2013 County Championship Shield

The 2013 County Championship Shield was the 9th version of the annual English rugby union County Championship, organized by the RFU for the tier 3 English counties. Each county drew its players from rugby union clubs from the fifth tier and below of the English rugby union league system. The counties were divided into three pools of four teams each, based roughly on regional lines, with the winner of each group plus the best runner-up going through to the semi-finals, with the winners of those games meeting in the final held at Twickenham Stadium. Typically there is no promotion or relegation out of or into the County Championship Shield. Surrey were the reigning champions.[1]

For the first tier of the English Counties competition, see 2013 Bill Beaumont Cup. For the second tier of the English Counties competition, see 2013 County Championship Plate.
2013 County Championship Shield
Countries England
Date27 April 2013 - 26 May 2013
ChampionsSurrey (3rd title)
Runners-upCumbria

After winning their pools and semi-final matches, reigning champions Surrey met Cumbria in the final. Having thrashed Leicestershire the last time round, Surrey found Cumbria a much tougher prospect, eventually prevailing 23 – 16 to claim their second successive title (and third overall).[2]

Competition format

The competition format consisted of four pools (one of four teams, the others with three), based roughly on regional lines where possible, with each team playing each other once. The top side of each group qualified for the semi-finals, with the winners of the semi-finals playing in the final held at Twickenham Stadium on 26 May 2013. As the lowest tier in the county championship there is no relegation while promotion is not given every season, although outstanding county performances can lead to counties moving up to tier 2.

Participating counties and ground locations
Newbury (Berks)
High Wycombe (Bucks)
Penrith (Cumbria)
Wigton (Cumbria)
Aspatria (Cumbria)
Chippenham (D&W)
Wareham (D&W)
Ilford (Essex)
Portsmouth (Hamps)
Richmond (Middx)
Newark (NLD)
Oxford (Oxon)
Farncombe (Surrey)
Pulborough (Sussex)
Angmering (Sussex)
Coventry (Warks)
Locations of the 2013 County Championship Shield county teams
County Stadium(s) Capacity City/Area
Berkshire Monk's Lane 8,000 Newbury, Berkshire
Buckinghamshire Kingsmead Road N/A High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Cumbria Winters Park
Lowmoor Road
Bower Park		 N/A
N/A
N/A		 Penrith, Cumbria
Wigton, Cumbria
Aspatria, Cumbria
Dorset & Wilts Allington Fields
Bestwall Park		 N/A
N/A		 Chippenham, Wiltshire
Wareham, Dorset
Essex Forest Road N/A Ilford, Greater London
Hampshire Rugby Camp N/A Portsmouth, Hampshire
Leicestershire[a 1] N/A N/A N/A
Middlesex Athletic Ground 4,500 Richmond, London
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire The Rugby Ground 1,000 (60 seats) Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
Oxfordshire Marston Ferry Road N/A Oxford, Oxfordshire
Surrey Broadwater Sports Club N/A Farncombe, Surrey
Sussex Pulborough Road
Roundstone Lane		 N/A
1,000+ (100 seats)		 Pulborough, West Sussex
Angmering, West Sussex
Warwickshire Butts Park Arena 4,000 Coventry, West Midlands
Notes
    • Leicestershire did not play any home games during this year's Shield competition.

Group stage

Pool 1
2013 County Championship Shield Pool 1 Table
County Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1Cumbria (Q)220010917922010
2Leicestershire2101984157105
3Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire20023152-149000
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. Updated: 11 May 2013
Source: "County Championships". englandrugby.com.

Round 1
27 April 2013
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 3 - 81 Leicestershire (BP)
Report
Kelham Road, Newark-on-Trent

[3]

Round 2
4 May 2013
15:00
(BP) Cumbria 71 - 0 Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire
Report
Lowmoor Road, Wigton[4]

[3]

Round 3
11 May 2013
15:00
Cumbria (BP) 38 - 17 Leicestershire
Report
Winters Park, Penrith[4]

[3]

Pool 2
2013 County Championship Shield Pool 2 Table
County Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1Warwickshire (Q)2200663234109
2Essex2101523715116
3Buckinghamshire20022473-49000
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. Updated: 11 May 2014
Source: "County Championships". englandrugby.com.

Round 1
27 April 2013
Buckinghamshire 12 - 41 Warwickshire (BP)
Report
Kingsmead Road, High Wycombe

[3]

Round 2
4 May 2013
15:00
Warwickshire 25 - 20 Essex (BP)
Butts Park Arena, Coventry[5]

[3]

Round 3
11 May 2013
(BP) Essex 32 - 12 Buckinghamshire
Forest Road, Ilford[6]

[3]

Pool 3
2013 County Championship Shield Pool 3 Table
County Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1Surrey (Q)330015760973015
2Dorset & Wilts32019372212010
3Oxfordshire310276135-59105
4Berkshire300363122-59112
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. Updated: 11 May 2013
Source: "County Championships". englandrugby.com.

    Round 1
    27 April 2013
    (BP) Berkshire 17 - 23 Dorset & Wilts (BP)
    Monk's Lane, Newbury[7]
    27 April 2013
    (BP) Surrey 67 - 12 Oxfordshire
    Report
    Broadwater Sports Club, Farncombe

    [3]

    Round 2
    4 May 2014
    (BP) Berkshire 36 - 49 Surrey (BP)
    Monk's Lane, Newbury[8]
    4 May 2014
    (BP) Dorset & Wilts 58 - 14 Oxfordshire
    Report
    Allington Fields, Chippenham[8]

    [3]

    Round 3
    11 May 2013
    Dorset & Wilts 12 - 41 Surrey (BP)
    Report
    Bestwall Park, Wareham[8]
    11 May 2013
    (BP) Oxfordshire 50 - 10 Berkshire
    Marston Ferry Road, Oxford[8]

    [3]

    Pool 4
    2013 County Championship Shield Pool 4 Table
    County Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
    1Sussex (Q)2200555052010
    2Hampshire2101644519116
    3Middlesex20024670-24112
    • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
    1. Number of matches won
    2. Difference between points for and against
    3. Total number of points for
    4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
    5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
    Green background means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. Updated: 11 May 2013
    Source: "County Championships". englandrugby.com.

      Round 1
      27 April 2013
      (BP) Hampshire 41 - 19 Middlesex
      Report
      Rugby Camp, Portsmouth

      [3]

      Round 2
      4 May 2013
      (BP) Sussex 26 - 23 Hampshire (BP)
      Pulborough Road, Pulborough[9]

      [3]

      Round 3
      11 May 2013
      14:00
      (2BP) Middlesex 27 - 29 Sussex (BP)
      Athletic Ground, Richmond[10]

      [3]

      Knock-out Stage

      Semi-finals
      18 May 2013
      16:15
      Cumbria 13 - 11 Warwickshire
      Report
      Bower Park, Aspatria
      18 May 2013
      Sussex 8 - 35 Surrey
      Roundstone Lane, Worthing[11]

      [3]

      Final
      26 May 2013
      17:15
      Cumbria 16 - 21 Surrey
      Report
      Twickenham Stadium, London

      [3][2]

      See also

      References
      1. "Local rugby: Leicestershire's hopes dashed at Twickenham". Leicester Mercury. 29 May 2012.
      2. "Acorns fulfil mighty hopes at Twickenham". Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser. 30 May 2013.
      3. "County Championships Results: 2012-13". englandrugby.com. 26 May 2013.
      4. "Cumbria v Falcons:Update 7 p.m. Kick Off". Carlisle Rugby. 17 April 2013.
      5. "Warwickshire games". Unofficial Coventry Rugby. 17 April 2013.
      6. "Stags Supply Four to Bucks RFU Squad". Chesham Rugby Club. 10 May 2013.
      7. "Berkshire v Dorset & Wilts @ Newbury RFC". Newbury Blues (Pitchero). 27 April 2013.
      8. "2013 RFU County Championship results". South West Sports News. 27 April 2013.
      9. "Hampshire County Representation". Havant RFC (Pitchero). 4 May 2013.
      10. "Gents please see below details for Saturday:". Team Middlesex Senior Rugby (Facebook). 26 April 2013.
      11. "Sussex RFU 8 v Surrey RFU 35". Jez King (flickr). Retrieved 21 December 2016.
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