-points wins in Round 3. Sale face London Wasps at ‘fortress’ Adams Park, a venue where the capital side remains unbeaten this season. Wasps beat Sale 25-18 in the corresponding league fixture on December 23, 2012. Leicester’s only loss in last season’s title-winning campaign came away to Scarlets, their final pool opponents this weekend. Scarlets handed Tigers a huge wake-up call after winning 31-3 in the first pool game of the 2011/12 competition. Tigers then went on to beat all before them on their way to claiming the silverware at Sixways.
POOL 3
SCARLETS prop up Pool 3 which is otherwise dominated by London clubs. Wasps are out of the picture following their Round 3 loss in Leicester, leaving London Irish and Saracens to battle it out for a place in the last four. A brilliant hat-trick from Marland Yarde in a 46-24 win over Worcester put London Irish one step away from a semi-final spot. A win at Cardiff Blues in Round 4 would guarantee they finish above Saracens who travel to Worcester in their concluding pool fixture.
POOL 4
A win at Exeter would ensure past winners Northampton safe passage through to the last four at the expense of Bath. Saints hold a two-point lead over the West Country side after securing maximum points in both of their victories, the most recent coming against Gloucester, whereas Bath have still to register a try-bonus point in either domestic league or cup competitions. They will hope to put that right at Gloucester on Saturday, although the form book suggests they might struggle. Bath have lost on their last eight visits to Kingsholm, a run that stretches back to February 25, 2006.
RESULTS
BATH RUGBY 16 - 6 EXETER CHIEFS
Saturday 26th January 2013 - Recreation Ground
KO: 14:15 HT: 6-6
Bath T: Stringer (2) P: Heathcote (2)
Exeter P: Slade (2)
HARLEQUINS 23 - 6 LONDON WELSH
Saturday 26th January 2013 - Twickenham Stoop
KO: 15:00 HT: 10-6
Harlequins T: Lambert, Ward C: Botica (2) P: Botica (3)
London Welsh P: Davies (2)
LEICESTER TIGERS 34 - 8 LONDON WASPS
Saturday 26th January 2013 - Welford Road
KO: 15:00 HT: 15-0
Leicester T: Mulipola, Noone, Tait, Goneva (2) C: Bowden, Cornwell (2)
Wasps T: Southwell P: Tommy Bell du Plessis
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 26 - 7 GLOUCESTER
Saturday 26th January 2013 - Franklin's Gardens
KO: 15:00 HT: 13-7
Northampton T: Burrell, Alex Waller C: Lamb, Myler P: Lamb (2), Myler (2)
Gloucester T: Mills C: Mills
SALE SHARKS 36 - 17 SCARLETS
Saturday 26th January 2013 - Salford City Stadium
KO: 15:00 HT: 21-14
Sale T: Vernon, Amesbury, Cipriani, Ingall C: Cipriani (2) P: Cipriani (4)
Scarlets T: Fenby, Gareth Davies C: Williams (2) P: Williams Jones, Ball
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS 18 - 14 OSPREYS
Saturday 26th January 2013 - Rodney Parade
KO: 18:30 HT: 9-9
Dragons P: Steffan Jones (6) Ieuan Jones
Ospreys T: Jonathan Thomas P: Morgan (3) Webb, Allen
LONDON IRISH 46 - 24 WORCESTER WARRIORS
Sunday 27th 2013 - Madejski Stadium
KO: 15:00 HT: 22-3
London Irish T: 'Aulika (2), Yarde (3), Alex Gray C: Homer (5) P: Homer (2) Skivington, Sandford
Worcester T: Danny Gray, Lemi, Percival C: Danny Gray, Goode (2) P: Danny Gray Betty
SARACENS 19 - 11 CARDIFF BLUES
Sunday 27th January 13 - Allianz Park
KO: 15:00 HT: 6-8
Saracens T: Short C: Mordt P: Mordt (4)
Cardiff T: Copeland P: Sweeney, Davies Hewitt, Hobbs
POOL 1
No.8 Ben Morgan made a claim for a return to England colours with a hat-trick for Gloucester in their 46-20 win at home to London Welsh. Fellow England squad member and fly-half Freddie Burns also had a big part to play in the Cherry & Whites’ success, converting four tries and adding two penalties in an impressive all-round display. Gloucester’s first win in the competition sees them stay in touching distance of Pool 1 pacesetters Exeter and Harlequins who have won both of their opening games and sit level on 9 points. The Chiefs’ superior points difference – boosted by a 23-13 win at home to Ospreys – sees them sit on top of the pile. All 21 of Harlequins’ points in their win over Bath came from penalties. Newport Gwent Dragons are all but mathematically out of the equation following a 30-20 reverse at Rodney Parade.
POOL 2
JUST one point separates the four sides in Pool 2. Worcester, Cardiff Blues and Sale Sharks are all on five points with Leicester just one behind. Sharks recorded a third straight home win, backing up their Premiership win over London Irish on their last run out at Salford with a 25-23 cup victory against Saracens. Defending champions Leicester are right back in the hunt for a semi-final spot after a 22-15 win at home to London Irish put them on four points. For the second time in five days the Tigers were watched by a Welford Road crowd in excess of 17,000.
POOL 3
POOL 3 looks like it could go right down to the wire, too, with all four sides again boasting a ‘won one, lost one’ record from the first two rounds of action. Saracens and London Irish are tied at the top on six points, Wasps are on five and Scarlets four. Wasps managed their fifth straight home win of the season with victory over Worcester, while Scarlets made it four wins on the bounce in all competitions with a hard-fought 22-16 victory over Cardiff Blues.
POOL 4
TO continue the competitive theme, the winner of Pool 4 is also anyone’s guess with three sides – Northampton, Bath and Ospreys – vying to top the pool and qualify for the knockout stages. London Welsh are far from out of the race, either, but two straight defeats puts the Exiles firmly on the back foot. Saints were the only side from Pool 4 to win in Round 2, taking four points from their trip to Rodney Parade. Fly-half Ryan Lamb booted 20 points from five penalties, a drop goal and a conversion, while there were tries for man-of-the-match Phil Dowson and Jamie Elliott.RESULTS
HARLEQUINS 21 - 12 BATH RUGBY
Friday 16th November 2012 - Twickenham Stoop
KO: 19:45 HT: 15-6
Harlequins P: Botica (5), Grimoldby (2)
Bath P: Donald (3), Heathcote Perenise, Sharman
SALE SHARKS 25 - 23 SARACENS
Friday 16th November 2012 - Salford City Stadium
KO: 20:00 HT: 12-20
Sale T: Cueto, PT, McKenzie C: Davies (2) P: Cipriani, Miller
Saracens T: Ratuvou, Tomkins C: Mordt (2) P: Mordt (2), Spencer Sheriff
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 46 - 20 LONDON WELSH
Saturday 17th November 2012 - Kingsholm
KO: 16:30 HT: 34-6
Gloucester T: Monahan, Morgan (3), Qera, Britton C: Burns (4), Cook P: Burns (2) Cook
Welsh T: Scott, Tideswell C: Ross, Davies P: Ross (2) Corker
EXETER CHIEFS 23 - 13 OSPREYS
Saturday 17th November 2012 - Sandy Park
KO: 17:00 HT: 17-10
Exeter T: Carrick-Smith, Dorrian C: Slade (2) P: Slade (3) Clark
Ospreys T: Allen C: Davies P: Davies (2)
SCARLETS 22 - 16 CARDIFF BLUES
Saturday 17th November 2012 - Parc y Scarlets
KO: 18:30 HT: 13-13
Scarlets T: PT C: Owen P: Owen, Liam Williams, Aled Thomas (3)
Cardiff T: Hamilton C: Davies P: Davies (3) Hobbs, Hamilton
LEICESTER TIGERS 22 - 15 LONDON IRISH
Sunday 18th November 2012 - Welford Road
KO: 15:00 HT: 13-8
Leicester T: Andrew C: Ford P: Ford (5) RC Stankovich
Irish T: Watson, Homer P: Humphreys Geraghty
LONDON WASPS 28 - 19 WORCESTER
Sunday 18th November 2012 - Adams Park
KO: 15:00 HT: 13-12
Wasps T: McIntyre, Wallace, Davies C: Tommy Bell (2) P: Tommy Bell (3) Holmes
Worcester T: Clarke, Short, Howard C: Carlisle (2)
DRAGONS 20 - 30 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Sunday 18th November 2012 - Rodney Parade
KO: 15:15 HT: 10-6
Dragons T: Chavanga (3) C: Prydie P: Prydie Buck
Northampton T: Dowson, Elliott C: Lamb P: Lamb (5) DG: Lamb
POOL 1
TWO tries from Sam Smith and further scores from debutant centre Harry Sloan and fly-half Ben Botica handed Harlequins a dramatic opening day win at Northampton Saints. 2010 Cup winners Saints looked to have had the game in the bag after overturning a 21-9 half-time deficit, but Botica’s try with the last play of the game, which he crucially converted, saw Harlequins to a 31-30 win at Franklin’s Gardens.
Exeter’s superior points difference sees the Chiefs top Pool 1, though, after an emphatic 42-15 win against London Welsh at Old Deer Park. As with Harlequins, Exeter fielded a team that mixed youth with experience and they were rewarded with a bonus-point victory. Full-back Jack Nowell was the star of the show with a brace of tries.
Gloucester occupy third spot in the pool with one point, courtesy of a narrow defeat away to Ospreys, while Dragons left Bath empty-handed to sit bottom of the table.
POOL 2
FORMER England international Andy Goode came off the bench at half-time to inspire Worcester to a bonus-point win at home to Scarlets. Warriors ran in four tries – the bonus-point clincher coming from Neil Best in the final minute – to top Pool 2. They hold a one-point advantage over Cardiff Blues who beat Wasps 22-17 to make it an unhappy return to The Arms Park for former boss Dai Young. The win ended the Blues' run of six straight defeats.
Sale had to be content with a losing bonus point at London Irish, while reigning champions Leicester got off to the worst possible start in their defence of the trophy with a 38-21 reverse at the hands of Saracens at Bedford’s Goldington Road ground.
POOL 3
SARACENS top Pool 3 as a result of that victory over the Tigers. Again youth and experience proved a potent mix in a match that was sewn up at half-time. Saracens led 27-0 following tries from Jamie George, Duncan Taylor and veteran wing Joe Maddock. Andy Saull added a further try after the break and Nils Mordt supplied 18 points from the kicking tee.
London Irish matched Saracens in taking a maximum five points from their first game of the campaign. Irish battled back from being 21-10 down at the interval against Sale to win 34-28 and avenge their Premiership defeat to the Sharks a week earlier. Matt Garvey led the way for Irish with two of his side’s four tries. Wasps are in third with one point and Scarlets prop up the fledgling table.
POOL 4
BATH and Ospreys are tied on four points at the top of Pool 4 after their respective wins over the Dragons and Gloucester. Army recruit Semesa Rokoduguni enjoyed a memorable debut for Bath with two of his side’s tries in a 36-15 win, while family bragging rights went the way of Sam Davies after Ospreys defeated his father Nigel’s Gloucester side. It took a last-gasp try from Morgan Allen to seal a 33-27 win for the Welsh region in a match that provided plenty of entertainment despite the terrible conditions at the Liberty Stadium. Saints’ losing bonus point at home to Harlequins means they are in third ahead of pointless London Welsh.
RESULTS
CARDIFF BLUES 22 - 17 LONDON WASPS
Friday 9th November 2012 - Cardiff Arms Park
KO: 19:30 HT: 7-14
Cardiff: T: Fish, James, Sweeney C: Davies, Sweeney P: Davies
Wasps T: Daly P: Tommy Bell (4)
OSPREYS 33 - 27 GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Friday 9th November 2012 - Liberty Stadium
KO: 19:45 HT: 15-13
Ospreys T: Grabham, Allen C: Davies P: Morgan (4), Davies DG: Morgan (2) King
Gloucester T: Yann Thomas, Murphy, PT C: Burns, Robson (2) P: Burns Buxton
SARACENS 38 - 21 LEICESTER TIGERS
Friday 9th November 2012 - Goldington Road
KO: 19:45 HT: 27-0
Saracens T: George, Taylor, Maddock, Saull C: Mordt (3) P: Mordt (4) Kruis
Leicester T: Cain, Noone, Thacker C: Cornwell (3) Guillaume
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 30 - 31 HARLEQUINS
Saturday 10th November 2012 - Franklin's Gardens
KO: 13:00 HT: 9-21
Northampton T: Burrell, May C: Lamb P: Lamb (4) DG: Lamb Waller
Harlequins T: Smith (2), Sloan, Botica C: Botica (4) P: Botica
BATH RUGBY 36 - 15 DRAGONS
Saturday 10th November 2012 - Recreation Ground
KO: 14:15 HT: 22-10
Bath T: Rokoduguni (2), Banahan C: Heathcote (3) P: Heathcote (3)
Dragons T: Wardle, Dan Evans C: Steffan Jones P: Steffan Jones Nimmo, Groves
WORCESTER WARRIORS 34 - 18 SCARLETS
Saturday 10th November 2012 - Sixways
KO: 15:00 HT: 6-13
Worcester T: Howard, Taulava, Abbott, Best C: Carlisle (4) P: Carlisle Schofield
Scarlets T: Fenby, Philips C: Owen Williams P: Owen Williams (2) Snyman
LONDON IRISH 38 - 12 SALE SHARKS
Sunday 11th November 2012 - Madejski Stadium
KO: 15:00 HT: 10-18
London Irish T: Garvey (2), Skivington, Geraghty C: Humphreys (4) P: Humphreys (2)
Sale T: Peel, Cipriani, Amesbury C: Cipriani, Miller P: Cipriani (3)
LONDON WELSH 15 - 42 EXETER CHIEFS
Sunday 11th November 2012 - Kassam Stadium
KO: 16:00 HT: 9-8
London Welsh P: Ross (5)
Exeter T: Carrick-Smith, Foster, Nowell (2), Sestaret (2) C: Slade (3) P: Slade (2)
POOL 1 |
POOL 2 |
POOL 3 |
POOL 4 |
Harlequins |
Leicester Tigers |
Saracens |
Northampton Saints |
Round 1: 9-11 November |
|
London Irish v Sale Sharks |
Worcester Warriors v Scarlets |
Round 2: 16-18 November |
|
Harlequins v Bath Rugby |
Scarlets v Cardiff Blues |
Round 3: 25-27 January |
|
Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs |
Leicester Tigers v London Wasps |
Round 4: 1-3 February |
|
Cardiff Blues v London Irish |
Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints |
SEMI FINALS
|
|
FINAL
|
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