Post by Jamie Crawford on Dec 16, 2015 9:44:22 GMT
Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select XV B & I Cup Preview
19 Dec 2015 - KO: 15:00 Bridge Field, Bedwas
The reverse fixture in Wales.
As a reminder; Wales is being represented in the B & I Cup by four regional select sides rather than clubs, apparently much to the consternation of some Premiership outfits. The sides are made up from regionally contracted players plus the best from the Welsh Premiership. The teams are Ospreys Premiership Select, Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select, Cardiff Blues Premiership Select and Scarlets Premiership Select. This explains the ‘Barbarian style’ with the players wearing different socks – they wear their club socks.
The Knights made hard work of getting a 21 – 16 win last week at Castle Park and they will be wary of the last quarter when the Dragons up the ante. I hope that a supporter’s comment was true – he thought that perhaps Griff was holding his normal game plan in reserve ready for next week at Bedwas. The Knights didn’t play their normal style of play but they came away with a win to end the day as top of Group 5. That said the weather was dominant and affected each team’s play; it wasn’t a day for fast-flowing rugby.
The Dragon’s Angus O’Brien is the fourth top point’s scorer in the Cup and he still has a 100% strike rate after converting all six conversion and all four penalty attempts. To further demonstrate the parity between the sides; the Knights have only scored and conceded one more/less try than the Dragons.
The Knights top Pool 5 by a single point after beating the previously unbeaten Dragons. Both teams have played three and won two but the Knights drew a game that the Dragons lost. The reason why we’re not two points above is courtesy of the Dragons extra bonus point. The Dragons have won two bonus points to the Knights’ one. The Knights have scored 65 points to the Dragons’ 80 (Jersey have scored the most in Pool 5 with 89). The Knights have conceded the fewest points in Pool 5; they’ve given away 43 points to the Dragons’ 58. Jersey have conceded 62 points and they are three points below the Knights in third, so it’s all to play for at this halfway stage.
This leaves Pool 5:
Knights 11 pts
Dragons 10 pts
Jersey 8 pts
Connacht A 0 pts
In the B & I Cup thus far:
Leinster Academy and the Cornish Pirates are the only undefeated teams after three games, Leinster have scored two winning bonus points to the Pirates’ none. The leading points’ scorer is Bristol with 118 points. Carnegie have conceded the fewest points with 31 but Leinster A have only scored seven points fewer than Bristol and conceded three more points than Carnegie; so they are the form team at the halfway point.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
19 Dec 2015 - KO: 15:00 Bridge Field, Bedwas
The reverse fixture in Wales.
As a reminder; Wales is being represented in the B & I Cup by four regional select sides rather than clubs, apparently much to the consternation of some Premiership outfits. The sides are made up from regionally contracted players plus the best from the Welsh Premiership. The teams are Ospreys Premiership Select, Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select, Cardiff Blues Premiership Select and Scarlets Premiership Select. This explains the ‘Barbarian style’ with the players wearing different socks – they wear their club socks.
The Knights made hard work of getting a 21 – 16 win last week at Castle Park and they will be wary of the last quarter when the Dragons up the ante. I hope that a supporter’s comment was true – he thought that perhaps Griff was holding his normal game plan in reserve ready for next week at Bedwas. The Knights didn’t play their normal style of play but they came away with a win to end the day as top of Group 5. That said the weather was dominant and affected each team’s play; it wasn’t a day for fast-flowing rugby.
The Dragon’s Angus O’Brien is the fourth top point’s scorer in the Cup and he still has a 100% strike rate after converting all six conversion and all four penalty attempts. To further demonstrate the parity between the sides; the Knights have only scored and conceded one more/less try than the Dragons.
The Knights top Pool 5 by a single point after beating the previously unbeaten Dragons. Both teams have played three and won two but the Knights drew a game that the Dragons lost. The reason why we’re not two points above is courtesy of the Dragons extra bonus point. The Dragons have won two bonus points to the Knights’ one. The Knights have scored 65 points to the Dragons’ 80 (Jersey have scored the most in Pool 5 with 89). The Knights have conceded the fewest points in Pool 5; they’ve given away 43 points to the Dragons’ 58. Jersey have conceded 62 points and they are three points below the Knights in third, so it’s all to play for at this halfway stage.
This leaves Pool 5:
Knights 11 pts
Dragons 10 pts
Jersey 8 pts
Connacht A 0 pts
In the B & I Cup thus far:
Leinster Academy and the Cornish Pirates are the only undefeated teams after three games, Leinster have scored two winning bonus points to the Pirates’ none. The leading points’ scorer is Bristol with 118 points. Carnegie have conceded the fewest points with 31 but Leinster A have only scored seven points fewer than Bristol and conceded three more points than Carnegie; so they are the form team at the halfway point.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
