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.
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).
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
CountyStadium(s) CapacityCity/Area BerkshireMonk's Lane8,000Newbury, BerkshireBuckinghamshireKingsmead Road N/AHigh Wycombe, BuckinghamshireCumbriaWinters ParkLowmoor RoadBower ParkN/AN/AN/APenrith, CumbriaWigton, CumbriaAspatria, Cumbria Dorset & WiltsAllington FieldsBestwall Park 500N/AChippenham, WiltshireWareham, DorsetEssexForest RoadN/AIlford, Greater LondonHampshireRugby CampN/APortsmouth, HampshireLeicestershireN/AN/AN/AMiddlesexAthletic Ground4,500 (1,000 seats)Richmond, LondonNotts, Lincs & DerbyshireThe Rugby Ground1,000 (60 seats)Newark-on-Trent, NottinghamshireOxfordshireMarston Ferry Road N/AOxford, OxfordshireSurreyBroadwater Sports Club N/AFarncombe, SurreySussexPulborough RoadRoundstone LaneN/A1,500 (100 seats)Pulborough, West SussexAngmering, West SussexWarwickshireButts Park Arena4,000Coventry, West Midlands Notes
Group stage
Pool 1 2013 County Championship Shield Pool 1 TableCountyPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 1 Cumbria (Q) 2 2 0 0 109 17 92 2 0 10 2 Leicestershire 2 1 0 1 98 41 57 1 0 5 3 Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 2 0 0 2 3 152 -149 0 0 0If 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 Green background means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. Updated: 11 May 2013Source:
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Pool 2 2013 County Championship Shield Pool 2 TableCountyPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 1 Warwickshire (Q) 2 2 0 0 66 32 34 1 0 9 2 Essex 2 1 0 1 52 37 15 1 1 6 3 Buckinghamshire 2 0 0 2 24 73 -49 0 0 0If 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 Green background means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. Updated: 11 May 2014Source:
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Pool 3 2013 County Championship Shield Pool 3 TableCountyPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 1 Surrey (Q) 3 3 0 0 157 60 97 3 0 15 2 Dorset & Wilts 3 2 0 1 93 72 21 2 0 10 3 Oxfordshire 3 1 0 2 76 135 -59 1 0 5 4 Berkshire 3 0 0 3 63 122 -59 1 1 2If 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 Green background means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. Updated: 11 May 2013Source:
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Pool 4 2013 County Championship Shield Pool 4 TableCountyPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 1 Sussex (Q) 2 2 0 0 55 50 5 2 0 10 2 Hampshire 2 1 0 1 64 45 19 1 1 6 3 Middlesex 2 0 0 2 46 70 -24 1 1 2If 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 Green background means the county qualified for the Shield semi finals. Updated: 11 May 2013Source:
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Knock-out Stage
Semi-finals
Final
See also English rugby union system Rugby union in England
References
External links NCA Rugby