1997–98 National League 2 North

1997–98 National League 2 North
Countries England
ChampionsBirmingham & Solihull (1st title)
Runners-upManchester (also promoted)
RelegatedNo relegation
Matches played182

The 1997–98 National League 2 North was the eleventh full season of rugby union within the fourth tier (north) of the English league system, previously known as National Division 4 North, and was the first to be sponsored by Jewson who replaced former sponsor Courage. It is counterpart to National League 2 South, which covers the southern half of the country.

The title battle was keenly contested between Birmingham & Solihull and Manchester but in the end it was the West Midlands side that was triumphant, finishing two points clear to finish as champions. Both clubs would gain promotion to the 1998–99 National League 1.[1] There was no relegation this season in order to prevent an imbalance of teams in the leagues due to RFU changes for the following season which would see tier 2 increased from 12 to 14 teams and tier 3 reduced from 16 to 14 teams.[2][3]

Structure

Each team played home and away matches against each of the other teams, playing a total of twenty-six matches each. The league champions and runners up were promoted to National League 1. There was no relegation this season due to changes higher up in the English league system.

Participating teams and locations

1997–98 National League 2 North teams in England
1997–98 National League 2 North teams in the West Midlands
Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Aspatria Bower Park 3,000 (300 seats)[4] Aspatria, Cumbria 10th
Birmingham & Solihull Sharmans Cross 4,000[5] Solihull, West Midlands 2nd (not promoted)
Hinckley Leicester Road 2,000 Hinckley, Leicestershire Promoted from Midlands 1 (1st)
Kendal Mint Bridge 4,600 (600 seats)[6] Kendal, Cumbria 9th
Lichfield Cooke Fields 5,460 (460 seats)[7] Lichfield, Staffordshire 11th
Manchester Grove Park 4,000 Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester 4th
Nuneaton Liberty Way 3,800 (500 seats) Nuneaton, Warwickshire 12th
Preston Grasshoppers Lightfoot Green 2,250 (250 seats)[8] Preston, Lancashire 3rd
Sandal Milnthorpe Green Sandal Magna, Wakefield, West Yorkshire 5th
Sedgley Park Park Lane 3,000 Whitefield, Greater Manchester Promoted from North 1 (1st)
Sheffield Abbeydale Park 3,300 (100 seats)[a] Dore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 8th
Stourbridge Stourton Park 3,500 (450 seats)[10] Stourbridge, West Midlands 6th
Walsall Broadway 2,250 (250 seats)[11] Walsall, West Midlands Relegated from National 3 (13th)
Winnington Park Burrows Hill 5,000[12] Northwich, Cheshire 7th

League table

1997–98 National League 2 North table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Birmingham & Solihull (C, P) 26 23 0 3 805 334 +471 46 Promoted
2 Manchester (P) 26 21 2 3 1029 472 +557 44
3 Kendal 26 18 2 6 619 357 +262 38
4 Preston Grasshoppers 26 14 2 10 549 469 +80 30
5 Sedgley Park 26 14 2 10 655 595 +60 30
6 Stourbridge 26 14 0 12 685 605 +80 28
7 Nuneaton 26 13 0 13 453 570 −117 26
8 Sandal 26 13 1 12 485 547 −62 25[b]
9 Aspatria 26 11 0 15 524 783 −259 22
10 Sheffield 26 10 2 14 557 539 +18 20[b]
11 Walsall 26 9 1 16 539 723 −184 19
12 Hinckley 26 6 1 19 429 726 −297 13
13 Winnington Park 26 5 0 21 470 750 −280 10
14 Lichfield 26 4 1 21 365 694 −329 9
Source: [1]
Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows: 2 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw, 0 pts for a loss. If teams are level at any stage, difference between points for and against applies.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. ^ Although a 1990 club estimate was 1,100 (100 seated and 1,000 standing) this is very conservative as Abbeydale Park would experience 3,000+ crowds several times in later history in what was a relatively unchanged ground.[9]
  2. ^ a b 2 points deducted

Sponsorship

National League 2 North is part of the Jewson National Leagues is sponsored by Jewson. It was the first year they would sponsor the league.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Jewson National League 2 North 1997/98". The Rugby Archive. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  2. ^ Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98 (26 ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 87–100. ISBN 0 7472 7732 X.
  3. ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998–99 (27th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 84–98. ISBN 0 7472 7653 6.
  4. ^ Stephen McCormack, ed. (1997). "Aspatria R.U.F.C. (Club & Ground Details)". Tetley's Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1997–98 (10th ed.). Taunton: Tony Williams Publications Ltd. p. 362.
  5. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Birmingham and Solihull R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 171.
  6. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Kendal R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 174.
  7. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Lichfield R.U.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 176.
  8. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 179.
  9. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Sheffield R.U.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 162.
  10. ^ "Pre-season match Preview ~ Stourbridge Vs Bees". rugbynetwork.net. 7 August 2004.
  11. ^ Tony Williams, ed. (1995). "Walsall R.F.C. (Club & Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1995–96 (8th ed.). Taunton: Tony Williams Publications. p. 298.
  12. ^ Ross Young, ed. (1993). "Winnington Park RFC (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1993–94. Taunton: Tony Williams Publications. p. 285.
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