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1987–88 Courage League National Division Two

The 1987–88 Courage League National Division Two was the first full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. Each team played one match against the other teams, playing a total of eleven matches each. There was no set date for matches, clubs having to arrange the fixtures amongst themselves.[2] Rosslyn Park, the first champions, were promoted to the Courage League National Division One for season 1988–89 along with the runner-up, Liverpool St Helens. Although Northampton finished in last place they were not relegated to Courage League National Division Three for the following season. Almost all clubs in the national divisions reported an increase in attendances.[3][4]

1987–88 Courage League National Division Two
Countries England
ChampionsRosslyn Park (1st title)
Runners-upLiverpool St Helens
RelegatedNo relegation
Matches played65
Top point scorer75 - Andy Finnie
Bedford
Top try scorer10 - Dave McLagan
Saracens[1]

Participating teams

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Locations of the 1987–88 Courage League National Division Two teams
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Greater London Courage League Division Two clubs
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bedford Goldington Road 7,000 Bedford, Bedfordshire
Blackheath Rectory Field 6,000 Greenwich, London
Gosforth North Road Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Headingley Bridge Road Leeds, West Yorkshire
Liverpool St Helens Moss Lane 3,000[5] St Helens, Merseyside
London Irish The Avenue 6,600 Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey
London Scottish Athletic Ground 4,500 Richmond, London
London Welsh Old Deer Park 5,850 Richmond, London
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 10,000 Northampton, Northamptonshire
Richmond Athletic Ground 4,500 Richmond, London
Rosslyn Park The Rock 2,000 Roehampton, London
Saracens Bramley Road 2,000[6] Enfield, London

League table

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1987–88 Courage League National Division Two table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Rosslyn Park (C) 11 8 2 1 155 83 +72 37
2 Liverpool St Helens 11 8 1 2 154 97 +57 36
3 Saracens 11 7 2 2 228 86 +142 34
4 Headingley 11 6 2 3 202 164 +38 31
5 Bedford 11 6 2 3 152 139 +13 31
6 Richmond 11 6 0 5 140 156 −16 29
7 London Scottish 11 4 1 6 141 158 −17 24
8 London Irish 11 4 1 6 120 177 −57 24
9 London Welsh 11 3 2 6 153 185 −32 22
10 Gosforth 10 2 1 7 99 129 −30 17[a]
11 Blackheath 11 2 0 9 102 187 −85 17
12 Northampton 10 1 0 9 81 226 −145 13
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows:
  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.
    (C) Champions
    Notes:
  1. ^ Gosforth had three points and one win deducted for fielding an ineligible player against Bedford

Statistics

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Team

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  • 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

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  • 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

[1][4]

Sponsorship

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National Division Two is part of the Courage Clubs Championship and is sponsored by Courage Brewery

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Stephen McCormack, ed. (2002). The Official RFU Club Directory 2002–2003 (15th ed.). Harpenden: Queen Anne Press.
  2. ^ "Courage Club Championship 1987/88". Moseley Rugby Club. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  3. ^ Stephen Jones, ed. (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89. London: Rothmans Publications Ltd.
  4. ^ a b Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91. Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd.
  5. ^ "Liverpool St Helens". Rugby Journal. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Saracens aim for bigger Wembley crowds following Premiership defeat of Worcester". The Telegraph. 15 February 2010.
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