British & Irish Cup preview

The British & Irish Cup returns at the weekend with six ties, featuring sides fromWales,Scotland and Ireland.

An intriguing all- Welsh clash is in prospect at Pandy Parkwhere Pool 2 leaders Cross Keys entertain Neath, who go into the game on top of the Welsh Premiership following a 21-6 win over Swansea on Saturday.

Cross Keys boast a 100% record having won both their opening games, as have Pool 4 leaders Llanelli, who play Pool 3 pace- setters Leinster at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday. A 20-11 league win over Aberavon at the weekend made it four wins on the bounce for the west Walians.

Melrose may be bottom of Pool 4 after one win and a defeat from their first two games, but they are a quality side, as their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership 1 table suggests. The Borderers welcome Aberavon – currently third in the Principality Premiership - to The Greenyards on Saturday.

Ulster Ravens are bidding for a hat- trick of B&I Cup wins as they look to rein in the two English sides ahead of them in Pool 6. The Irish outfit is at home to Pontypridd, leaders of Pool 5, and must win to keep pace with Nottingham and Leeds. St Helen’s plays host to a bottom- of- the- table clash where Swansea, who prop up Pool 6 entertain Pool 5 strugglers Currie.

This Week's Games:-

10th December 2011

Cross Keys v Neath

Melrosev Aberavon

MunsterA vAyr

Swanseav Currie

Ulster Ravens v Pontypridd

11th December 2011

Llanelli vLeinsterA