2008–09 EDF Energy Cup

2008–09 EDF Energy Cup
2008–09 EDF Energy Cup
Tournament details
Countries	England; Wales
Tournament format(s)	Round-robin and knockout
Date	October 2008 - April 2009
Tournament statistics
Teams	16
Final
Venue	Twickenham
Attendance	54,899
Champions	Cardiff Blues (1st title)
Runners-up	Gloucester
	← 2007–08 (Previous) (Next) 2009–10 →

The 2008–09 Anglo-Welsh Cup, known as the EDF Energy Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 38th season of England's national rugby union cup competition, and the fourth to follow the recently adopted Anglo-Welsh format.

As in the previous two years, the competition is contested between the twelve teams of the Guinness Premiership and the four Welsh regions from the Celtic League. The sixteen teams are arranged into four pools, with one Welsh and three English teams in each. Teams are randomly drawn into groups, as opposed to previous years when English sides were grouped according to proximity to one another. Each team plays the other team from their group only once, meaning that two teams in each group face two away games, whereas the other two teams have two home games.

Group stage

In the pool matches, teams receive:

Four points for a win
Two points for a draw
A bonus point for scoring four or more tries, regardless of the match result
A bonus point for losing by seven or fewer points

The winner of each pool advances to the semi-finals, at which stage a draw takes place to determine the teams that will play each other. The winners of the semi-final advance to the final to determine the competition winner; no "third place final" is played.

Group A

Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts
Gloucester	3	3	0	60	49	+11	1	13
London Wasps	3	2	1	66	47	+19	2	10
Newport Gwent Dragons	3	1	2	55	60	−5	1	5
Newcastle Falcons	3	0	3	37	62	−25	1	1

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

3 October 2008
19:05

Newport Gwent Dragons	25–14	Newcastle Falcons
Tries: Stcherbina 20' c Isaacs 60' c Tovey 69' m Con: Tovey (2) Pen: Tovey (2) 6', 40'	Report	Tries: Penalty try 36' c Phillips 44' c Con: Clegg (2)

Rodney Parade, Newport
Attendance: 4,683
Referee: Rob Debney

4 October 2008
14:30

Gloucester	24–19	London Wasps
Vainikolo 23' m Walker 47' c Con: Walker Pen: Walker (3) 17', 31', 70' Drop: Lamb 20'	Report	Tries: Robinson 5' m Haskell 38' m Pen: Staunton (2) 29', 51' Walder 77'

Kingsholm, Gloucester
Attendance: 7,864

24 October 2008
20:00

Newcastle Falcons	13–26	London Wasps
Try: Vickers 73' c Con: Clegg Pen: Clegg (2) 2', 27'	Report	Tries: Sackey 12' m Rees 37' c Voyce 49' c Simpson 78' c Con: Cipriani (3)

Kingston Park, Newcastle
Attendance: 5,202
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

25 October 2008
15:00

Gloucester	25–20	Newport Gwent Dragons
Tries: Vainikolo 17' c, 65' m Lawson 34' m Balshaw 67' m Con: Barkley Pen: Barkley 78'	Report	Tries: Fussell 20' m Webb 28' c Tovey 80' m Con: Connor Pen: Connor 46'

Kingsholm, Gloucester
Attendance: 8,057

2 November 2008
15:00

London Wasps	21–10	Newport Gwent Dragons
	Report

Adams Park, High Wycombe
Attendance: 7,980
Referee: Chris White

2 November 2008
15:00

Newcastle Falcons	10–11	Gloucester
	Report

Kingston Park, Newcastle
Attendance: 3,614

Group B

Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts
Cardiff Blues	3	3	0	65	44	+21	0	12
Leicester Tigers	3	2	1	58	58	0	0	8
Bath	3	1	2	57	64	−7	2	6
Sale Sharks	3	0	3	58	72	−14	2	2

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

4 October 2008
14:15

Bath	15–19	Leicester Tigers
Tries: Higgins (2) 5' c, 33' m Con: Kydd Pen: Kydd 52'	Report	Try: Youngs 18' c Con: Hougaard Pen: Hougaard (3) 7', 15', 60' Drop: Hougaard 70'

Recreation Ground, Bath
Attendance: 10,600

4 October 2008
15:00

Sale Sharks	17–18	Cardiff Blues
Try: Keil 16' m Pen: Macleod (4) 2', 32', 44', 53'	Report	Tries: Halfpenny 12' c Mustoe 74' m Con: Blair Pen: Blair 29' Sweeney 58'

Edgeley Park, Stockport
Attendance: 7,485

24 October 2008
19:45

Sale Sharks	21–24	Bath
Tries: Bell (2) 24' c, 73' m Con: Hodgson Pen: Hodgson (3) 2', 9', 49'	Report	Tries: Hooper 40' c Hape 52' c Stephenson 56' c Con: Cuthbert (3) Pen: Cuthbert 47'

Edgeley Park, Stockport
Attendance: 7,659
Referee: Peter Allan

25 October 2008
14:35

Cardiff Blues	23–9	Leicester Tigers
Tries: Robinson 44' c Spice 79' c Con: Blair (2) Pen: Blair (3) 6', 14', 73'	Report	Pen: Hougaard (3) 40+1', 49', 67'

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Attendance: 9,815
Referee: Dave Pearson

31 October 2008
19:35

Cardiff Blues	24–18	Bath
Tries: Molitika 4' c Filise 69' m Con: Blair Pen: Blair (4) 10', 20', 55', 80'		Tries: Maddock 60' m Higgins 74' c Con: Berne Pen: Cuthbert 3' Maddock 53'

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Attendance: 10,139
Referee: Nigel Owens

31 October 2008
19:35

Leicester Tigers	30–20	Sale Sharks
Tries: Penalty try 19' c Youngs 57' c Crane 80' c Con: Hougaard (2) Newby Pen: Hougaard (3) 11', 14', 77'		Tries: Bell (2) 50' c, 70' c Con: Macleod (2) Pen: Macleod (2) 45', 48'

Welford Road, Leicester
Attendance: 16,550
Referee: James Jones

Group C

Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts
Ospreys	3	2	1	80	68	+12	2	10
London Irish	3	2	1	60	58	+2	1	9
Harlequins	3	1	2	67	70	−3	1	5
Worcester Warriors	3	1	2	58	69	−11	1	5

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

5 October 2008
15:00

Worcester Warriors	22–5	London Irish
Tries: Benjamin (2) 16' c, 61' m Kitchener 30' m Crichton 76' m Con: Jones	Report	Try: Richards 54'

Sixways Stadium, Worcester
Attendance: 7,433

5 October 2008
15:05

Ospreys	24–23	Harlequins
Tries: Williams 35' m Bowe 78' c Con: Hook Pen: Hook (4) 13', 23', 33', 62'	Report	Tries: de Wet Barry 44' c Fuga 54' c Con: Luveniyali (2) Pen: Luveniyali (3) 29', 60', 65'

Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Attendance: 8,057
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

25 October 2008
15:00

Harlequins	17–32	London Irish
Tries: Davies 7' m Amesbury 13' c McMillan 46' m Con: Jewell	Report	Tries: Thorpe 36' m Hewat (2) 49' c, 78' c Thompstone 54' m Bailey 58' m Con: Hewat Hickey Pen: Geraghty 62'

Twickenham Stoop, Twickenham
Attendance: 11,473

26 October 2008
15:05

Ospreys	37–22	Worcester Warriors
Tries: Walker 31' m Henson 39' m Williams 44' c Bowe 80+2' m Con: Hook Pen: Hook (5) 18', 28', 59', 63', 75'	Report	Try: Tuitupou 56' c Con: Jones Pen: Jones (5) 14', 34', 42', 48', 70'

Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Attendance: 7,025

2 November 2008
15:00

London Irish	23–19	Ospreys
	Report

Madejski Stadium, Reading
Attendance: 9,293

2 November 2008
15:00

Worcester Warriors	14–27	Harlequins
	Report

Sixways Stadium, Worcester
Attendance: 8,113

Group D

Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts
Northampton Saints	3	2	1	82	70	+12	2	10
Scarlets	3	2	1	73	50	+23	0	8
Saracens	3	2	1	74	67	+7	0	8
Bristol	3	0	3	39	81	−42	1	1

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

4 October 2008
15:00

Northampton Saints	30–17	Bristol
Tries: Diggin 8' m Dickson 23' m Ashton 48' c Mayor 55' c Con: Everitt (2) Pen: Everitt (2) 35', 79'	Report	Tries: Turner (2) 3' m, 21' m Lilo 71' c Con: Ashwin

Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
Attendance: 11,301
Referee: Nigel Owens

5 October 2008
15:00

Saracens	17–26	Scarlets
Tries: Leonelli 12' c Cato 18' c Con: Ross (2) Pen: Ross 43'	Report	Tries: Lyons 8' c Meeuws 48' c Con: S. Jones (2) Pen: S. Jones (4) 24', 32', 40', 63'

Vicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 6,068

24 October 2008
19:05

Scarlets	27–0	Bristol
Tries: Stoddart 3' c Easterby 37' c Higgitt 63' c Con: S. Jones (3) Pen: S. Jones (2) 15', 49'	Report

Stradey Park, Llanelli
Attendance: 10,500
Referee: David Bodilly

This was the Scarlets' last competitive match at Stradey Park, home to Llanelli RFC since 1879. The new Parc y Scarlets opened in November.

26 October 2008
15:00

Saracens	33–19	Northampton Saints
Tries: Cato 12' m Rauluni 23' c Con: Ross Pen: Ross (6) 17', 26', 49', 61', 68', 80' Drop: Ross 40'	Report	Tries: Foden 24' m Wilson 30' m Pen: Myler (3) 14', 20', 56'

Vicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 6,984
Referee: Martin Fox

1 November 2008
14:30

Bristol	22–24	Saracens
	Report

Memorial Stadium, Bristol
Attendance: 5,025

1 November 2008
14:30

Northampton Saints	33–20	Scarlets
Tries: Ashton (2) 11' m, 29' m Reihana 45' c Sean Lamont Con: Myler Pen: Myler (2) 23' 61'		Tries: King 5' m Stoddart 8' m Davies Pen: C. Thomas 17'

Franklin's Gardens, Northampton

Semi-finals

28 March 2009
14:30

Gloucester	17–0	Ospreys
Try: Balshaw 76' m Pen: Lamb (3) 5', 45', 72' Drop: Lamb 67'	Report

Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Attendance: 26,744
Referee: Nigel Owens

28 March 2009
17:15

Cardiff Blues	11–5	Northampton Saints
Try: Spice 33' m Pen: Blair (2) 2', 72'	Report	Try: Ansbro 42' m

Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Attendance: 26,744
Referee: George Clancy

Final

18 April 2009
14:30

Gloucester	12–50	Cardiff Blues
Tries: Foster 29' m Penalty try 73' c Con: Barkley	Report	Tries: Halfpenny (2) 11' c, 20' c James 37' m Blair (2) 66' c, 77' c Sweeney 68' c Shanklin 80' c Con: Blair (6) Pen: Blair 19'

Twickenham, London
Attendance: 54,899
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)


FB	15	Olly Morgan
RW	14	Matthew Watkins
OC	13	James Simpson-Daniel
IC	12	Anthony Allen
LW	11	Mark Foster
FH	10	Ryan Lamb
SH	9	Rory Lawson
N8	8	Gareth Delve (c)
OF	7	Akapusi Qera
BF	6	Luke Narraway
RL	5	Alex Brown
LL	4	Will James
TP	3	Greg Somerville
HK	2	Olivier Azam
LP	1	Nick Wood
Replacements:
HK	16	Scott Lawson
PR	17	Carlos Nieto
LK	18	Marco Bortolami
FL	19	Andy Hazell
SH	20	Gareth Cooper
FH	21	Olly Barkley
WG	22	Charlie Sharples
Coach:
Dean Ryan


FB	15	Ben Blair
RW	14	Leigh Halfpenny
OC	13	Tom Shanklin
IC	12	Jamie Roberts
LW	11	Tom James
FH	10	Nicky Robinson
SH	9	Jason Spice
N8	8	Xavier Rush
OF	7	Martyn Williams
BF	6	Maama Molitika
RL	5	Paul Tito (c)
LL	4	Bradley Davies
TP	3	Taufaʻao Filise
HK	2	Gareth Williams
LP	1	Gethin Jenkins
Replacements:
PR	16	John Yapp
HK	17	Rhys Thomas
LK	18	Deiniol Jones
FL	19	Andy Powell
SH	20	Richie Rees
FH	21	Ceri Sweeney
FB	22	Gareth Thomas
Coach:
Dai Young

External links

v t e Top-level English club rugby union cup competitions
RFU Knockout Cup	1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05
Anglo-Welsh Cup	2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2016–17 2017–18
Premiership Rugby Cup	2018–19 2019–20 ~~2020–21~~ 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

Group stage

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Semi-finals

Final

See also

External links