1987–88 Courage League National Division Three

The 1987–88 Courage League National Division Three was the first full season of rugby union within the third tier of the English league system, currently known as the National League 1. Both Wakefield and West Hartlepool won ten matches, lost one and finished on twenty points. Wakefield finished as champions due to their superior points difference but neither team was promoted to National Division Two. Morley and Birmingham (without a win) finished in the bottom two places and both clubs were relegated to Area League North for the following season.[1] Almost all clubs in the national divisions reported an increase in attendances.[2]

1987–88 Courage League National Division Three
Countries England
DateSeptember 1987 – April 1988
ChampionsWakefield (1st title)
Runners-upWest Hartlepool
RelegatedMorley and
Birmingham
Matches played66

Structure

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.[3]

Participating teams and locations

League table
1987–88 Courage League National Division Three Table
Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Points
1Wakefield1110013089021820
2West Hartlepool11100124910514420
3Plymouth Albion1180327612515116
4Sheffield11713134161−2715
5Vale of Lune117041831493414
6Fylde116052691709912
7Metropolitan Police11506130128210
8Maidstone11407134162−288
9Exeter11326128197−698
10Nuneaton1121894157−635
11Morley11119109235−1263
12Birmingham11011046381−3351
  • Points were awarded as follows:
  1. 2 pts for a win
  2. 1 pt for a draw
  3. 0 pts for a loss
  • Some publications listed league tables with 4 pts for a win, 2 pt for a draw and 1 pt for a loss. (This scoring system is not the same as the current bonus points system introduced in 2000–01.)
  • If teams were level at any stage, tiebreakers were applied in the following order:
  1. Difference between points for and against
Pink background are relegation places, (there was no promotion this season)
Updated: 7 July 2015

Sponsorship

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

See also

References
  1. Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91. Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd.
  2. Stephen Jones, ed. (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89. London: Rothmans Publications Ltd.
  3. "Courage Club Championship 1987/88". Moseley Rugby Club. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
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