# 2008–09 EDF Energy Cup

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 | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts |
| Gloucester | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 49 | +11 | 1 | 13 |
| London Wasps | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66 | 47 | +19 | 2 | 10 |
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 55 | 60 | −5 | 1 | 5 |
| Newcastle Falcons | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 37 | 62 | −25 | 1 | 1 |
* 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 | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts |
| Cardiff Blues | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 44 | +21 | 0 | 12 |
| Leicester Tigers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Bath | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 57 | 64 | −7 | 2 | 6 |
| Sale Sharks | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 58 | 72 | −14 | 2 | 2 |
* 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 | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts |
| Ospreys | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 80 | 68 | +12 | 2 | 10 |
| London Irish | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 60 | 58 | +2 | 1 | 9 |
| Harlequins | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 67 | 70 | −3 | 1 | 5 |
| Worcester Warriors | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 58 | 69 | −11 | 1 | 5 |
* 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 | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts |
| Northampton Saints | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 82 | 70 | +12 | 2 | 10 |
| Scarlets | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 73 | 50 | +23 | 0 | 8 |
| Saracens | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 74 | 67 | +7 | 0 | 8 |
| Bristol | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 39 | 81 | −42 | 1 | 1 |
* 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 ||