# 2009–10 LV Cup

The 2009–10 LV Cup (styled as the LV= Cup) was the 39th season of England's national rugby union cup competition, and the fifth to follow the Anglo-Welsh format.
Northampton Saints were crowned champions after beating Gloucester in the final at Worcester's Sixways Stadium.
The structure of the competition was altered from previous years. The competition continued to consist of the four Welsh Celtic League teams and the twelve Guinness Premiership clubs, arranged into pools consisting of three English teams and one Welsh. However, the new format saw teams 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. The competition took place on international fixture dates during the Autumn Internationals and Six Nations, with the aim of allowing teams to develop their squad players.
On 29 October 2009, little more than a week before the start of this season's competition, British insurer LV was unveiled as the new sponsor.

## Pool stage
### Points system

The points scoring system for the pool stage was 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)
The ranking criteria were:
* 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.

### Pool 1 v Pool 4

Pool 1 :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Saracens | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 83 | 69 | +14 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 2 | Leicester Tigers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 82 | +2 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 3 | Sale Sharks | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 57 | 83 | −26 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | Ospreys | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 68 | 97 | −29 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
Pool 4 :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Northampton Saints | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 45 | +36 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | Newport Gwent Dragons | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 103 | 79 | +24 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 3 | Bath | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 94 | 75 | +19 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 4 | Leeds Carnegie | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 53 | 93 | −40 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 |

#### Round 1

* 5 November 2009 19:30
| Ospreys | 17–19 | Northampton Saints |
| Try: Spratt Hibbard Con: Owen Pen: Owen | Report | Try: Cannon Con: Myler Pen: Myler (4) |
* Liberty Stadium, Swansea Attendance: 4,322 Referee: James Jones (WRU)
* 6 November 2009 19:30
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 20–9 | Sale Sharks |
| Try: Connor Lee Con: Connor Greendale Pen: Connor Greendale | Report | Pen: Hodgson (3) |
* Rodney Parade, Newport Attendance: 4,539 Referee: Martin Fox (RFU)
* 8 November 2009 15:00
| Leeds Carnegie | 28–17 | Leicester Tigers |
| | Report | |
* Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 3,893 Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)
* 8 November 2009 15:00
| Saracens | 30–22 | Bath |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road, Watford Attendance: 6,654 Referee: Dean Richards (RFU)

#### Round 2

* 13 November 2009 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 27–3 | Leeds Carnegie |
| Try: Vakacegu Ripol O'Donnell Seymour Con: Hodgson (2) Pen: Hodgson | Report | Pen: Ford |
* Edgeley Park, Stockport Attendance: 5,536
* 14 November 2009 12:30
| Bath | 21–11 | Ospreys |
| Try: Watson Browne Con: Davis Pen: Davis (3) | Report | Try: Tipuric Pen: Davies Owen |
* Recreation Ground, Bath Attendance: 10,789 Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)
* 14 November 2009 13:00
| Northampton Saints | 19–3 | Saracens |
| Try: Ashton Reihana Pen: Myler (3) | Report | Pen: Goode |
* Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Attendance: 12,037 Referee: Gwyn Morris (WRU)
* 14 November 2009 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 29–20 | Newport Gwent Dragons |
| Try: Crane Allen Penalty Con: Staunton Pen: Staunton (2) Flood (2) | Report | Try: Tovey Brew Gomer-Davies Con: Connor Pen: Conner |
* Welford Road, Leicester Attendance: 16,297 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU)

#### Round 3

* 29 January 2010 19:15
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 40–19 | Ospreys |
| Try: A. Jones Smith Brew Con: Tovey (2) Pen: Tovey (7) | Report | Try: Owen Penalty Prydie Con: Prydie (2) |
* Rodney Parade, Newport Attendance: 6,027 Referee: James Jones (WRU)
* 29 January 2010 19:30
| Leeds Carnegie | 5–28 | Saracens |
| Try: Wackett | Report | Try: Joubert Brits Powell Marshall Con: Hougaard (3) Jackson |
* Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 1,781
* 29 January 2010 19:45
| Leicester Tigers | 27–11 | Bath |
| Try: Twelvetrees (2) Penalty Tuilagi Con: Vesty (2) Pen: Vesty | Report | Try: Fa'amatuainu Pen: Davis (2) |
* Welford Road, Leicester Attendance: 19,772 Referee: David Rose (RFU)
* 29 January 2010 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 14–20 | Northampton Saints |
| Try: Hodgson Koyamailbole | Report | Try: Mayor Diggin Pen: Myler (2) |
* Edgeley Park, Stockport Attendance: 6,506

#### Round 4

* 4 February 2010 19:25
| Ospreys | 21–17 | Leeds Carnegie |
| | Report | |
* Liberty Stadium, Swansea Attendance: 2,557 Referee: Gwyn Morris (WRU)
* 6 February 2010 14:15
| Bath | 40–7 | Sale Sharks |
| | Report | |
* Recreation Ground, Bath Attendance: 10,165 Referee: James Jones (WRU)
* 6 February 2010 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 23–11 | Leicester Tigers |
| | Report | |
* Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Attendance: 13,092 Referee: Dave Pearson (RFU)
* 7 February 2010 15:00
| Saracens | 22–23 | Newport Gwent Dragons |
| | Report | |
* Vicarage Road, Watford Attendance: 5,939 Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

### Pool 2 v Pool 3

Pool 2 :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Gloucester | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 87 | 81 | +6 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 2 | Scarlets | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 88 | 83 | +5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 3 | London Irish | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 54 | 70 | −16 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Newcastle Falcons | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 41 | 105 | −64 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Pool 3 :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Cardiff Blues | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 84 | +36 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 2 | London Wasps | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 67 | 55 | +12 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| 3 | Harlequins | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 79 | 67 | +12 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| 4 | Worcester Warriors | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 73 | 64 | +9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 9 |

#### Round 1

* 7 November 2009 12:30
| Worcester Warriors | 32–6 | Newcastle Falcons |
| | Report | |
* Sixways Stadium, Worcester Attendance: 6,704
* 8 November 2009 13:45
| Harlequins | 15–15 | Scarlets |
| | Report | |
* The Stoop, London Attendance: 9,653 Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU)
* 8 November 2009 15:00
| Gloucester | 25–26 | Cardiff Blues |
| | Report | |
* Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester Attendance: 6,099 Referee: Rob Debney (RFU)
* 8 November 2009 15:00
| London Irish | 20–24 | London Wasps |
| | Report | |
* Madejski Stadium, Reading Attendance: 10,010 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (SARU)

#### Round 2

* 14 November 2009 15:00
| Scarlets | 32–17 | Worcester Warriors |
| Try: Daniel Lyons Evans Priestland Con: Priestland (3) Pen: Priestland (2) | Report | Try: Cox Kitchener Con: MacRae (2) Pen: Crook |
* Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Attendance: 5,560 Referee: David Rose (RFU)
* 15 November 2009 13:45
| Cardiff Blues | 11–12 | London Irish |
| Try: Rees Pen: Sweeney (2) | Report | Pen: Hewat (2) Homer Lamb |
* Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 7,778 Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)
* 15 November 2009 15:00
| London Wasps | 21–14 | Gloucester |
| Try: Varndell Simpson Con: Walder Pen: Hickey Walder (2) | Report | Try: Burns (2) Con: Burns (2) |
* Adams Park, High Wycombe Attendance: 7,475 Referee: Martin Fox (RFU)
* 15 November 2009 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 8–19 | Harlequins |
| Try: Tait Pen: Miller | Report | Try: Smith Con: Clegg Pen: Clegg (4) |
* Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne Attendance: 4,650 Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)

#### Round 3

* 30 January 2010 15:00
| Gloucester | 17–5 | Worcester Warriors |
| Try: Burns Qera Con: Robinson Pen: Robinson (2) | Report | Try: Pennell |
* Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester Attendance: 7,192
* 30 January 2010 17:45
| London Wasps | 13–18 | Scarlets |
| Try: Varndell (2) Pen: Walder | Report | Pen: Priestland (6) |
* Adams Park, High Wycombe Attendance: 8,070 Referee: Dean Richards (RFU)
* 31 January 2010 15:00
| Cardiff Blues | 45–24 | Newcastle Falcons |
| | Report | |
* Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 6,000 Referee: James Jones (WRU)
* 31 January 2010 15:00
| London Irish | 13–16 | Harlequins |
| | Report | |
* Madejski Stadium, Reading Attendance: 10,030 Referee: Martin Fox (RFU)

#### Round 4

* 6 February 2010 15:00
| Scarlets | 23–38 | Cardiff Blues |
| | Report | |
* Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Attendance: 5,671 Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)
* 6 February 2010 15:00
| Worcester Warriors | 19–9 | London Irish |
| | Report | |
* Sixways Stadium, Worcester Attendance: 7,501 Referee: David Bodilly (WRU)
* 7 February 2010 15:00
| Harlequins | 29–31 | Gloucester |
| | Report | |
* The Stoop, London Attendance: 9,732 Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)
* 7 February 2010 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 3–9 | London Wasps |
| | Report | |
* Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne Attendance: 4,651 Referee: Andrew Small (RFU)

## Knockout stage

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 14 March 2010 - Franklin's Gardens | 14 March 2010 - Franklin's Gardens |
| Northampton Saints | 31 |
| Northampton Saints | 31 | 21 March 2010 - Sixways Stadium | 21 March 2010 - Sixways Stadium |
| Saracens | 20 | 21 March 2010 - Sixways Stadium | 21 March 2010 - Sixways Stadium |
| Saracens | 20 | Northampton Saints | 30 |
| 14 March 2010 - Cardiff City Stadium | 14 March 2010 - Cardiff City Stadium | | Northampton Saints | 30 |
| 14 March 2010 - Cardiff City Stadium | 14 March 2010 - Cardiff City Stadium | Gloucester | 24 |
| Cardiff Blues | 18 | Gloucester | 24 |
| Gloucester | 29 | | |

### Qualification criteria

The top teams from each pool qualify for the knockout stage. The pool winners were 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 :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Northampton Saints | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 45 | +36 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | Cardiff Blues | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 84 | +36 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 3 | Gloucester | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 87 | 81 | +6 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 4 | Saracens | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 83 | 69 | +14 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 |

### Semi-finals

* 14 March 2010 12:15
| Cardiff Blues | 18–29 | Gloucester |
| Try: Laulala Sweeney Con: Blair (2) Pen: Blair (2) | Report | Try: Burns Simpson-Daniel (3) Con: Robinson (3) Pen: Robinson |
* Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 8,378
* 14 March 2010 16:15
| Northampton Saints | 31–20 | Saracens |
| Try: Dowson Mujati Diggin Best Con: Geraghty Pen: Geraghty (3) | Report | Try: Melck Pen: Hougaard (4) Jackson (1) |
* Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Attendance: 11,894 Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)

### Final

* 21 March 2010 15:30
| Northampton Saints | 30–24 | Gloucester |
| Try: Tongaʻuiha Downey Dickson Con: Myler (3) Pen: Myler (3) | Report | Try: Qera Penalty try Con: Robinson Pen: Robinson (4) |
* Sixways Stadium, Worcester Attendance: 12,024 Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU)
| FB | 15 | Shane Geraghty |
| RW | 14 | Bruce Reihana |
| OC | 13 | Jon Clarke |
| IC | 12 | James Downey |
| LW | 11 | Paul Diggin |
| FH | 10 | Stephen Myler |
| SH | 9 | Lee Dickson |
| N8 | 8 | Roger Wilson |
| OF | 7 | Neil Best |
| BF | 6 | Phil Dowson (c) |
| RL | 5 | Juandré Kruger |
| LL | 4 | Courtney Lawes |
| TP | 3 | Brian Mujati |
| HK | 2 | Brett Sharman |
| LP | 1 | Soane Tongaʻuiha |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Andy Long |
| PR | 17 | Regardt Dreyer |
| PR | 18 | Jon Vickers |
| FL | 19 | Mark Hopley |
| N8 | 20 | Mark Easter |
| SH | 21 | Alan Dickens |
| FH | 22 | Barry Everitt |
| CE | 23 | Joe Ansbro |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Mallinder ||
| FB | 15 | Freddie Burns |
| RW | 14 | James Simpson-Daniel |
| OC | 13 | Tim Molenaar |
| IC | 12 | Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu |
| LW | 11 | Lesley Vainikolo |
| FH | 10 | Nicky Robinson |
| SH | 9 | Rory Lawson |
| N8 | 8 | Adam Eustace |
| OF | 7 | Akapusi Qera |
| BF | 6 | Peter Buxton (c) |
| RL | 5 | Alex Brown |
| LL | 4 | Will James |
| TP | 3 | Pierre Capdevielle |
| HK | 2 | Olivier Azam |
| LP | 1 | Nick Wood |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Darren Dawidiuk |
| PR | 17 | Yann Thomas |
| PR | 18 | Rupert Harden |
| FL | 19 | Apolosi Satala |
| FL | 20 | Andy Hazell |
| SH | 21 | Dave Lewis |
| WG | 22 | Tom Voyce |
| WG | 23 | Charlie Sharples |
| Coach: ||
| Bryan Redpath ||