Birmingham & Solihull got their British & Irish Cup campaign off to a winning start, whilst also boosting their survival hopes in the league, after achieving a try bonus point victory in Sunday’s ‘double header’ against Doncaster.

With the original B&I Cup tie between the sides postponed, and the number of unplayed fixtures stacking up, it was decided that the result of the Championship match should apply to both competitions. And the Bees took full advantage with ex- Knight, Mark Woodrow, converting all four tries – two of them by Simon Hunt – as well as kicking three penalties in the 35-29 success. The win takes the Bees above Llandovery, who they play on Saturday, and into second in Pool D. Leaders Pontypridd are at home to Rotherham.

The pick of the ties in Pool A sees a second cross- Tamar derby in the space of four days when Cornish Pirates entertain Plymouth Albion. Albion have not won in west Cornwall since December 2006 and the Pirates have yet to drop a point in the defence of their title.

In Pool B, leaders Llanelli play Melrose at Carmarthen Park because Parc y Scarlets is being used for the big Heineken Cup clash between Scarlets and Leicester. Weather permitting, Neath will finally get their B&I Cup campaign up and running against Ulster in Pool C, and Moseley, bonus point winners at London Welsh in Round 1, can look forward to a first competitive meeting with Swansea since 1994.