1988–89 National Division 2

1988–89 National Division 2
Countries England
Date10 September 1988 – 22 April 1989
ChampionsSaracens (1st title)
Runners-upBedford Blues
RelegatedLondon Scottish
London Welsh
Matches played66
Top point scorer138 – Andy Kennedy (Saracens)[1]
Top try scorer10 – Dave McLagan (Saracens)[1]

The 1988–89 National Division 2 (sponsored by Courage Brewery) was the second season of the second tier of the English rugby union league system, the Courage Clubs Championship, currently known as Champ Rugby. New sides to the division included Coventry and Sale who had been relegated from the top flight and there had been no promotion into the league.[2]

Saracens, the champions, and runners–up Bedford were promoted to the 1989–90 National Division 1. At the other end of the table, bottom team London Welsh and London Scottish who finished 11th were relegated to the 1989–90 National Division 3.[3]

Structure

Each team played one match against each of the other teams, playing a total of eleven matches each, and for the first time matches were played on fixed Saturdays. The top two clubs were promoted to National Division 1 and the bottom two relegated to National Division 3.

Participating teams

Locations of the 1988–89 National Division 2 teams
1988–89 Greater London National Division 2 teams
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area Previous season
Bedford Goldington Road 4,800 (800 seats)[4] Bedford, Bedfordshire 5th
Blackheath Rectory Field 3,500 (500 seats)[5] Greenwich, London 11th (no relegation)
Coventry Coundon Road 10,000 (1,100 seats)[6] Coventry, West Midlands Relegated from National 1 (11th)
Gosforth North Road 2,000 (400 stand)[7] Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear 10th
Headingley Clarence Fields 7,850 (850 seats)[8] Leeds, West Yorkshire 4th
London Irish The Avenue 3,600 (600 seats)[9] Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey 8th
London Scottish Athletic Ground 7,300 (1,300 seats)[10] Richmond, London 7th
London Welsh Old Deer Park 4,500 (1,500 seats)[11] Richmond, London 9th
Northampton Franklin's Gardens 6,000 (2,000 seats)[12] Northampton, Northamptonshire 12th (no relegation)
Richmond Athletic Ground 7,300 (1,300 seats)[10] Richmond, London 6th
Sale Heywood Road 4,000 (500 seats)[13] Sale, Greater Manchester Relegated from National 1 (12th)
Saracens Bramley Road 2,300 (300 seats)[14][15] Enfield, London 3rd

Table

1988–89 National Division 2 table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Saracens (C) 11 11 0 0 288 80 +208 22 Promoted
2 Bedford 11 6 2 3 141 187 −46 14
3 Northampton 11 6 1 4 165 131 +34 13
4 Sale 11 5 2 4 195 152 +43 12
5 Coventry 11 6 0 5 150 143 +7 12
6 London Irish 11 5 2 4 194 222 −28 12
7 Headingley 11 5 1 5 179 136 +43 11
8 Blackheath 11 4 1 6 181 144 +37 9
9 Richmond 11 4 1 6 112 216 −104 9
10 Gosforth 11 4 0 7 176 246 −70 8
11 London Scottish 11 3 1 7 146 160 −14 7 Relegated
12 London Welsh 11 1 1 9 125 235 −110 3
Source: [16]
Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows:
  1. 2 pts for a win
  2. 1 pt for a draw
  3. 0 pts for a loss
    (C) Champions

Fixtures & Results

Round 1

10 September 1988
Gosforth16 – 17Bedford
North Road
10 September 1988
Headingley3 – 7Saracens
Clarence Fields
10 September 1988
London Irish6 – 29Coventry
The Avenue
10 September 1988
London Scottish3 – 3Northampton
Athletic Ground
10 September 1988
London Welsh15 – 15Blackheath
Old Deer Park
10 September 1988
Sale50 – 9Richmond
Heywood Road

[17]

Round 2

September 1988
Bedford Blues9 – 6London Scottish
Goldington Road
September 1988
Blackheath34 – 10Gosforth
Rectory Field
September 1988
Coventry7 – 3Sale
Coundon Road
September 1988
Northampton19 – 7Headingley
Franklin's Gardens
September 1988
Richmond14 – 3London Welsh
Athletic Ground
September 1988
Saracens20 – 3London Irish
Bramley Road

[17]

Round 3

8 October 1988
Gosforth16 – 4Richmond
North Road
8 October 1988
Headingley7 – 7Bedford
Clarence Fields
8 October 1988
London Irish18 – 10Northampton
The Avenue
8 October 1988
London Scottish6 – 3Blackheath
Athletic Ground
8 October 1988
London Welsh14 – 21Coventry
Old Deer Park
8 October 1988
Sale10 – 12Saracens
Heywood Road

[17]

Round 4

22 October 1988
Bedford15 – 21London Irish
Goldington Road
22 October 1988
Blackheath21 – 3Headingley
Rectory Field
22 October 1988
Coventry19 – 12Gosforth
Coundon Road
22 October 1988
Northampton15 – 12Sale
Franklin's Gardens
22 October 1988
Richmond12 – 32London Scottish
Athletic Ground
22 October 1988
Saracens37 – 4London Welsh
Bramley Road

[17]

Round 5

12 November 1988
Bedford19 – 9Coventry
Goldington Road
12 November 1988
Blackheath31 – 3Richmond
Rectory Field
12 November 1988
Gosforth34 – 26London Welsh
North Road
12 November 1988
Headingley48 – 9London Irish
Clarence Fields
12 November 1988
London Scottish16 – 17Sale
Athletic Ground
12 November 1988
Northampton6 – 32Saracens
Franklin's Gardens

[17]

Round 6

19 November 1988
Coventry18 – 12Blackheath
Coundon Road
19 November 1988
London Irish35 – 7Gosforth
The Avenue
19 November 1988
London Welsh29 – 10London Scottish
Old Deer Park
19 November 1988
Richmond15 – 12Northampton
Athletic Ground
19 November 1988
Sale15 – 24Headingley
Heywood Road
19 November 1988
Saracens50 – 10Bedford
Bramley Road

[17]

Round 7

26 November 1988
Blackheath12 – 24Saracens
Rectory Field
26 November 1988
Gosforth16 – 14London Scottish
North Road
26 November 1988
Headingley24 – 0London Welsh
Clarence Fields
26 November 1988
London Irish18 – 18Sale
The Avenue
26 November 1988
Northampton42 – 3Bedford
Franklin's Gardens
26 November 1988
Richmond12 – 3Coventry
Athletic Ground

[17]

Round 8

14 January 1989
Bedford Blues14 – 3Richmond
Goldington Road
14 January 1989
Gosforth29 – 14Headingley
North Road
14 January 1989
London Scottish16 – 21London Irish
Athletic Ground
14 January 1989
London Welsh9 – 16Sale
Old Deer Park
14 January 1989
Northampton15 – 7Blackheath
Franklin's Gardens
14 January 1989
Saracens13 – 6Coventry
Bramley Road

[17]

Round 9

11 March 1989
Bedford12– 13Blackheath
Goldington Road
11 March 1989
Coventry22 – 10Northampton
Coundon Road
11 March 1989
London Scottish22 – 10Headingley
Athletic Ground
11 March 1989
London Irish24 – 19London Welsh
The Avenue
11 March 1989
Richmond10 – 27Saracens
Athletic Ground
11 March 1989
Sale23 – 15Gosforth
Heywood Road

[17]

Round 10

8 April 1989
Bedford18 – 6London Welsh
Goldington Road
8 April 1989
Blackheath12 – 16Sale
Rectory Field
8 April 1989
Coventry7 – 18Headingley
Coundon Road
8 April 1989
Northampton13 – 12Gosforth
Franklin's Gardens
8 April 1989
Richmond18 – 18London Irish
Athletic Ground
8 April 1989
Saracens19 – 9London Scottish
Bramley Road

[17]

Round 11

22 April 1989
Gosforth9 – 47Saracens
North Road
22 April 1989
Headingley9 – 12Richmond
Clarence Fields
22 April 1989
London Irish21 – 22Blackheath
The Avenue
22 April 1989
London Scottish24 – 9Coventry
Athletic Ground
22 April 1989
London Welsh0 – 22Northampton
Old Deer Park
22 April 1989
Sale15 – 15Bedford
Heywood Road

[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Ross Young, ed. (1993). "Season by Season Leading Scorers". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1993–94. Taunton: Tony Williams Publications. p. 50.
  2. ^ Stephen Jones, ed. (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988-89. London: Rothmans Publications Ltd.
  3. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91. Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd.
  4. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Bedford R.U.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 85.
  5. ^ Bill Mitchell, ed. (1994). "Blackheath FC (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1994–95. Windsor: Tony Williamson Publications. p. 179.
  6. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Coventry F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 94.
  7. ^ Bill Mitchell, ed. (1988). "Gosforth". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1988–89. Horsham: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 83.
  8. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Headingley F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 96.
  9. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "London Irish R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 98.
  10. ^ a b Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Richmond F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 112.
  11. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "London Welsh R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 194.
  12. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Northampton F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 64.
  13. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Sale F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 118.
  14. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Saracens F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 78.
  15. ^ "Saracens aim for bigger Wembley crowds following Premiership defeat of Worcester". The Telegraph. 15 February 2010.
  16. ^ "Courage Club Championship 1988–89". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Fixtures / Results (September 10, 1988 to 22 April, 1989)". Rugby Archives. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.