Sarah Beaney Cup returns for 2023 | Preview

Sarah Beaney Cup returns for 2023 | Preview

The Sarah Beaney Cup competition returns this weekend. Here we run through the four tiers of competition and preview Round 1.

This year’s competition format will see teams compete in Pool stages in Cup, Shield, Plate and Bowl level fixtures before progressing to a Semi-final round and Final.

All four Finals will then be played at BT Murrayfield on Saturday 6 May.

Sarah Beaney Cup

In the top tier of the competition, our seven Premiership teams are joined by Stewartry and Ayr table leaders from the National 1, and split into two pools.

Pool A: Stirling County, Cartha QP 1XV, Biggar, Garioch, Watsonian FC
Pool B: Heriot’s Blues, Hillhead Jordanhill, Ayr, Stewartry, Corstorphine Cougars 1XV

Kicking off the competition this weekend, title defenders, Hillhead Jordanhill will travel east to face Heriot’s Blues on Saturday, kicking off at 2pm at Goldenacre.

On Sunday, Ayr will face a familiar opposition, National 1 topping Stewartry.

The recently crowned Tennent’s Premiership champions, Stirling County will host Cartha Queens Park at Bridgehaugh at 1.30pm.

The second round of fixtures which will feature all eight teams, takes place on Sunday 26 February.

Hillhead Jordanhill pipped Watsonians FC to the Cup title in 2022, 5-10, at BT Murrayfield.

National Shield

There are 12 teams competing for silverware in the National Shield this year, split across two pools. The teams in this competition are comprised of the remaining sides from National 1, and the top two teams from the North, West, East/Midlands Regional leagues this season.

The Shield is a new tier of competition this year, allowing for the Bowl competition to accommodate teams who have been playing in the Aspiring Leagues this season.

Pool A: Wigtownshire, Aberdeenshire Quines, Kelso, Broughton, West of Scotland FC, Cartha QP 2XV
Pool B: Dundee Valkyries 1XV, Shetland Valkyries, Greenock Wanderers, Inverness Craig Dunain, Howe of Fife, Corstorphine Cougars 2XV

Cartha Queens Park 2XV claimed the Plate title last year in an epic battle against Greenock Wanderers at BT Murrayfield. The Wandies kick off this year’s competition as they host Inverness Craig Dunain on Saturday at 2pm.

Cartha on the other hand, begin their silverware defence on Sunday as they take on West of Scotland.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Cougars 2XV will venture across the Queensferry Crossing to take on Howe of Fife, whilst Kelso host Broughton.

Cartha Queens Park 2XV overcame competition from Greenock Wanderers in the 2022 Bowl Final to claim the title.

National Plate

A staggering 14 teams will compete in the National Plate, initially being split into three pools of competition.

Pool A: Edinburgh University 3XV, Caithness Krackens, Orkney Dragons, Strathmore, Kirkcaldy
Pool B: Grangemouth, Hamilton, Peterhead, Dunfermline
Pool C: Annan, Bishopton, Dundee Valkyries 2XV, Oban Lorne, Lismore

Upon meeting the competition criteria, Edinburgh University 3XV have successfully entered the competition and will compete in Pool A. Their first match will take place at home against the Caithness Krakens on Saturday.

Strathmore will travel north as they take on the Orkney Dragons in Kirkwall on Saturday.

On Sunday there are three fixtures between Annan and Bishopton, Dundee 2XV and Oban Lorne, and finally Grangemouth host Hamilton.

The remaining teams will begin their run next weekend.

Edinburgh University 3XV topped the East/Midlands Aspiring League and now enter the National Plate competition.

National Bowl

After a successful run in the Aspiring Leagues this year, ten teams have opted into the National Bowl competition, looking for their first piece of silverware.

As per the other competitions, the teams are split into Pools before heading to a Semi-final.

Pool A: Bannockburn, Stornoway, Highland, Perthshire
Pool B: Greenock Wanderers 2XV, , Cartha QP 3XV, Uddingston
Pool C: Irvine, Hillhead Jordanhill 2XV, East Kilbride

Six of the ten teams their Bowl campaign on Sunday, starting with Bannockburn who will host Highland at Park Drive.

Cartha Queens Park 3XV will host the Wandies 2XV and finally, Irvine will face Hillhead Jordanhill 2XV.

Bannockburn Women will play in their first Scottish Rugby competition following their success in the Aspiring League.

Full fixture details for matches this weekend can be found, here.

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