1990–91 National Division 2
Rugby union competition in England
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The 1990–91 National Division 2 (sponsored by Courage Brewery) was the fourth 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 Bedford who were relegated from the top flight after a gap of just one season, while London Scottish and Wakefield were promoted from tier 3. In 1990 the Gosforth club split into two clubs, one became Newcastle Gosforth and moved to Kingston Park, known then as the New Ground while Gosforth Rugby Club continued as an amateur side working in partnership with Northumbria University.
| 1990–91 National Division 2 | |
|---|---|
| Countries | |
| Date | 22 September 1990 – 27 April 1991 |
| Champions | Rugby (1st title) |
| Runners-up | London Irish |
| Relegated | Richmond Headingley |
| Matches played | 78 |
| Top point scorer | 117 – Brendan Mullin (London Irish)[1] |
| Top try scorer | 9 – Lindsay Renwick (London Scottish)[1] |
Rugby, the champions, were promoted to the 1991–92 National Division 1 along with the league runner–up, London Irish. Headingley finished last and were relegated to the 1991–92 National Division 3 as were Richmond who finished one place above them.[2] It was a competitive season with both the promotion and relegation spots going all the way to the last game.
Structure
The division increased from twelve teams to thirteen, each side playing the others once to make a total of twelve matches each. The top two sides would be promoted to National Division 1 while the bottom two would drop to National Division 3.
Participating teams
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rugby (C) | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 252 | 146 | +106 | 20 | Promotion place |
| 2 | London Irish | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 239 | 192 | +47 | 19 | |
| 3 | Wakefield | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 188 | 109 | +79 | 16 | |
| 4 | Coventry | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 172 | 129 | +43 | 16 | |
| 5 | London Scottish | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 240 | 178 | +62 | 14 | |
| 6 | Newcastle Gosforth | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 169 | 140 | +29 | 12 | |
| 7 | Sale | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 224 | 156 | +68 | 11 | |
| 8 | Bedford | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 138 | 203 | −65 | 10 | |
| 9 | Waterloo | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 154 | 206 | −52 | 9 | |
| 10 | Blackheath | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 134 | 169 | −35 | 8 | |
| 11 | Plymouth Albion | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 129 | 210 | −81 | 8 | |
| 12 | Richmond | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 134 | 245 | −111 | 7 | Relegation place |
| 13 | Headingley | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 125 | 215 | −90 | 6 |
Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows:
- two points for a win
- one point for a draw
- no points for a loss
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- difference between points for and against
- total number of points for
(C) Champions
Fixtures & Results
Round 1
| 22 September 1990 |
| Blackheath | 13 – 19 | London Scottish |
| Rectory Field |
| 22 September 1990 |
| Coventry | 26 – 15 | Waterloo |
| Coundon Road |
| 22 September 1990 |
| Headingley | 11 – 20 | Rugby |
| Clarence Fields |
| 22 September 1990 |
| London Irish | 19 – 18 | Plymouth Albion |
| The Avenue |
| 22 September 1990 |
| Newcastle Gosforth | 7 – 6 | Sale |
| Kingston Park |
| 22 September 1990 |
| Wakefield | 27 – 0 | Bedford |
| College Grove |
| Bye/s: Richmond |
Round 2
| 6 October 1990 |
| Bedford | 18 – 19 | London Irish |
| Goldington Road |
| 6 October 1990 |
| London Scottish | 9 – 12 | Coventry |
| Athletic Ground |
| 6 October 1990 |
| Plymouth Albion | 19 – 13 | Richmond |
| Beacon Park |
| 6 October 1990 |
| Rugby | 14 – 6 | Wakefield |
| Webb Ellis Road |
| 6 October 1990 |
| Sale | 42 – 0 | Headingley |
| Heywood Road |
| 6 October 1990 |
| Waterloo | 12 – 10 | Newcastle Gosforth |
| St Anthony's Road |
| Bye/s: Blackheath |
Round 3
| 13 October 1990 |
| Coventry | 16 – 4 | Blackheath |
| Coundon Road |
| 13 October 1990 |
| Headingley | 16 – 13 | Waterloo |
| Clarence Fields |
| 13 October 1990 |
| London Irish | 29 – 17 | Rugby |
| The Avenue |
| 13 October 1990 |
| Newcastle Gosforth | 12 – 13 | London Scottish |
| Kingston Park |
| 13 October 1990 |
| Richmond | 28 – 17 | Bedford |
| Athletic Ground |
| 13 October 1990 |
| Wakefield | 13 – 10 | Sale |
| College Grove |
| Bye/s: Plymouth Albion |
Round 4
| 20 October 1990 |
| Bedford | 10 – 9 | Plymouth Albion |
| Beacon Park |
| 20 October 1990 |
| Blackheath | 9 – 19 | Newcastle Gosforth |
| Rectory Field |
| 20 October 1990 |
| London Scottish | 30 – 7 | Headingley |
| Athletic Ground |
| 20 October 1990 |
| Rugby | 28 – 9 | Richmond |
| Webb Ellis Road |
| 20 October 1990 |
| Sale | 36 – 24 | London Irish |
| Heywood Road |
| 20 October 1990 |
| Waterloo | 6 – 14 | Wakefield |
| St Anthony's Road |
| Bye/s: Coventry |
Round 5
| 27 October 1990 |
| Headingley | 16 – 15 | Blackheath |
| Clarence Fields |
| 27 October 1990 |
| London Irish | 39 – 0 | Waterloo |
| The Avenue |
| 27 October 1990 |
| Newcastle Gosforth | 10 – 9 | Coventry |
| Kingston Park |
| 27 October 1990 |
| Plymouth Albion | 6 – 28 | Rugby |
| Beacon Park |
| 27 October 1990 |
| Richmond | 10 – 9 | Sale |
| Athletic Ground |
| 27 October 1990 |
| Wakefield | 21 – 9 | London Scottish |
| College Grove |
| Bye/s: Bedford |
Round 6
| 10 November 1990 |
| Blackheath | 12 – 7 | Wakefield |
| Rectory Field |
| 10 November 1990 |
| Coventry | 11 – 3 | Headingley |
| Coundon Road |
| 10 November 1990 |
| London Scottish | 13 – 17 | London Irish |
| Athletic Ground |
| 10 November 1990 |
| Rugby | 28 – 3 | Bedford |
| Webb Ellis Road |
| 10 November 1990 |
| Sale | 20 – 9 | Plymouth Albion |
| Heywood Road |
| 10 November 1990 |
| Waterloo | 25 – 9 | Richmond |
| St Anthony's Road |
| Bye/s: Newcastle Gosforth |
Round 7
| 17 November 1990 |
| Bedford | 10 – 10 | Sale |
| Goldington Road |
| 17 November 1990 |
| Headingley | 7 – 18 | Newcastle Gosforth |
| Clarence Fields |
| 17 November 1990 |
| London Irish | 21 – 18 | Blackheath |
| The Avenue |
| 17 November 1990 |
| Plymouth Albion | 13 – 21 | Waterloo |
| Beacon Park |
| 17 November 1990 |
| Richmond | 15 – 40 | London Scottish |
| Athletic Ground |
| 17 November 1990 |
| Wakefield | 32 – 10 | Coventry |
| College Grove |
| Bye/s: Rugby |
Round 8
| 12 January 1991 |
| Blackheath | 12 – 9 | Richmond |
| Rectory Field |
| 12 January 1991 |
| Coventry | 20 – 4 | London Irish |
| Coundon Road |
| 12 January 1991 |
| London Scottish | 32 – 0 | Plymouth Albion |
| Athletic Ground |
| 12 January 1991 |
| Newcastle Gosforth | 6 – 13 | Wakefield |
| Kingston Park |
| 12 January 1991 |
| Sale | 18 – 26 | Rugby |
| Heywood Road |
| 12 January 1991 |
| Waterloo | 13 – 13 | Bedford |
| St Anthony's Road |
| Bye/s: Headingley |
Round 9
| 23 February 1991 |
| Bedford | P – P | London Scottish |
| Goldington Road |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 March 1991.
| 23 February 1991 |
| London Irish | P – P | Newcastle Gosforth |
| The Avenue |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 March 1991.
| 23 February 1991 |
| Plymouth Albion | P – P | Blackheath |
| Beacon Park |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 1991.
| 23 February 1991 |
| Richmond | P – P | Coventry |
| Athletic Ground |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 March 1991.
| 23 February 1991 |
| Rugby | 16 – 13 | Waterloo |
| Webb Ellis Road |
| 23 February 1991 |
| Wakefield | 17 – 9 | Headingley |
| College Grove |
| Bye/s: Sale |
Round 9 (rescheduled game)
| 2 March 1991 |
| Plymouth Albion | 13 – 3 | Blackheath |
| Beacon Park |
- Game rescheduled from 23 February 1991.
Round 10
| 9 March 1991 |
| Blackheath | 12 – 16 | Bedford |
| Rectory Field |
| 9 March 1991 |
| Coventry | 21 – 9 | Plymouth Albion |
| Coundon Road |
| 9 March 1991 |
| Headingley | 9 – 10 | London Irish |
| Clarence Fields |
| 9 March 1991 |
| London Scottish | 27 – 19 | Rugby |
| Athletic Ground |
| 9 March 1991 |
| Newcastle Gosforth | 22 – 7 | Richmond |
| Kingston Park |
| 9 March 1991 |
| Waterloo | 17 – 13 | Sale |
| St Anthony's Road |
| Bye/s: Wakefield |
Round 9 (rescheduled game)
| 20 March 1991 |
| London Irish | 24 – 16 | Newcastle Gosforth |
| The Avenue |
- Game rescheduled from 23 February 1991.
Round 11
| 23 March 1991 |
| Bedford | 7 – 9 | Coventry |
| Goldington Road |
| 23 March 1991 |
| London Irish | 15 – 9 | Wakefield |
| The Avenue |
| 23 March 1991 |
| Plymouth Albion | 12 – 3 | Newcastle Gosforth |
| Beacon Park |
| 23 March 1991 |
| Richmond | 17 – 6 | Headingley |
| Athletic Ground |
| 23 March 1991 |
| Rugby | 18 – 7 | Blackheath |
| Webb Ellis Road |
| 23 March 1991 |
| Sale | 25 – 10 | London Scottish |
| Heywood Road |
| Bye/s: Waterloo |
Round 9 (rescheduled games)
| 20 March 1991 |
| Bedford | 21 – 16 | London Scottish |
| Goldington Road |
- Game rescheduled from 23 February 1991.
| 20 March 1991 |
| Richmond | 0 – 13 | Coventry |
| Athletic Ground |
- Game rescheduled from 23 February 1991.
Round 12
| 13 April 1991 |
| Blackheath | 14 – 12 | Sale |
| Rectory Field |
| 13 April 1991 |
| Coventry | 9 – 13 | Rugby |
| Coundon Road |
| 13 April 1991 |
| Headingley | 31 – 6 | Plymouth Albion |
| Clarence Fields |
| 13 April 1991 |
| London Scottish | 22 – 16 | Waterloo |
| Athletic Ground |
| 13 April 1991 |
| Newcastle Gosforth | 22 – 7 | Bedford |
| Kingston Park |
| 13 April 1991 |
| Wakefield | 20 – 3 | Richmond |
| College Grove |
| Bye/s: London Irish |
Round 13
| 27 April 1991 |
| Bedford | 16 – 10 | Headingley |
| Goldington Road |
- Headingley are relegated.
| 27 April 1991 |
| Plymouth Albion | 15 – 9 | Wakefield |
| College Grove |
| 27 April 1991 |
| Richmond | 18 – 18 | London Irish |
| Athletic Ground |
- Richmond are relegated while London Irish are promoted as league runners up.
| 27 April 1991 |
| Rugby | 25 – 8 | Newcastle Gosforth |
| Webb Ellis Road |
- Rugby are promoted as league champions.
| 27 April 1991 |
| Sale | 23 – 16 | Coventry |
| Heywood Road |
| 27 April 1991 |
| Waterloo | 3 – 15 | Blackheath |
| St Anthony's Road |
| Bye/s: London Scottish |
Notes
- Previously based at North Road, Gosforth had spent the 1989–90 season ground sharing at the Prenton Avenue, the home ground of Percy Park RFC, before moving into Kingston Park for the 1990–91 season.[6]