1996–97 Courage League National Division Three

1996–97 Courage League National Division Three
Countries  England
Champions Exeter (1st title)
Runners-up Fylde (also promoted)
Relegated Walsall, Havant, Redruth and Clifton
Matches played 240

The 1996–97 Courage League National Division Three was the tenth full season of rugby union within the third tier of the English league system, currently known as National League 1. Exeter won a title for the second season in succession, following last seasons National League 4 title. The runner-up, Fylde, finished one point behind Exeter and were also promoted. Four teams were relegated; Walsall to National 2 North and Havant, Redruth and Clifton to National 2 South.

Structure

The league consists of sixteen teams, playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of thirty matches for each team. There are two promotion places and four relegation places, with the champions and runner-up promoted to National League 2 and the last four teams relegated to either National Division 4 North or South, depending on their location.[1][2]

Participating clubs

National Division Three was increased from ten teams to sixteen with six of the clubs participating in last seasons competition. To make up the numbers the top eight teams in National Division Four were all promoted; Lydney and Wharfedale, as champions of National League 5 South and National League 5 North respectively were also promoted, from the fifth to the third tier.

Team Ground City/Area Last season
Clifton Station Road Cribbs Causeway, Henbury, Bristol National League 4 (6th)
Exeter County Ground Exeter, Devon National League 4 (1st)
Fylde Woodlands Memorial Ground Lytham St Annes, Lancashire 10th
Harrogate County Ground Harrogate, North Yorkshire 6th
Havant Hooks Lane Havant, Hampshire National League 4 (8th)
Leeds Headingley Stadium Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire National League 4 (5th)
Liverpool St Helens Moss Lane St Helens, Merseyside National League 4 (3rd)
London Welsh Old Deer Park Richmond, London National League 4 (2nd)
Lydney Regentsholm Lydney, Gloucestershire promoted from National League 5 South (1st)
Morley Scatcherd Lane Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire 5th
Otley Cross Green Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire 7th
Reading Holme Park Sonning, Berkshire 8th
Redruth Recreation Ground Redruth, Cornwall National League 4 (7th)
Rosslyn Park Priory Lane Roehampton, London 9th
Walsall Broadway Ground Walsall. West Midlands National League 4 (4th)
Wharfedale Threshfield, Wharfedale promoted from National League 5 North (1st)

League table

1996–97 Courage League National Division Three Table[3]
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Points
1 Exeter 30 25 0 5 923 443 480 50
2 Fylde 30 24 1 5 813 439 374 49
3 Leeds 30 24 0 6 1209 432 777 48
4 Morley 30 22 0 8 928 570 358 44
5 Harrogate 30 18 0 12 823 599 224 36
6 Reading 30 17 1 12 969 631 338 31
7 Wharfedale 30 17 0 13 710 635 75 30
8 Rosslyn Park 30 17 0 13 630 620 10 30
9 Otley 30 13 0 17 720 766 −46 26
10 Lydney 30 13 0 17 668 766 −98 26
11 London Welsh 30 12 0 18 632 777 −145 24
12 Liverpool St Helens 30 9 0 21 665 827 −162 18
13 Walsall 30 8 0 22 640 980 –340 16
14 Havant 30 8 0 22 580 954 −374 16
15 Redruth 30 8 0 22 565 1116 −551 16
16 Clifton 30 4 0 26 518 1347 −829 8
  • Points are awarded as follows:
  1. 2 pts for a win
  2. 1 pt for a draw
  3. 0 pts for a loss
  • If teams are level at any stage, the following tiebreaker is applied:
  1. Difference between points for and against
Green background are promotion places. Pink background are relegation places.

Sponsorship

National Division Three is part of the Courage Clubs Championship and is sponsored by Courage Brewery. This was their tenth and final season of sponsorship.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97 (25 ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 150–163. ISBN 978-0-7472-7771-2.
  2. 1 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. ↑ "Courage Clubs Championship 1996/97". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
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