The draws for 2023’s cup competitions have been brutal on London Metro, whilst Somerset VICC also have a difficult job to defend the Twenty20 Cup trophy.
In the Primary Club Cup Metro’s title defence starts with a nightmare away trip to the side they beat in the 2022 final, Sussex Sharks. The winners of that clash will travel to Lancashire Lions or Yorkshire Vikings, those teams facing each other in a cup competition for the second year in a row.
In the other half of the draw Kent Spitfires host Somerset VICC with the winner drawn at home to 2021 Champions Northants Steelbacks or the returning Surrey VICC.
In 2023 the David Townley Twenty20 Cup features a Regional First Round before an open draw for the quarter finals. Defending Champions Somerset VICC start off with a first round trip to Metro & if they clear that substantial hurdle they will travel to the team they beat in the 2022 Final, Northants Steelbacks, if Northants can overcome debuting Durham VICC away in Round One. With Somerset & Northants in the same quarter of the draw it really opens up chances for other sides as those two teams have faced each other in 3 of the last 4 T20 Cup Finals.
Lancashire Lions face an away game against Cheshire Cobras in Round One as Cobras return to this competition, the winner of that tie will be away to debutants Bradford & District in the Quarter Finals.
There’s an opportunity for a side to reach Finals Day for the first time as Berkshire Stags host Surrey VICC for the right to host Kent Spitfires in the Quarter Finals.
Whilst two sides with byes in the first round meet in the quarters with Yorkshire Vikings traveling to face Sussex Sharks.
The Southern Development Twenty20 Cup only has semi finals in 2023, Dorset Dolphins & Hampshire VICC have been paired together in a repeat of the 2022 draw, whilst Berkshire Stags are at home to Metro Devils.
Cup Draws 2023
BCEW Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Cup
Quarter Finals
Kent Spitfires v Somerset VICC
Northants Steelbacks v Surrey VICC
Lancashire Lions v Yorkshire Vikings
Sussex Sharks v London Metro
Semi Finals
Kent or Somerset v Northants or Surrey
Lancashire or Yorkshire v Sussex or Metro
BCEW David Townley Memorial Twenty20 Cup
First Round
Cheshire Cobras v Lancashire Lions
Durham VICC v Northants Steelbacks
Berkshire Stags v Surrey VICC
London Metro v Somerset VICC
Bradford & District, Kent Spitfires, Sussex Sharks & Yorkshire Vikings receive byes
Quarter Finals
Bradford & District v Cheshire or Lancashire
Sussex Sharks v Yorkshire Vikings
Berkshire or Surrey v Kent Spitfires
Durham or Northants v Metro or Somerset
BCEW Southern Development Twenty20 Cup
Semi Finals
Berkshire Stags v Metro Devils
Dorset Dolphins v Hampshire VICC