1987–88 Courage League National Division Two

1987–88 Courage League National Division Two
Countries	England
Champions	Rosslyn Park (1st title)
Runners-up	Liverpool St Helens
Relegated	No relegation
Matches played	65
Top point scorer	75 - Andy Finnie Bedford
Top try scorer	10 - Dave McLagan Saracens[1]

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]

Participating teams

Bedford

Gosforth

Headingley

Liverpool
St Helens

London

London Irish

Northampton

London teams:
Blackheath London Welsh London Scottish Richmond Rosslyn Park Saracens

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Locations of the 1987–88 Courage League National Division Two teams

Blackheath

London Welsh / London Scottish

Richmond

Rosslyn Park

Saracens

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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

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

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

^[1][4]

Sponsorship

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

See also

• 1987–88 Courage League National Division One
• 1987–88 Courage League National Division Three
• 1987–88 Courage Area League North
• 1987–88 Courage Area League South

References

1. 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. 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.