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1987–88 National Division 2

Rugby union competition in England

Rugby union competition in England

FieldValue
name1987–88 National Division 2
countriesEngland
championsRosslyn Park (1st title)
runnersupLiverpool St Helens
relegatedNo relegation
matches65
top point scorer75 – Andy Finnie (Bedford)
top try scorer7 – Dave McLagan (Saracens)
nextseason1988–89

The 1987–88 National Division 2 was the first season of the second tier of the English rugby union league system, the Courage Clubs Championship, and the first to be sponsored by Courage Brewery. It was also the first season of a truly national rugby union league, with the second tier currently known as Champ Rugby.

Rosslyn Park, the first ever second division champions, were promoted to the 1988–89 National Division 1 along with the runners-up, Liverpool St Helens. Although Northampton finished in last place they were not relegated to National Division 3. Almost all clubs in the national divisions reported an increase in attendances.

Structure

Each team played the others once to make a total of eleven matches each and for this first season there was no fixture list; the teams arranged fixtures amongst themselves. Most teams played eleven games, although some played ten due to cancellations and there were unequal home and away fixtures. The top two sides were promoted to National Division 1 and for this season there was no relegation.

The points scheme was such that a team received four points for a win, two for a draw and one point for a loss.

Participating teams

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/Area
BedfordGoldington Road4,800 (800 seats)Bedford, Bedfordshire
BlackheathRectory Field3,500 (500 seats)Greenwich, London
GosforthNorth Road2,000 (400 stand)Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
HeadingleyClarence Fields7,850 (850 seats)Leeds, West Yorkshire
Liverpool St HelensMoss Lane4,370 (370 seats)St Helens, Merseyside
London IrishThe Avenue3,600 (600 seats)Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey
London ScottishAthletic Groundtitle=Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91year=1990publisher=Burlington Publishing Co. Ltdlocation=Windsoredition=3rdeditor=Tony Williams and Bill Mitchellpage=112chapter=Richmond F.C. (Ground Details)}}Richmond, London
London WelshOld Deer Park4,500 (1,500 seats)Richmond, London
NorthamptonFranklin's Gardens6,000 (2,000 seats)Northampton, Northamptonshire
RichmondAthletic Ground7,300 (1,300 seats)Richmond, London
Rosslyn ParkThe Rock4,630 (630 seats)Roehampton, London
SaracensBramley Road2,300 (300 seats)Enfield, London

League table

  1. 4 pts for a win
  2. 2 pts for a draw
  3. 1 pt for a loss
  • The scoring system used for this season is not the same as the current bonus points system introduced in 2000–01.
  • Some publications listed league tables with the 2 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw and 0 pts for a loss.
  • There was no relegation this season.

Results

Statistics

Team

  • Record wins : 50 – 3 London Scottish v Northampton : 48 – 12 Saracens at Blackheath : 38 – 3 Headingley v Northampton : 34 – 0 Saracens v London Scottish
  • Record away win : 48 – 12 Saracens at Blackheath
  • Most points scored in a match : 60 12 – 48 Blackheath v Saracens : 58 25 – 33 Bedford v Liverpool St Helens
  • Most points scored but still lost : 25 28 – 25 Richmond v Bedford : 25 33 – 25 Bedford v Liverpool St Helens
  • Highest scoring draw : 24 24 – 24 London Welsh v London Scottish
  • Fewest points scored in a match : 6 6 – 0 Bedford v Blackheath

Player

  • Most points in a match : 26 Andy Mitchell for London Scottish v Northampton
  • Most points in a season : ** 75** Andy Finnie for Bedford
  • Most tries in a match : 3 Jerry Macklin for London Scottish v Northampton Orsen Blewitt for Northampton v Bedford John Roberts for Headingley v Northampton Peter Shillingford for London Scottish v Northampton
  • Most tries in a season : ** 10** Dave McLagan for Saracens

References

References

  1. (1993). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1993–94". Tony Williams Publications.
  2. (1988). "Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89". Rothmans Publications Ltd.
  3. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co Ltd.
  4. "Courage Club Championship 1987/88". Moseley Rugby Club.
  5. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  6. (1994). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1994–95". Tony Williamson Publications.
  7. (1988). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1988–89". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  8. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  9. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  10. "Liverpool St Helens". Rugby Journal.
  11. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  12. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  13. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  14. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  15. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  16. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  17. (15 February 2010). "Saracens aim for bigger Wembley crowds following Premiership defeat of Worcester". The Telegraph.
  18. (7 September 1987). "Results". The Guardian.
  19. (14 September 1987). "Results". The Guardian.
  20. (14 September 1987). "Results". The Guardian.
  21. (2 May 1988). "Results". The Guardian.
  22. (2002). "The Official RFU Club Directory 2002–2003". Queen Anne Press..
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