# 2011–12 LV Cup

The 2011–12 LV Cup (styled as the LV= Cup) was the 41st season of England's national rugby union cup competition, and the seventh to follow the Anglo-Welsh format.
The competition consisted of the four Welsh Pro12 teams and the 12 English Premiership clubs arranged into pools consisting of three English and one Welsh team. Teams were guaranteed two home and two away pool matches, with teams in Pools 1 and 4 playing each other and teams in Pools 2 and 3 playing each other, with the top team from each pool qualifying for the semi-finals. The competition took place during the autumn soon after the World Cup and on international fixture dates during the Six Nations, thus allowing teams to develop their squad players.
The defending champions were Gloucester, who this season failed to progress from the pool stage.

## Pool stages
### Points system

The points scoring system for the pool stages will be as follows:
* 4 points for a win
* 2 points for a draw
* 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match (TB)
* 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less (LB)

### Pool 1 v Pool 4

Tables
Pool 1 :
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TB | LB | Pts |
| Bath | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 169 | 46 | 123 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| Saracens | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 90 | 70 | 20 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| Ospreys | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 71 | 112 | −41 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| London Wasps | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 74 | 137 | −63 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Pool 4 :
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TB | LB | Pts |
| Northampton Saints | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 139 | 84 | 55 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| Exeter Chiefs | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 99 | −11 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Worcester Warriors | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 71 | 120 | −49 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 67 | 101 | −34 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 7 |

#### Round 1

* 15 October 2011 14:30
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 16–46 | Bath |
| | Report | |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 4,646
* 15 October 2011 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 36–6 | Saracens |
| | Report | |
* Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 11,513
* 15 October 2011 15:00
| Worcester Warriors | 20–19 | London Wasps |
| | Report | |
* Sixways Stadium Attendance: 6,250 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU)
* 15 October 2011 19:45
| Exeter Chiefs | 35–9 | Ospreys |
| | Report | |
* Sandy Park Attendance: 6,368

#### Round 2

* 22 October 2011 14:15
| Bath | 46–13 | Worcester Warriors |
| | Report | |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,576
* 22 October 2011 18:00
| Ospreys | 22–32 | Northampton Saints |
| | Report | |
* Brewery Field Attendance: 4,463
* 22 October 2011 19:45
| London Wasps | 29–30 | Newport Gwent Dragons |
| | Report | |
* Adams Park Attendance: 4,492
* 23 October 2011 15:00
| Saracens | 43–20 | Exeter Chiefs |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 4,507 Referee: Andrew Small (RFU)

#### Round 3

* 27 January 2012 19:00
| Ospreys | 26–21 | Newport Gwent Dragons |
| | Report | |
* Brewery Field Attendance: 4,896 Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)
* 28 January 2012 14:30
| Bath | 46–14 | Northampton Saints |
| | Report | |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,994 Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)
* 28 January 2012 15:00
| London Wasps | 16–30 | Exeter Chiefs |
| | Report | |
* Adams Park Attendance: 4,877 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU)
* 29 January 2012 15:00
| Saracens | 41–14 | Worcester Warriors |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 4,970

#### Round 4

* 3 February 2012 19:30
| Newport Gwent Dragons | P–P | Saracens |
* Rodney Parade
This match was postponed due to a frozen pitch at Rodney Parade. The LV= Organising Committee subsequently awarded the match to Saracens by 20 points to nil (a bonus point win). Dragons were also fined £10,000 (suspended) for their failure under LV= Cup Regulation 6.7 (that the pitch was unplayable and no suitable alternative arrangements were in place). Dragons appealed this decision and their appeal was upheld. The decision was quashed, with the match instead being recorded as a 0–0 draw and the suspended fine reduced from £10,000 to £5,000.
* 4 February 2012 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 57–10 | London Wasps |
| | Report | |
* Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 12,128 Referee: Dean Richards (RFU)
* 4 February 2012 15:00
| Worcester Warriors | 24–14 | Ospreys |
| | Report | |
* Sixways Stadium Attendance: 5,856
* 5 February 2012 17:00
| Exeter Chiefs | 3–31 | Bath |
| | Report | |
* Sandy Park Attendance: 5,557

### Pool 2 v Pool 3

Tables
Pool 2 :
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TB | LB | Pts |
| Leicester Tigers | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 86 | 67 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| London Irish | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100 | 91 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Cardiff Blues | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 54 | 143 | −89 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Sale Sharks | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 78 | 146 | −68 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Pool 3 :
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TB | LB | Pts |
| Scarlets | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 102 | 44 | 58 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| Harlequins | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 112 | 108 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Gloucester | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 127 | 93 | 34 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Newcastle Falcons | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 106 | 73 | 33 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 10 |

#### Round 1

* 15 October 2011 15:00
| Gloucester | 58–27 | Sale Sharks |
| | Report | |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 9,934
* 15 October 2011 15:00
| Harlequins | 26–19 | London Irish |
| | Report | |
* The Stoop Attendance: 10,500 Referee: Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts (RFU)
* 15 October 2011 18:00
| Scarlets | 31–3 | Leicester Tigers |
| | Report | |
* Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 6,314 Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)
* 15 October 2011 18:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 33–3 | Cardiff Blues |
| | Report | |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 3,176 Referee: Andrew Small (RFU)

#### Round 2

* 21 October 2011 19:45
| Leicester Tigers | 40–14 | Gloucester |
| | Report | |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,408 Referee: James Jones (WRU)
* 21 October 2011 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 25–37 | Harlequins |
| | Report | |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 4,629 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU)
* 23 October 2011 14:30
| Cardiff Blues | 3–30 | Scarlets |
| | Report | |
* Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 6,913 Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)
* 23 October 2011 15:00
| London Irish | 39–23 | Newcastle Falcons |
| | Report | |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,469 Referee: Dean Richards (RFU)

#### Round 3

* 28 January 2012 15:00
| Gloucester | 40–3 | Cardiff Blues |
| | Report | |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 13,099 Referee: Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts (RFU)
* 28 January 2012 15:00
| Harlequins | 9–19 | Leicester Tigers |
| | Report | |
* The Stoop Attendance: 13,780
* 28 January 2012 18:30
| Scarlets | 27–19 | London Irish |
| | Report | |
* Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 8,117 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
* 29 January 2012 15:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 37–7 | Sale Sharks |
| | Report | |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 4,095

#### Round 4

* 4 February 2012 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 24–13 | Newcastle Falcons |
| | Report | |
* Welford Road Attendance: 19,767
* 4 February 2012 15:00
| London Irish | 23–15 | Gloucester |
| | Report | |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 9,221 Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)
* 4 February 2012 15:00
| Sale Sharks | 19–14 | Scarlets |
| | Report | |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 3,012
* 5 February 2012 13:00
| Cardiff Blues | 45–40 | Harlequins |
| | Report | |
* Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 2,093 Referee: James Jones (WRU)

## Knockout stage

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 9 March 2012 – Recreation Ground | 9 March 2012 – Recreation Ground |
| Bath | 16 |
| Bath | 16 | 18 March 2012 – Sixways Stadium | 18 March 2012 – Sixways Stadium |
| Leicester Tigers | 17 | 18 March 2012 – Sixways Stadium | 18 March 2012 – Sixways Stadium |
| Leicester Tigers | 17 | Leicester Tigers | 26 |
| 11 March 2012 – Franklin's Gardens | 11 March 2012 – Franklin's Gardens | | Leicester Tigers | 26 |
| 11 March 2012 – Franklin's Gardens | 11 March 2012 – Franklin's Gardens | Northampton Saints | 14 |
| Northampton Saints | 27 | Northampton Saints | 14 |
| Scarlets | 12 | | |

### Qualification criteria

The top teams from each pool qualify for the knockout stages. The pool winners will be decided by the following criteria:
    1. The pool winner will be the club with the highest number of match points in each pool. The pool winners will be ranked 1 to 4 by reference to the number of match points earned in the pools.
    2. If two or more clubs in the same pool end the pool stage equal on match points, then the order in which they have finished will be determined by:
       i. the greater number of matches won by the club and
       ii. if the number of matches won is equal, the club with the greater total number of tries scored and
       iii. if the total number of tries scored is equal, the club with the greater points difference (points scored for, less points scored against) and
       iv. if the points difference is equal, the club with the fewer number of red cards and
       v. if the number of red cards is the same, by the toss a coin.
Each of the four qualifying clubs shall be ranked as above and shall play each other as follows:
    Semi-final 1 – 1st ranked club v 4th ranked club
    Semi-final 2 – 2nd ranked club v 3rd ranked club
The first club listed in each of the semi-final matches shall be the home club.
Qualifiers :
| Rank | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Bath | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 169 | 46 | 123 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| 2 | Northampton Saints | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 139 | 84 | 55 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| 3 | Scarlets | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 102 | 44 | 58 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 4 | Leicester Tigers | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 86 | 67 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 13 |

### Semi-finals

* 9 March 2012 19:30
| Bath | 16–17 | Leicester Tigers |
| Try: Mears 31' c Con: Heathcote (1/1) 31 Pen: Heathcote 24', 51', 60' | Report | Try: Kitchener 21' m Pen: Ford (4/4) 18', 49', 53', 72' |
* Recreation Ground, Bath Attendance: 10,205 Referee: Dave Pearson (RFU)
* 11 March 2012 13:00
| Northampton Saints | 27–12 | Scarlets |
| Try: Waller 15' c Armstrong 47' m Con: Myler (1/2) 15' Pen: Myler (4/4) 21', 35', 48', 62' Lamb (1/1) 76' | Report | Pen: S. Jones (4/4) 23', 36', 42', 53' |
* Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Attendance: 10,377 Referee: Dean Richards (RFU)

### Final

* 18 March 2012 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 26–14 | Northampton Saints |
| Try: Mafi 25' c Hamilton 49' c Con: Ford (2/2) 25', 49' Pen: Ford (4/4) 14', 18', 24', 45' | Report | Try: Day 74' m Pen: Myler (3/3) 5', 11', 21' |
* Sixways Stadium, Worcester Attendance: 11,895 Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)
| FB | 15 | Geordan Murphy (c) |
| RW | 14 | Horacio Agulla |
| OC | 13 | Matt Smith |
| IC | 12 | Billy Twelvetrees |
| LW | 11 | Scott Hamilton |
| FH | 10 | George Ford |
| SH | 9 | James Grindal |
| N8 | 8 | Thomas Waldrom |
| OF | 7 | Craig Newby |
| BF | 6 | Steve Mafi |
| RL | 5 | Graham Kitchener |
| LL | 4 | George Skivington |
| TP | 3 | Logovi'i Mulipola |
| HK | 2 | Rob Hawkins |
| LP | 1 | Boris Stankovich |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Tom Youngs |
| PR | 17 | Marcos Ayerza |
| PR | 18 | Julian White |
| LK | 19 | Calum Green |
| FL | 20 | Julian Salvi |
| SH | 21 | Scott Steele |
| FH | 22 | Toby Flood |
| CE | 23 | Andy Forsyth |
| Coach: ||
| Richard Cockerill ||
| FB | 15 | Paul Diggin |
| RW | 14 | Vasily Artemyev |
| OC | 13 | George Pisi |
| IC | 12 | James Downey |
| LW | 11 | Scott Armstrong |
| FH | 10 | Stephen Myler |
| SH | 9 | Martin Roberts |
| N8 | 8 | Roger Wilson |
| OF | 7 | Tom Wood |
| BF | 6 | Calum Clark (c) |
| RL | 5 | Christian Day |
| LL | 4 | James Craig |
| TP | 3 | Paul Doran-Jones |
| HK | 2 | Andy Long |
| LP | 1 | Soane Tongaʻuiha |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Ross McMillan |
| PR | 17 | Alex Waller |
| PR | 18 | Brian Mujati |
| LK | 19 | Mark Sorenson |
| FL | 20 | Ben Nutley |
| SH | 21 | Ryan Glynn |
| FH | 22 | Ryan Lamb |
| CE | 23 | Tom May |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Mallinder ||