Championship Semi Final 1


By Ml
May 1 2013

RFU Championship semi-final 1 preview

 

 

 

 

 

RFU Championship semi-final 1 preview


The RFU Championship season reaches the knockout stages this weekend with Bedford Blues entertaining Nottingham (Saturday May 4, KO 3pm) and Leeds Carnegie at home to Newcastle Falcons (Monday May 6, KO 3.15pm) in the first installment of the two-legged semi-finals.

Bedford finished the regular season just three points behind Nottingham in the league standings with victories for the home side in each of the two fixtures between the sides.

Ben Ransom’s converted try deep into stoppage time earned Bedford a 27-25 win at Goldington Road back in September, while the return fixture, televised live by Sky Sports, deservedly went the way of the Green & Whites by 25 points to 17.

Nottingham have not beaten Bedford at Goldington Road since a 27-26 success there on December 29, 2007.

History suggests table-topping Newcastle should get the better of Leeds Carnegie in the battle of two former Premiership sides. Carnegie have only won once in 11 attempts at home to Newcastle: a 16-15 victory in March, 2008.

Their most recent setback came at Cross Green, Otley, with Headingley out of action. But since returning to their usual home ground at the end of March, Leeds have beaten Rotherham and Nottingham as part of an impressive six-match winning run.

The Falcons, meanwhile, fell at the final hurdle in their attempt to go through the regular season unbeaten when Bristol pulled off a shock 19-15 victory at Kingston Park a fortnight ago. But Dean Richards’ men bounced back a week later with a hard-fought 18-15 win away to Bedford in the British & Irish Cup semi-final.

Both legs of the Leeds v Newcastle semi-final will be televised live by Sky Sports, while Nottingham and Bedford's semi-final legs will be streamed live via @RFUChampionship.

RFU Championship semi-finals

Bedford Blues v Nottingham Rugby
Saturday May 4, KO 3pm.
LIVE on @RFUChampionship from 2.45pm. #rfuchamplive

Leeds Carnegie v Newcastle Falcons
Monday May 6, KO 3.15pm, LIVE on Sky Sports HD.

Nottingham Rugby v Bedford Blues
Friday May 10, KO 8pm, LIVE on @RFUChampionship from 745pm. #rfuchamplive

Newcastle Falcons v Leeds Carnegie
Sunday May 12,  KO 1.15pm, LIVE on Sky Sports HD

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Championship Semi Final 1
Discussion started by Unofficial Pirates , 01/05/2013 16:19
Unofficial Pirates
01/05/2013 16:19
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