1995–96 Courage League National Division Three

1995–96 Courage League National Division Three
Countries  England
Champions Coventry (2nd title)
Runners-up Richmond (also promoted)
Matches played 90
Top point scorer 215 Ralph Zoing (Harrogate)
Top try scorer 12 Collin Phillips (Reading)[1]
1996–97 →

The 1995–96 Courage League National Division Three was the ninth full season of rugby union within the third tier of the English league system, currently known as National League 1. Following relegation last season, Coventry won the division by three points to finish as champions and are promoted back to National Division Two. Richmond, as runner-up, was also promoted and owing to an increase in the number of teams in the above divisions, next season, Rugby and Rotherham were also promoted. There was no relegation because National Division Three will consist of sixteen teams next season.[2]

Structure

The league consists of ten teams, playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of eighteen matches for each team. There are usually two promotion places and two relegation places, with the champions and runner-up promoted to National League 2 and the last two teams relegated to National Division 4. Owing to a reorganisation of the league system four teams are promoted and none relegated this season.[2]

Participating clubs

Six of the clubs participated in last seasons competition.

Team Ground City/Area Last season
Coventry Coundon Road Coventry, West Midlands relegated from National League Two (10th)
Fylde Woodlands Memorial Ground Lytham St Annes, Lancashire relegated from National League Two (9th)
Harrogate County Ground, Claro Road Harrogate, North Yorkshire 7th
Morley Scatcherd Lane Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire 5th
Otley Cross Green Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire 6th
Reading Holme Park Sonning, Berkshire promoted from National League Four (1st)
Richmond Athletic Ground, Richmond Richmond, London 8th
Rosslyn Park Priory Lane Roehampton, London 4th
Rotherham Clifton Lane Rotherham, South Yorkshire promoted from National League Four (2nd)
Rugby Webb Ellis Road Rugby, Warwickshire 3rd

League table

1995–96 Courage League National Division Three Table[3]
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Points
1 Coventry 18 15 0 3 524 264 258 30
2 Richmond 18 13 1 4 476 266 210 27
3 Rugby 18 12 1 5 395 284 111 25
4 Rotherham 18 12 0 6 384 368 16 24
5 Morley 18 9 2 7 336 328 8 20
6 Harrogate 18 6 3 9 333 387 −54 15
7 Otley 18 6 1 11 278 441 −163 13
8 Reading 18 5 1 12 397 484 −87 13
9 Rosslyn Park 18 3 2 13 290 426 −136 11
10 Fylde 18 3 1 14 283 448 –161 9
  • 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. There was no relegation this season.

Sponsorship

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

References

  1. ↑ McCormack, Stephen (2000). The Official RFU Club Directory 2000–2001. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. pp. 313–319. ISBN 1 85291 627 3.
  2. 1 2 Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7472-7771-2.
  3. ↑ "Courage Clubs Championship 1995/96". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
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