2013 County Championship Shield

{{About||the first tier of the English Counties competition|2013 Bill Beaumont Cup|the second tier of the English Counties competition|2013 County Championship Plate}} {{Infobox rugby union season | name = 2013 County Championship Shield | image = | date = 27 April 2013 - 26 May 2013 | countries = {{flag|England}} | champions = Surrey | count = 3 | runnersup = Cumbria | relegated = | matches = | highest attendance = | attendance = | lowest attendance = | tries = | top point scorer = | top try scorer = | prevseason = 2012 | nextseason = 2014 }}

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/local-rugby-leicestershire-s-hopes-dashed/story-16217440-detail/story.html |title=Local rugby: Leicestershire's hopes dashed at Twickenham |publisher=Leicester Mercury |date=29 May 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

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).<ref name=final>{{cite web |url=http://www.dorkingandleatherheadadvertiser.co.uk/acorns-fulfil-mighty-hopes-twickenham/story-19134207-detail/story.html |title=Acorns fulfil mighty hopes at Twickenham |publisher=Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser |date=30 May 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==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== {{location map+ |England |float= |width=450 |caption= Locations of the 2013 County Championship Shield county teams|places= {{location map~ |England |lat=51.401409 |long=-1.323113 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Newbury (Berks)</div>|position=bottom}} {{location map~ |England |lat=51.6132301 |long=-.7131767 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">High Wycombe (Bucks)</div>|position=left}} {{location map~ |England|lat=54.6582703 |long=-2.7387872 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Penrith (Cumbria)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England|lat=54.8206394 |long=-3.1465581 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Wigton (Cumbria)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England|lat=54.7617302 |long=-3.3310001 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Aspatria (Cumbria)</div>|position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=51.4660162 |long=-2.1504125 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Chippenham (D&W)</div>|position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=50.6878170 |long=-2.1109810 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Wareham (D&W)</div>|position=left}} {{location map~|England |lat=51.5991821|long=.1003368 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Ilford (Essex)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=50.8166670 |long=-1.0833330 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Portsmouth (Hamps)</div>|position=bottom}} {{location map~ |England |lat=51.4652717 |long=-.3059536 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Richmond (Middx)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=53.0833755 |long=-.827012 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Newark (NLD)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=51.774983 |long=-1.2614585 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Oxford (Oxon)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=51.2005195 |long=-.5884017 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Farncombe (Surrey)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=50.9209142 |long=-.4778512 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Pulborough (Sussex)</div>|position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=50.8206627 |long=-.4753489 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Angmering (Sussex)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=52.406111 |long=-1.525833 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Coventry (Warks)</div>|position=right}} }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- !width=25%|County !width=25%|Stadium(s) !width=15%|Capacity !width=35%|City/Area |- |Berkshire |Monk's Lane |8,000 |Newbury, Berkshire |- |Buckinghamshire |Kingsmead Road |N/A |High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire |- |Cumbria |Winters Park<br>Lowmoor Road<br>Bower Park |N/A<br>N/A<br>N/A |Penrith, Cumbria<br>Wigton, Cumbria<br>Aspatria, Cumbria |- |Dorset & Wilts |Allington Fields<br>Bestwall Park |500<br>N/A |Chippenham, Wiltshire<br>Wareham, Dorset |- |Essex |Forest Road |N/A |Ilford, Greater London |- |Hampshire |Rugby Camp |N/A |Portsmouth, Hampshire |- |Leicestershire{{#tag:ref|*Leicestershire did not play any home games during this year's Shield competition.|group=a |name=Leicestershire}} |N/A |N/A |N/A |- |Middlesex |Athletic Ground |4,500 (1,000 seats) |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<br>Roundstone Lane |N/A<br>1,500 (100 seats) |Pulborough, West Sussex<br>Angmering, West Sussex |- |Warwickshire |Butts Park Arena |4,000 |Coventry, West Midlands |- |} ;Notes {{reflist|group=a}}

==Group stage==

===Pool 1=== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- |colspan="15" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"|<!--

--> {|border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" |- |width=20% style="border:0px"| |style="border:0px"|'''2013 County Championship Shield Pool 1 Table''' |width=20% style="border:0px" align=right| |} |- ! width="20"| ! width="195"|County ! width="20"|Played ! width="20"|Won ! width="20"|Drawn ! width="20"|Lost ! width="20"|Points For ! width="20"|Points Against ! width="20"|Points Difference ! width="20"|Try Bonus ! width="20"|Losing Bonus ! width="20"|Points |- bgcolor=#d8ffeb align=center | 1 || style="text-align:left;" | Cumbria '''(Q)''' || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 109 || 17 || 92 || 2 || 0 || '''10''' |- | 2 || style="text-align:left;" | Leicestershire || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 98 || 41 || 57 || 1 || 0 || '''5''' |- | 3 || style="text-align:left;" | Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 3 || 152 || -149 || 0 || 0 || '''0''' |- |colspan="15"| *If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: # Number of matches won # Difference between points for and against # Total number of points for # Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams # Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled |-| style="text-align:left;" | |colspan="15" style="border:0px;font-size:85%;"| <span style="background:#d8ffeb">Green background</span> means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. '''Updated: 11 May 2013'''<br>Source: {{cite web | url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/county-championships/2012-2013/ | title=County Championships | publisher=englandrugby.com}} |}

====Round 1==== {{rugbybox |date = 27 April 2013 |time = |home = Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire |score = 3 - 81 |report = [http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/local-rugby-oadby-survive-drop/story-18846128-detail/story.html Report] |away = Leicestershire (BP) |stadium = Kelham Road, Newark-on-Trent |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/county-championships/2012-2013/#/results |title=County Championships Results: 2012-13|publisher=englandrugby.com |date=26 May 2013 }}</ref> ----

====Round 2==== {{rugbybox |date = 4 May 2013 |time = 15:00 |home = (BP) Cumbria |score = 71 - 0 |report = [http://cwherald.com/a/archive/breeze-for-cumbria-but-tough-test-in-store-at-winters-park.408527.html Report] |away = Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire |stadium = Lowmoor Road, Wigton<ref name=cumbriahomegames>{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/carlislerugby/news/cumbria-v-falconsupdate-7-pm-kick-off-924244.html |title=Cumbria v Falcons:Update 7 p.m. Kick Off |publisher=Carlisle Rugby |date=17 April 2013 }}</ref> |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 3==== {{rugbybox |date = 11 May 2013 |time = 15:00 |home = Cumbria (BP) |score = 38 - 17 |report = [http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/cumbria/10420793.Colossal_Cumbria_just_one_game_away_from_Twickenham_final/?ref=rss Report] |away = Leicestershire |stadium = Winters Park, Penrith<ref name=cumbriahomegames/> |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/>

===Pool 2=== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- |colspan="15" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"|<!--

--> {|border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" |- |width=20% style="border:0px"| |style="border:0px"|'''2013 County Championship Shield Pool 2 Table''' |width=20% style="border:0px" align=right| |} |- ! width="20"| ! width="195"|County ! width="20"|Played ! width="20"|Won ! width="20"|Drawn ! width="20"|Lost ! width="20"|Points For ! width="20"|Points Against ! width="20"|Points Difference ! width="20"|Try Bonus ! width="20"|Losing Bonus ! width="20"|Points |- bgcolor=#d8ffeb align=center | 1 || style="text-align:left;" | Warwickshire '''(Q)''' || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 66 || 32 || 34 || 1 || 0 || '''9''' |- | 2 || style="text-align:left;" | Essex || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 52 || 37 || 15 || 1 || 1 || '''6''' |- | 3 || style="text-align:left;" | Buckinghamshire || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 24 || 73 || -49 || 0 || 0 || '''0''' |- |colspan="15"| *If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: # Number of matches won # Difference between points for and against # Total number of points for # Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams # Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled |-| style="text-align:left;" | |colspan="15" style="border:0px;font-size:85%;"| <span style="background:#d8ffeb">Green background</span> means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. '''Updated: 11 May 2014'''<br>Source: {{cite web | url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/county-championships/2012-2013/ | title=County Championships | publisher=englandrugby.com}} |}

====Round 1==== {{rugbybox |date = 27 April 2013 |time = |home = Buckinghamshire |score = 12 - 41 |report = [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/buckingham/news/buckingham-players-in-county-side-that-faced-warwi-934090.html Report] |away = Warwickshire (BP) |stadium = Kingsmead Road, High Wycombe |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 2==== {{rugbybox |date = 4 May 2013 |time = 15:00 |home = Warwickshire |score = 25 - 20 |report = |away = Essex (BP) |stadium = Butts Park Arena, Coventry<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s425.htm?798,14004861,14004861 |title=Warwickshire games |publisher=Unofficial Coventry Rugby |date=17 April 2013 }}</ref> |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 3==== {{rugbybox |date = 11 May 2013 |time = |home = (BP) Essex |score = 32 - 12 |report = |away = Buckinghamshire |stadium = Forest Road, Ilford<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cheshamrugbyclub.com/news/stags-supply-four-to-bucks-rfu-squad-946199.html |title=Stags Supply Four to Bucks RFU Squad |publisher=Chesham Rugby Club |date=10 May 2013 }}</ref> |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/>

===Pool 3=== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- |colspan="15" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"|<!--

--> {|border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" |- |width=20% style="border:0px"| |style="border:0px"|'''2013 County Championship Shield Pool 3 Table''' |width=20% style="border:0px" align=right| |} |- ! width="20"| ! width="195"|County ! width="20"|Played ! width="20"|Won ! width="20"|Drawn ! width="20"|Lost ! width="20"|Points For ! width="20"|Points Against ! width="20"|Points Difference ! width="20"|Try Bonus ! width="20"|Losing Bonus ! width="20"|Points |- bgcolor=#d8ffeb align=center | 1 || style="text-align:left;" | Surrey '''(Q)''' || 3 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 157 || 60 || 97 || 3 || 0 || '''15''' |- | 2 || style="text-align:left;" | Dorset & Wilts || 3 || 2 || 0 || 1 || 93 || 72 || 21 || 2 || 0 || '''10''' |- | 3 || style="text-align:left;" | Oxfordshire || 3 || 1 || 0 || 2 || 76 || 135 || -59 || 1 || 0 || '''5''' |- | 4 || style="text-align:left;" | Berkshire || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 63 || 122 || -59 || 1 || 1 || '''2''' |- |colspan="15"| *If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: # Number of matches won # Difference between points for and against # Total number of points for # Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams # Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled |-| style="text-align:left;" | |colspan="15" style="border:0px;font-size:85%;"| <span style="background:#d8ffeb">Green background</span> means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. '''Updated: 11 May 2013'''<br>Source: {{cite web | url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/county-championships/2012-2013/ | title=County Championships | publisher=englandrugby.com}} {{Reflist|group=n}} |}

====Round 1==== {{rugbybox |date = 27 April 2013 |time = |home = (BP) Berkshire |score = 17 - 23 |report = |away = Dorset & Wilts (BP) |stadium = Monk's Lane, Newbury<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/newburyrfc/calendar/event/berkshire-v-dorset-wilts-newbury-rfc-117363 |title=Berkshire v Dorset & Wilts @ Newbury RFC |publisher=Newbury Blues (Pitchero) |date=27 April 2013 }}</ref> |attendance = |referee = }} {{rugbybox |date = 27 April 2013 |time = |home = (BP) Surrey |score = 67 - 12 |report = [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/witneyrfc/news/ouch-938684.html Report] |away = Oxfordshire |stadium = Broadwater Sports Club, Farncombe |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 2==== {{rugbybox |date = 4 May 2014 |time = |home = (BP) Berkshire |score = 36 - 49 |report = |away = Surrey (BP) |stadium = Monk's Lane, Newbury<ref name=southwesthomegames>{{cite web|url=http://southwestsportsnews.com/rugby/results/3171-2013-rfu-county-championship-results |title=2013 RFU County Championship results |publisher=South West Sports News |date=27 April 2013 }}</ref> |attendance = |referee = }} {{rugbybox |date = 4 May 2014 |time = |home = (BP) Dorset & Wilts |score = 58 - 14 |report = [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/chippenham/news/county-win-easily-against-oxfo-943230.html Report] |away = Oxfordshire |stadium = Allington Fields, Chippenham<ref name=southwesthomegames/> |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 3==== {{rugbybox |date = 11 May 2013 |time = |home = Dorset & Wilts |score = 12 - 41 |report = [http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/10414598.RUGBY__Dorset___Wilts_12_Surrey_41/?ref=arc Report] |away = Surrey (BP) |stadium = Bestwall Park, Wareham<ref name=southwesthomegames/> |attendance = |referee = }} {{rugbybox |date = 11 May 2013 |time = |home = (BP) Oxfordshire |score = 50 - 10 |report = |away = Berkshire |stadium = Marston Ferry Road, Oxford<ref name=southwesthomegames/> |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/>

===Pool 4=== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- |colspan="15" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"|<!--

--> {|border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" |- |width=20% style="border:0px"| |style="border:0px"|'''2013 County Championship Shield Pool 4 Table''' |width=20% style="border:0px" align=right| |} |- ! width="20"| ! width="195"|County ! width="20"|Played ! width="20"|Won ! width="20"|Drawn ! width="20"|Lost ! width="20"|Points For ! width="20"|Points Against ! width="20"|Points Difference ! width="20"|Try Bonus ! width="20"|Losing Bonus ! width="20"|Points |- bgcolor=#d8ffeb align=center | 1 || style="text-align:left;" | Sussex '''(Q)''' || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 55 || 50 || 5 || 2 ||0 || '''10''' |- | 2 || style="text-align:left;" | Hampshire || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 64 || 45 || 19 || 1 || 1 || '''6''' |- | 3 || style="text-align:left;" | Middlesex || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 46 || 70 || -24 || 1 || 1 || '''2''' |- |colspan="15"| *If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: # Number of matches won # Difference between points for and against # Total number of points for # Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams # Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled |-| style="text-align:left;" | |colspan="15" style="border:0px;font-size:85%;"| <span style="background:#d8ffeb">Green background</span> means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. '''Updated: 11 May 2013'''<br>Source: {{cite web | url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/county-championships/2012-2013/ | title=County Championships | publisher=englandrugby.com}} {{Reflist|group=n}} |}

====Round 1==== {{rugbybox |date = 27 April 2013 |time = |home = (BP) Hampshire |score = 41 - 19 |report = [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/enfieldignatians/news/ignatians-duo-gain-county-hono-936440.html Report] |away = Middlesex |stadium = Rugby Camp, Portsmouth |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 2==== {{rugbybox |date = 4 May 2013 |time = |home = (BP) Sussex |score = 26 - 23 |report = |away = Hampshire (BP) |stadium = Pulborough Road, Pulborough<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/havantrfc/news/hampshire-county-representation-941681.html? |title=Hampshire County Representation |publisher=Havant RFC (Pitchero) |date=4 May 2013 }}</ref> |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 3==== {{rugbybox |date = 11 May 2013 |time = 14:00 |home = (2BP) Middlesex |score = 27 - 29 |report = |away = Sussex (BP) |stadium = Athletic Ground, Richmond<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=512993455425981&id=266614600063869 |title=Gents please see below details for Saturday: |publisher=Team Middlesex Senior Rugby (Facebook) |date=26 April 2013 }}</ref> |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/>

==Knock-out Stage==

===Semi-finals=== {{rugbybox |date = 18 May 2013 |time = 16:15 |home = Cumbria |score = 13 - 11 |report = [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/wigtonrufc/news/cumbria-13-11-warwickshire-957229.html Report] |away = Warwickshire |stadium = Bower Park, Aspatria |attendance = |referee = }} {{rugbybox |date = 18 May 2013 |time = |home = Sussex |score = 8 - 35 |report = |away = Surrey |stadium = Roundstone Lane, Worthing<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/51071919@N08/8758054577 |title=Sussex RFU 8 v Surrey RFU 35 |publisher=Jez King (flickr) |accessdate=21 December 2016 }}</ref> |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/> ----

===Final=== {{rugbybox |date = 26 May 2013 |time = 17:15 |home = Cumbria |score = 16 - 21 |report = [http://www.dorkingandleatherheadadvertiser.co.uk/acorns-fulfil-mighty-hopes-twickenham/story-19134207-detail/story.html Report] |away = Surrey |stadium = Twickenham Stadium, London |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/><ref name=final/>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * [http://www.ncarugby.org/index.php NCA Rugby] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701021407/http://www.ncarugby.org/index.php |date=2015-07-01 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shield}} 2013 Category:2012–13 County Championship