REGIONS BOW OUT OF CUP WITH WHIMPER
ENGLAND’S Championship teams have called time on the British and Irish Cup following shambolic showings from Wales’ Regional Select XVs. And you have to wonder if Aviva Premiership clubs will decide to follow suit and scrap the Anglo-Welsh Cup after inflicting more woe on the uncompetitive Welsh regions.
English powerbrokers must wonder what they and club supporters are getting out the largely one-sided tournament with Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets rooted to the bottom of their groups and unable to qualify for the semi-finals.
Scarlets went down 35-7 against Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop, Dragons were beaten 40-21 by Saracens at Allianz Park in north London while Blues lost 24-12 at Leicester Tigers.
Blues won the second half at Welford Road 12-7 and may have taken the spoils after having more territory and possession had it not been for some poor handling.
However, they haven’t picked up a point in Pool One, having scored just 28 and conceded 101 in their three matches.
An experimental Scarlets line-up, that was up against an experienced Harlequins side, have just one bonus point to show from the tournament.
Dragons and Ospreys, who lost 43-20 at Gloucester on Friday night, have each picked up a win in the Anglo-Welsh.
But it was over Welsh opposition with Dragons beating Scarlets 23-18 in Newport and Ospreys victorious 26-16 at Cardiff Arms Park against Blues.
Blues had trailed 17-0 at half-time against Leicester. Tigers’ first half tries were scored by Will Evans and Jordan Olowofela.
Ex-Leicester centre Jack Roberts, who was later helped off with his latest leg injury of the campaign, and scrum-half Lewis Jones replied with outside-half Steven Shingler landing a conversion.
But a try from former Blues and Wales Under-20 back-row forward Luke Hamilton, who made his Test debut for Scotland last November, ensured a win for the Tigers.
Outside-half Joe Ford, the younger brother of England playmaker George Ford, converted all thee tries and landed a penalty.
Dragons’ touchdowns at Saracens came from flanker Harri Keddie, hooker Liam Belcher and prop Lloyd Fairbrother.
South Africa international Zane Kirchner, who like Keddie was making a first appearance since last September after also recovering from shoulder problems, converted all three.
But they conceded six tries with lock Matt Flanagan, centre Nick Tompkins, wing Ratimi Segun, fullback Matt Gallagher, substitute Sean Reffell and scrum-half Tom Whiteley crossing, outside-half Max Malins converting two and being successful with two penalties.
Scarlets only troubled the scoreboard operator at Harlequins seven minutes from full-time when replacement Bryce Morgan was driven over from a line-out for Jack Maynard to convert.
Conditions in London were wet and miserable but didn’t stop centre Henry Cheeseman, scrum-half Dave Lewis, back-row forward Archie White, outside-half James Lang and right-wing Ross Chisholm touching down. Lang also landed five conversions for a match haul of 15 points.
With Exeter Chiefs going down 3121 away at Sixways against a Worcester Warriors team inspired by two tries from Wales Six Nations squad member Josh Adams, Harlequins are just a point away from securing qualification for the semi-finals.