2014 County Championship Shield

{{Short description|Rugby competition}} {{About||the first tier of the English Counties competition|2014 Bill Beaumont Cup|the second tier of the English Counties competition|2014 County Championship Plate}} {{Infobox rugby union season | name = 2014 County Championship Shield | image = | date = 3 May 2014 – 1 June 2015 | countries = {{flag|England}} | champions = Surrey | count = 4 | runnersup = Leicestershire | relegated = | matches = | highest attendance = | attendance = | lowest attendance = | tries = | top point scorer = | top try scorer = | prevseason = 2013 | nextseason = 2015 }}

The '''2014 County Championship Shield''' was the 10th 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, although Surrey's dominance over the past couple of competitions meant that they had a chance of being invited to take part in tier 2 the following season. The competition would also welcome Staffordshire, who did not play in the county championship last year, replacing Sussex. Surrey were the reigning champions.<ref>{{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>

After winning their respective groups and semi final games, Surrey faced Leicestershire in the final at Twickenham, in what would be Surrey's third consecutive Shield final. Having won the previous two finals, Surrey made it a hat trick (and fourth Shield title overall) as they defeated Leicestershire 39–16.<ref name=final1>{{cite web |url=http://www.dorkingandleatherheadadvertiser.co.uk/Surrey-make-County-Championship-Shield-titles-row/story-21172811-detail/story.html |title=Surrey make it three County Championship Shield titles in a row at Twickenham |publisher=Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser |date=1 June 2014 |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923220001/http://www.dorkingandleatherheadadvertiser.co.uk/Surrey-make-County-Championship-Shield-titles-row/story-21172811-detail/story.html |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=final2>{{cite web |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/local-rugby-leicestershire-denied-surrey/story-21203512-detail/story.html |title=Local rugby: Leicestershire denied by Surrey in Twickenham final |publisher=Leicester Mercury |date=7 June 2014 |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611043827/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Local-rugby-Leicestershire-denied-Surrey/story-21203512-detail/story.html |archive-date=11 June 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This would also be Surrey's last season in the third tier as their performances would see them promoted to the 2015 County Championship Plate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.surreyrugby.com/displayarticle.asp?a=778&c=37 |title=Surrey Enters The Bill Beaumont Cup |publisher=Surrey Rugby |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=2016-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518074834/http://www.surreyrugby.com/displayarticle.asp?a=778&c=37 |archive-date=2015-05-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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==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 1 June 2014. As the lowest tier in the county championship there is no relegation while promotion is not given every season, although outstanding county performances (such as Surrey's) can lead to counties moving up to tier 2.

==Participating counties and ground locations== {{location map+ |England |float= |width=450 |caption= Locations of the 2014 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=left}} {{location map~|England |lat=51.6823997|long=-0.6242600|label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Amersham (Bucks)</div>|position=top}} {{location map~ |England |lat=54.6301228 |long=-3.5575867 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Workington (Cumbria)</div>|position=left}} {{location map~ |England|lat=54.7617302 |long=-3.3310001|label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Aspatria (Cumbria)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England|lat=51.5547409 |long=-1.9005500 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Wootton&nbsp;Bassett&nbsp;(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=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=52.5720041 |long=-1.1620035 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Whetstone (Leics)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=52.545454 |long=-1.376669 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Hinckley (Leics)</div>|position=top}} {{location map~ |England |lat=51.4319975 |long=-.41309482 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Fletham<br>(Middx)</div>|position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=53.0143784 |long=-.3923452 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Sleaford (NLD)</div>|position=top}} {{location map~|England|lat=51.8048718|long=-1.4865841|label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Witney (Oxon)</div>|position=left}} {{location map~|England|lat=51.6035796|long=-1.4233897|label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Grove (Oxon)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=52.814 |long=-1.6371 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Burton (Staffs)</div>|position=left}} {{location map~ |England |lat=51.3938325 |long=-.1121684 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Croydon (Surrey)</div>|position=right}} {{location map~ |England |lat=52.3926536 |long=-1.4197884 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Binley Woods (Warks)</div>|position=bottom}} {{location map~ |England |lat=52.520489 |long=-1.465381 |label=<div style="font-size:70%;">Nuneaton (Warks)</div>|position=left}} }}

{| 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 |Weedon Lane |N/A |Amersham, Buckinghamshire |- |Cumbria |Ellis Sports Ground<br>Bower Park |12,000 (2,000 seats)<br>N/A |Workington, Cumbria<br>Aspatria, Cumbria |- |Dorset & Wilts |Ballard's Ash Sports Ground |N/A |Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire |- |Essex |Forest Road |N/A |Ilford, Greater London |- |Hampshire |Rugby Camp |N/A |Portsmouth, Hampshire |- |Leicestershire |Vipers Rugby Ground<br>Leicester Road |N/A<br>N/A |Whetstone, Leicestershire<br>Hinckley, Leicestershire |- |Middlesex |The Reeves |N/A |Feltham, Greater London |- |Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire |Sleaford Road |N/A |Sleaford, Lincolnshire |- |Oxfordshire |Witney Road<br>Cane Lane |N/A<br>N/A |Hailey, Witney, Oxfordshire<br>Grove, Oxfordshire |- |Staffordshire |Peel Croft |5,500 |Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire |- |Surrey |Frant Road |1,400 (400 seats) |Croydon, Greater London |- |Warwickshire |Liberty Way<br>Ivor Preece Field |4,314<br>1,500 (250 seats) |Nuneaton, Warwickshire<br>Binley Woods, Coventry, Warwickshire |}

==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"|'''2014 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;" | Leicestershire '''(Q)''' || 3 || 2 || 0 || 1 || 85 || 69 || 16 || 2 || 1 || '''11''' |- | 2 || style="text-align:left;" | Essex || 3 || 2 || 0 || 1 || 51 || 62 || -11 || 0 || 0 || '''8''' |- | 3 || style="text-align:left;" | Warwickshire || 3 || 2 || 0 || 1 || 120 || 51 || 69 || 3 || 0 || '''7''' |- | 4 || style="text-align:left;" | Buckinghamshire || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 32 || 106 || -74 || 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: 17 May 2014'''<br>Source: {{cite web | url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/county-championships/2013-2014/ | title=County Championships | publisher=englandrugby.com}} |}

====Round 1==== {{rugbybox |date = 3 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = (BP) Leicestershire |score = 19 - 22 |report = |away = Essex |stadium = Vipers Rugby Ground, Whetstone |attendance = |referee = }} {{rugbybox |date = 3 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = (BP) Warwickshire |score = 52 - 10 |report = [http://www.yoursportpages.com/news/article/confident-52-10-win-for-warwickshire Report] |away = Buckinghamshire |stadium = Liberty Way, Nuneaton |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/county-championships/2013-2014/#/results |title=County Championships Results: 2013–14|publisher=englandrugby.com |date=1 June 2014 }}</ref> ----

====Round 2==== {{rugbybox |date = 10 May 2014 |time = 14:30 |home = Buckinghamshire |score = 17 - 25 |report = |away = Leicestershire (BP) |stadium = Weedon Lane, Amersham |attendance = |referee = }} {{rugbybox |date = 10 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = (BP) Warwickshire |score = 38 - 0 |report = [http://essexrfu.pitchero.com/news/warwickshire-v-essex-6125/ Report] |away = Essex |stadium = The Ivor Preece Field, Binley Woods |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=round2>{{cite news|title=Bill Beaumont Cup|work=The RUGBYPaper|issue=295|publisher=Rugby Paper Ltd|date=11 May 2014|pages=32}}</ref><ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 3==== {{rugbybox |date = 17 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = Essex |score = 29 - 5 |report = |away = Buckinghamshire |stadium = Forest Road, Ilford |attendance = |referee = }} {{rugbybox |date = 17 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = (BP) Leicestershire |score = 41 - 30 |report = [http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/warwickshire-lose-shield-semi-final-miss-7137114 Report] |away = Warwickshire (BP) |stadium = Leicester Road, Hinckley |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=round3>{{cite news|title=Bill Beaumont Cup|work=The RUGBYPaper|issue=296|publisher=Rugby Paper Ltd|date=18 May 2014|pages=26–27 & 34}}</ref><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"|'''2014 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;" | Cumbria '''(Q)''' || 2 ||2 || 0 || 0 || 58 || 19 || 39 || 1 || 0 || '''9''' |- | 2 || style="text-align:left;" | Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 ||29 || 55 || -26 || 0 || 0 || '''4''' |- | 3 || style="text-align:left;" | Staffordshire || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 27 || 40 || -13 || 0 || 2 || '''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: 17 May 2014'''<br>Source: {{cite web | url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/county-championships/2013-2014/ | title=County Championships | publisher=englandrugby.com}} |}

====Round 1==== {{rugbybox |date = 3 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = Cumbria |score = 18 - 12 |report = [http://www.staffsrfu.com/Other-news/staffs-lose-to-cumbria Report] |away = Staffordshire (BP) |stadium = Ellis Sports Ground, Workington |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 2==== {{rugbybox |date = 10 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire |score = 7 - 40 |report = [http://cwherald.com/app.php/a/archive/cumbria-book-shield-semi-final-place.426852.html Report] |away = Cumbria (BP) |stadium = Sleaford Road, Sleaford |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=round2/><ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 3==== {{rugbybox |date = 17 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = (BP) Staffordshire |score = 15 - 22 |report = |away = Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire |stadium = Peel Croft, Burton upon Trent |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=round3/><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"|'''2014 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;" | Oxfordshire '''(Q)''' || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 66 || 45 || 21 || 2 || 0 || '''10''' |- | 2 || style="text-align:left;" | Berkshire || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 56 || 55 || 1 || 1 || 0 || '''5''' |- | 3 || style="text-align:left;" | Dorset & Wilts || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 44 || 66 || -22 || 0 || 1 || '''1''' |- |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: 17 May 2014'''<br>Source: {{cite web | url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/county-championships/2013-2014/ | title=County Championships | publisher=englandrugby.com}} {{Reflist|group=n}} |}

====Round 1==== {{rugbybox |date = 3 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = Dorset & Wilts |score = 18 - 37 |report = [http://www.berksrfu.com/index.cfm/highlights/seniors-v-dw/ Report] |away = Berkshire (BP) |stadium = Ballard's Ash Sports Ground, Wootton Bassett |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 2==== {{rugbybox |date = 10 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = Berkshire |score = 19 - 37 |report = [http://www.berksrfu.com/index.cfm/highlights/seniors-v-oxon/ Report] |away = Oxfordshire (BP) |stadium = Monk's Lane, Newbury |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=round2/><ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 3==== {{rugbybox |date = 17 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = (BP) Oxfordshire |score = 29 - 26 |report = [http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/sport/11223073.RUGBY_UNION__Norris_completes_Oxon_s_comeback/ Report] |away = Dorset & Wilts (BP) |stadium = Witney Road, Witney |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=round3/><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"|'''2014 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;" | Surrey '''(Q)''' || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 81 || 10 || 71 || 2 || 0 || '''10''' |- | 2 || style="text-align:left;" | Middlesex || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 49 || 82 || -33 || 1 || 0 || '''5''' |- | 3 || style="text-align:left;" | Hampshire || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 42 || 80 || -38 || 1 || 0 || '''1''' |- |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: 17 May 2014'''<br>Source: {{cite web | url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/county-championships/2013-2014/ | title=County Championships | publisher=englandrugby.com}} {{Reflist|group=n}} |}

====Round 1==== {{rugbybox |date = 3 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = (BP) Middlesex |score = 46 - 35 |report = |away = Hampshire (BP) |stadium = The Reeves, Feltham |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 2==== {{rugbybox |date = 10 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = (BP) Surrey |score = 47 - 3 |report = [http://www.dorkingandleatherheadadvertiser.co.uk/surrey-stroll-comprehensive-win-middlesex/story-21085654-detail/story.html Report] |away = Middlesex |stadium = Frant Road, Croydon |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=round2/><ref name=englandrugby/> ----

====Round 3==== {{rugbybox |date = 17 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = Hampshire |score = 7 - 34 |report = |away = Surrey |stadium = Rugby Camp, Portsmouth |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=round3/><ref name=englandrugby/>

==Knock-out Stage==

===Semi-finals=== {{rugbybox |date = 24 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = Cumbria |score = 18 - 23 |report = [http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/rugby-union-leicestershire-chase-shield-glory/story-21146433-detail/story.html Report] |away = Leicestershire |stadium = Bower Park, Aspatria |attendance = 250 |referee = Mike Harris }} {{rugbybox |date = 24 May 2014 |time = 15:00 |home = Oxfordshire |score = 12 - 52 |report = [http://www.groverfc.co.uk/news/oxfordshire-12-surrey-52-1226791.html Report] |away = Surrey |stadium = Cane Lane, Grove |attendance = 250 |referee = Claire Hodnett }} <ref>{{cite news|title=Bill Beaumont Cup|work=The RUGBYPaper|issue=297|publisher=Rugby Paper Ltd|date=25 May 2014|pages=28–29}}</ref><ref name=englandrugby/> ----

===Final=== {{rugbybox |date = 1 June 2014 |time = 17:00 |home = Leicestershire |score = 16 - 39 |report = [http://www.englandrugby.com/news/surrey-finish-strongly-seal-hat-trick-1265858/ Report] |away = Surrey |stadium = Twickenham, London |attendance = |referee = }} <ref name=final1/><ref name=final2/><ref name=englandrugby/>

==See also== * English rugby union system * Rugby union in England

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==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 }}

{{Rugby union in England}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shield}} 2014 Category:2013–14 County Championship