2017–18 RFU Senior Vase

The 2017–18 RFU Senior Vase is the 12th version of the RFU Senior Vase national cup competition for clubs at level 8 of the English rugby union system. The competition consists of 94 clubs divided into four regions. The winners of each region then advance to the national semi-finals with the final being held at Twickenham Stadium in London at the end of the season, along with the RFU Intermediate Cup and RFU Junior Vase finals.

2017–18 RFU Senior Vase
Tournament details
CountriesEngland
Tournament format(s)knockout
Date2 September 2017 – 6 May 2018
Tournament statistics
Teams94
Final
VenueTwickenham Stadium
ChampionsWath-upon-Dearne (1st title)
Runners-upSaltash

The 2017–18 champions were Wath-upon-Dearne, who pipped Cornish side Saltash, 22–18 in an entertaining final. It was Wath-upon-Dearne's second final in the competition, having lost to south-west side, Wells, in the 2012 edition. By claiming the vase they also replicated West Leeds (winners in 2016) to become the second Yorkshire club to win the competition since its inception back in the 2006–07 season.

London & South East Senior Vase

The London & South East Senior Vase involves a knock-out competition with 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, semi-finals and final. The winners of the London & South East Senior Vase then go on to the national Senior Vase semi-finals where they face the winners of the South West Senior Vase. There are 26 teams involved in the London & South East Senior Vase, all of which are 1st XV sides, coming from the following unions and level 8 leagues.

Union(s) League(s) / Level Participants
Eastern CountiesLondon 3 Eastern Counties (8)6
EssexLondon 3 Essex (8)2
HampshireLondon 3 South West (8)3
HertfordshireLondon 3 North West (8)4
KentLondon 3 South East (8)6
MiddlesexLondon 3 South West (8)1[a 1]
SurreyLondon 3 South West (8)3[a 2]
SussexLondon 3 South East (8)1

Round 1

Byes: Bromley (L3SE), Portsmouth (L3SW), Old Cranleighans (L3SW), Thanet Wanderers (L3SE), Warlingham (L3SW), Welwyn (L3NW)

Date Home Score Away
14/10/2017[1]Cheshunt (L3NW)AWOSouthwold (L3EC)
Datchworth (L3NW)44–17Teddington (L3SW)
Hitchin (L3NW)22–34Stowmarket (L3EC)
Newmarket (L3EC)AWOWisbech (L3EC)
Old Dunstonians (L3SE)30–25Battersea Ironsides (L3SW)
Old Williamsonians (L3SE)21–59Trojans (L3SW)
Petersfield (L3SW)8–50Aylesford Bulls (L3SE)
Sheppey (L3SE)40–20Crawley (L3SE)
Thetford (L3EC)56–10Maldon (L3E)
West Norfolk (L3EC)HWOBasildon (L3E)

Round 2
Date Home Score Away
18/11/2017[2]Aylesford Bulls (L3SE)17–12Welwyn (L3NW)
Bromley (L3SE)41–0Thanet Wanderers (L3SE)
Old Cranleighans (L3SW)HWOSheppey (L3SE)
Old Dunstonians (L3SE)10–34Trojans (L3SW)
Portsmouth (L3SW)HWOWarlingham (L3SW)
Southwold (L3EC)HWOWisbech (L3EC)
Stowmarket (L3EC)10–27Datchworth (L3NW)
West Norfolk (L3EC)22–41Thetford (L3EC)

Round 3
Date Home Score Away
20/01/2018[3]Old Cranleighans (L3SW)23–12Southwold (L3EC)
Portsmouth (L3SW)31–0Datchworth (L3NW)
Thetford (L3EC)19–31Bromley (L3SE)
Trojans (L3SW)17–14Aylesford Bulls (L3SE)

Semi-finals
Date Home Score Away
24/02/2018[4]Old Cranleighans (L3SW)26–20Portsmouth (L3SW)
Trojans (L3SW)7–27Bromley (L3SE)

Final

The winners of the London & South East Senior Vase final would advance to the national semi-finals.

Date Home Score Away
17/03/2018[5]Bromley (L3SE)3–36Old Cranleighans (L3SW)

Midlands Senior Vase

The Midlands Senior Vase is a direct knockout cup with a 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final The winner of the final goes forward to the National Vase semi-finals where they face the winners of the Northern section.[6] The competition involves 35 clubs from the following unions and level 8 leagues:

Union(s) League(s) / Level Participants
East MidlandsMidlands 3 East (South) (8)8
LeicestershireMidlands 3 East (North) (8)3
Midlands 3 East (South) (8)2
North MidlandsMidlands 3 West (North) (8)3
Midlands 3 West (South) (8)3
Notts, Lincs & DerbyshireMidlands 3 East (North) (8)5
StaffordshireMidlands 3 West (North) (8)7
WarwickshireMidlands 3 West (South) (8)4

10 Midlands 3 West (North) 7 Midlands 3 West (South) 8 Midlands 3 East (North) 10 Midlands 3 East (South)

Round 1

Byes: 32 teams were given a bye into the 2nd round

Date Home Score Away
16/09/2017[7]Bromyard (M3WS)AWOShrewsbury (M3WN)
Shipston on Stour (M3WS)39–3Dunstablians (M3ES)
Spalding (M3EN)19–45St Ives (M3ES)

Round 2
Date Home Score Away
07/10/2017[8]Alcester (M3WS)29–60Harborne (M3WN)
Ashby (M3EN)67–14Trentham (M3WN)
Bedford Queens (M3ES)24–14Old Coventrians (M3WS)
Birstall (M3EN)HWONorthampton Mens Own (M3ES)
Cannock (M3WN)30–28Leicester Forest (M3ES)
Edwardians (M3WN)15–38Shipston on Stour (M3WS)
Handsworth (M3WN)32–31Daventry (M3ES)
Kesteven (M3EN)HWOBiggleswade (M3ES)
Ledbury (M3WS)HWOWillenhall (M3WN)
Northampton Casuals (M3ES)HWOSileby Town (M3EN)
Nottingham Moderns (M3EN)22–12Uttoxeter (M3WN)
Rugby St Andrews (M3WS)42–24Stockwood Park (M3ES)
Shrewsbury (M3WN)59–0Woodrush (M3WS)[a 3]
St Ives (M3ES)22–10Sleaford (M3EN)
Stafford (M3WN)5–6Long Eaton (M3EN)
Vipers (M3ES)58–0Barton-Under-Needwood (M3WN)

Round 3
Date Home Score Away
28/10/2017[10]Harborne (M3WN)24–28Shipston on Stour (M3WS)
Kesteven (M3EN)21–41St Ives (M3ES)
Ledbury (M3WS)44–35Handsworth (M3WN)
Long Eaton (M3EN)HWOCannock (M3WN)
Northampton Casuals (M3ES)55–5Birstall (M3EN)
Rugby St Andrews (M3WS)HWOBedford Queens (M3ES)
Vipers (M3ES)46–0Nottingham Moderns (M3EN)
Woodrush (M3WS)HWOAshby (M3EN)

Quarter-finals
Date Home Score Away
18/11/2017[11]Ledbury (M3WS)14–32Northampton Casuals (M3ES)
Long Eaton (M3EN)41–20Woodrush (M3WS)
Shipston on Stour (M3WS)15–15[a 4]Vipers (M3ES)
St Ives (M3ES)69–12Rugby St Andrews (M3WS)

Semi-finals
Date Home Score Away
20/01/2018[13]Northampton Casuals (M3ES)22–31Long Eaton (M3EN)
Vipers (M3ES)8–10St Ives (M3ES)

Final

The winners of the Midlands Senior Vase would advance to the National Senior Vase semi-finals.

Date Home Score Away
17/03/2018[14]St Ives (M3ES)19–8[15]Long Eaton (M3EN)

Northern Senior Vase

Unlike the other regional competitions, the Northern Senior Vase starts with a mini-league stage, in which the eligible clubs are placed in 2 regional pools of 3 teams each. The winners of each pool then face each other in the Northern Senior Vase final, with the winner advancing to the National Senior Vase semi-finals, where they will face the winners of the Midlands section. There are 6 teams (1st XV only) involved in the Northern Senior Vase representing the following unions and level 8 leagues:

Union(s) League(s) / Level Participants
Durham CountyDurham/Northumberland 2 (8)1
CheshireLancs/Cheshire Division 2 (8)2[a 5]
CumbriaCumbria 11
NorthumberlandDurham/Northumberland 2 (8)1
YorkshireYorkshire 2 (8)1

Pool 1 (West)
Pool 1[17]
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Points
1Winnington Park (LC2)22007030404
2Liverpool Collegiate (LC2)21015184-332
3Whitehaven (CL)20024249-70
2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw.[18]
Date Home Score Away
14/10/2017Liverpool Collegiate (LC2)34–29Whitehaven (CL)
18/11/2017Winnington Park (LC2)55–17Liverpool Collegiate (LC2)
17/02/2018Whitehaven (LC2)13–15Winnington Park (LC2)

Pool 2 (East)
Pool 2[19]
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Points
1Wath-upon-Dearne (Y2)22005914454
2North Shields (DN2)21012464-402
3Bishop Auckland (DN2)2002510-50
2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw.[18]
Date Home Score Away
14/10/2017Wath-upon-Dearne (Y2)59–14North Shields (DN2)
18/11/2017North Shields (DN2)10–5Bishop Auckland (DN2)
10/02/2018Bishop Auckland (DN2)AWOWath-upon-Dearne (Y2)

Final

The winners of the Pool 1 (West) and Pool 2 (East) would meet in the Northern Senior Vase final. The winners of this final would then advanced to the National Senior Vase semi-finals.

Date Home Score Away
24/02/2018[20]Wath-upon-Dearne (Y2)30–5[21]Winnington Park (LC2)

South West Senior Vase

The South West Senior Vase consist of three stages, with representatives from the different unions joining at different points. The Dorset & Wilts and Gloucestershire clubs first play in county based knock-out tournaments, with the winners advancing to either the Southern Counties or South West Counties area semi-finals, where they join the other south-west representatives. The winners of each area final then meet in the South West Senior Vase final to determine who goes through to the national semi-finals, where they face the winners of the London and South East section.

The South West Senior Vase involves 27 clubs (1st XV only) from the following unions and level 8 leagues:

Union(s) League(s) / Level Participants
BerkshireBerks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (8)1
BuckinghamshireBerks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (8)1
CornwallCornwall/Devon (8)1
DevonCornwall/Devon (8)1
Dorset & WiltsDorset & Wilts 1 North (8)5
Dorset & Wilts 1 South (8)5
GloucestershireGloucester Premier (8)11
OxfordshireBerks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (8)1
SomersetSomerset Premier (8)1

Stage 1 (Dorset & Wilts)

10 clubs (1st XV only) were involved in the Dorset & Wilts RFU Senior Vase qualification. The winners would advanced to the Southern Counties semi-finals.

First Round
Date Home Score Away
23/09/2017[22]Bridport (DW1S)18–12Melksham (DW1N)
Pewsey Vale (DW1N)5–23Dorchester (DW1S)
Quarter-finals
14/10/2017[23]Bridport (DW1S)HWOLytchett Minster (DW1S)
Dorchester (DW1S)HWOMinety (DW1N)
Supermarine (DW1N)HWOBradford-on-Avon (DW1N)
Weymouth & Portland (DW1S)14–30Oakmedians (DW1S)
Semi-finals
18/11/2017[24]Dorchester (DW1S)HWOSupermarine (DW1N)
Oakmedians (DW1S)65–10Bridport (DW1S)
Final
02/12/2017[25]Dorchester (DW1S)24–12Oakmedians (DW1S)

Stage 1 (Gloucestershire)

11 teams were involved in the Gloucestershire RFU Senior Vase qualification tournament. The winners of the competition would go through to the South West Counties final.

First Round
Date Home Score Away
02/09/2017[26]Gordon League (GP)5–53Longlevens (GP)
Whitehall (GP)36–28Frampton Cotterell (GP)
16/09/2017[26]Cheltenham Saracens (GP)36–38Barton Hill (GP)
Quarter Finals
23/09/2017[27]Cirencester (GP)33–20Chipping Sodbury (GP)
Spartans (GP)15–17Barton Hill (GP)
St Mary's Old Boys (GP)AWOLonglevens (GP)
Whitehall (GP)15–22Gloucester Old Boys (GP)
Semi-finals
07/10/2017[28]Barton Hill (GP)36–5Cirencester (GP)
14/10/2017[28]Longlevens (GP)38–29Gloucester Old Boys (GP)
Final
02/12/2017[29]Barton Hill (GP)24–17Longlevens (GP)

Stage 2 (Southern Counties)

The winners of the Dorset & Wilts Senior Vase would join representatives from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire unions in the Southern Counties knock-out stage. The winners would advance to play the South West Counties winners in the south-west regional final.

Semi-finals
Date Home Score Away
10/02/2018[30]Dorchester (DW1S)HWOTadley (BBOP)
Slough (BBOP)HWOLittlemore (BBOP)
Final
24/02/2018[31]Slough (BBOP)16–14Dorchester (DW1S)

Stage 2 (South West Counties)

The winners of the Gloucestershire Senior Vase would meet the representatives from the Somerset RFU in the semi-final, while the representatives from the Cornwall RFU would face the representatives from the Devon RFU. The winners would advance to play the Southern Counties winners in the south-west regional final.

Semi-finals
Date Home Score Away
10/02/2018[32]Saltash (CD)41–27Withycombe (CD)
17/02/2018[32]Gordano (SP)25–19Barton Hill (GP)
Final
24/02/2018[33]Gordano (SP)21–32Saltash (CD)

Stage 3 (South West final)

The winners of the Southern Counties and South West Counties final would meet in the south-west regional final. The winners of this final would then advanced to the national semi-finals.

Date Home Score Away
17/03/2018[34]Saltash (CD)73–22[35]Slough (BBOP)

National Senior Vase

4 teams qualified from the regional vase competitions:

  • London & South East Senior Vase – Old Cranleighans (L3SW)
  • Midlands Senior Vase – St Ives (M3ES)
  • Northern Senior Vase – Wath-upon-Dearne (Y2)
  • South West Senior Vase – Saltash (CD)

The Midlands winners would face the North winners in the first semi-final, while the London & South East winners would face the South-West winners in the other, with the winners of each semi-final meeting in the Twickenham final. Home advantage in the semi-finals will be decided by a draw.[36]

Semi-finals
Date Home Score Away
31/03/2018Saltash (CD)31–15[37]Old Cranleighans (L3SW)
Wath-upon-Dearne (Y2)29–7[38]St Ives (M3ES)

Final
6 May 2018
13:00
Saltash (CD) 18–22 Wath-upon-Dearne (Y2)
Report
Twickenham Stadium, London
Referee: Thomas Davis

[39]

See also

Notes
  1. Teddington are members of both the Middlesex and Surrey unions but tend to play in Middlesex county cup competitions.
  2. One of the Surrey clubs, Battersea Ironsides, are members of both the Middlesex and Surrey unions but play in Surrey county cup competitions.
  3. Despite initially losing their second round game against Shrewsbury, Woodrush were reinstated back into the Midlands Senior Vase after Shrewsbury were later disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.[9]
  4. Vipers progressed by virtue of being the away team after the game finished dead-level after extra time, with both sides having scored 2 tries apiece.[12]
  5. The breakaway of 19 Lancashire RFU clubs at the start of the 2017–18 season meant that no clubs from this union were involved in the RFU Senior Vase that year.[16]

References
  1. "London & SE Senior Vase Round 1". England Rugby. 14 October 2017.
  2. "London & SE Senior Vase Round 2". England Rugby. 18 November 2017.
  3. "London & SE Senior Vase Round 3". England Rugby. 20 January 2018.
  4. "London & SE Senior Vase Semi Final". England Rugby. 24 February 2018.
  5. "London & SE Senior Vase Final". England Rugby. 17 March 2018.
  6. "Midlands Division Cups". England RFU. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  7. "Midlands Senior Vase Round 1". England Rugby. 16 September 2017.
  8. "Midlands Senior Vase Round 2". England Rugby. 7 October 2017.
  9. "County pair to meet in RFU Intermediate Cup". North Midlands RFU. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  10. "Midlands Senior Vase Round 3". England Rugby. 28 October 2017.
  11. "Midlands Senior Vase Quarter Final". England Rugby. 18 November 2017.
  12. "Corby frustrated as Shipston bow out in cruel fashion". Stratford-upon-Avon Herald. 24 November 2017.
  13. "Midlands Senior Vase Semi Finals". England Rugby. 20 January 2018.
  14. "Midlands Senior Vase Finals". England Rugby. 17 March 2018.
  15. "Super St Ives have Twickenham in their sights after winning the Midlands Vase". Cambridgeshire Live. 21 March 2017.
  16. "North West league restructuring (June 14 2018)". RFU North. 14 June 2018.
  17. "Northern Division Senior Vase Pool 1". England Rugby. 17 February 2018.
  18. "NORTH DIVISION ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS 2017-2018" (PDF). North Division RFU. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  19. "Northern Division Senior Vase Pool 2". England Rugby. 10 February 2018.
  20. "Northern Division Final". England Rugby. 24 February 2018.
  21. "Winnington Park's dream of playing at Twickenham ended by Wath upon Dearne". Northwich Guardian. 27 February 2018.
  22. "Dorset & Wilts Senior Vase Round 1". England Rugby. 23 September 2017.
  23. "Dorset & Wilts Senior Vase Quarter Finals". England Rugby. 14 October 2017.
  24. "Dorset & Senior Wilts Vase Semi Finals". England Rugby. 18 November 2017.
  25. "Dorset & Wilts Senior Vase Final". England Rugby. 2 December 2017.
  26. "Gloucestershire Senior Vase Round 1". England Rugby. 16 September 2017.
  27. "Gloucestershire Senior Vase Quarter Finals". England Rugby. 23 September 2017.
  28. "Gloucestershire Senior Vase Semi Finals". England Rugby. 14 October 2017.
  29. "Gloucestershire Senior Vase Final". England Rugby. 2 December 2017.
  30. "Southern Counties Senior Vase Semi Finals". England Rugby. 10 February 2018.
  31. "Southern Counties Senior Vase Final". England Rugby. 24 February 2018.
  32. "South West Counties Senior Vase Semi Finals". England Rugby. 10 February 2018.
  33. "South West Counties Senior Vase Final". England Rugby. 24 February 2018.
  34. "South West Senior Vase Final". England Rugby. 17 March 2018.
  35. "RUGBY REPORTS: Saltash destroy Slough to keep their Twickenham dream alive". Plymouth Gazette. 18 March 2018.
  36. "RFU REGULATION 13 – ADULT COMPETITIONS" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  37. "Saltash RFC through to Twickenham final". Cornish Times. 31 March 2018.
  38. "St Ives eye title success following Twickenham heartache". Cambridgeshire Live. 4 April 2018.
  39. "Saltash suffer Twickenham final heartrbreak". Cornish Times. 6 May 2018.
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