May 29 and 30
Esher RFC, Surrey
RESULTS & FIXTURES
PARTICIPATING
CLUBS
Kings Cross Steelers
London, England
(host club)
Austin Lonestars
Texas, USA
Boston Ironsides
Massachusetts, USA
Caledonian Thebans
Edinburgh, Scotland
Dallas Diablos
Texas, USA
Gotham Knights
New York, USA
IGRAB Barbarians
All over the world!
Los Angeles Rebellion
California, USA
Philadelphia Gryphons
Pennsylvania, USA
San Francisco Fog
California, USA
Seattle Quake
Washington, USA
Sydney Convicts
Sydney, Australia
Village Spartans
Manchester, England
Washington Renegades
Washington DC, USA
SPONSORS
of
Bingham Cup 2004
OFFICIAL
PARTNERS
Unseeded Sydney Takes Cup By Storm
by Andy Harley
Unseeded Sydney Convicts emerged as a potential finalist in the 2004 Bingham Cup today (Saturday) when they emerged unbeaten in Pool B in the first day of the competition being held at the Esher Rugby Club in Surrey, England.
In their opening match, the Aussie club swept aside favourites London Kings Cross Steelers by a convincing 17-3 margin. And that was the closest winning margin for the Convicts as they stole top spot.
They devoured Seattle Quake 37-3 before annihilating Edinburgh Caledonian Thebans 86-0.
The Convicts now face Los Angeles Rebellion in tomorrow's quarterfinal. The Steelers, who finished second in their group make the quarterfinals.
Manchester Spartans also got through their pool matches unscathed, comfortably beating Dallas Diablo 43-9 and seeing-off Washington DC Renegades 21-5. Spartans face Philadelphia Gryphons in the quarterfinals.
San Francisco Frog, the defending Cup holders, were in good defensive form as they won their group without conceding a point, scoring 37 and 22 points against Philadelphia and New York Gotham Knights respectively. The Fog had a quarterfinal date with Washington.
IGRAB Barbarians took top spot in Pool C - they had a better points difference than LA. Both teams beat Boston Ironsides and then tied 15 apiece to end on level pool points.
The Babas, a team made up of players from non-competing International Gay Rugby Association and Board (IGRAB) member clubs, have the difficult task of facing the Steelers in the quarterfinals.
The hope in the Steelers camp is that the hic-cup against Sydney will have set aside any complacency. Certainly, if they play to their capabilities, the Steelers will go through to the semi-finals - and a possible all-England semi-final showdown against Manchester.
And if this happens, it should be an interesting encounter as both clubs have won three times in the six matches played between the two clubs so far. The Spartans lead in total points scored in the six encounters by the narrowest of margins - 125-124.
UKGayNews prediction for the final is Sydney vs an English club - a Manchester-London match-up is too close to call! And the team to lift the Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Trophy?
Er, well. Perhaps there will be revenge for the World Cup Final defeat ...
For "Live" results of matches on Sunday (the knockout phase, including the final), click here
