1991–92 National Division 3
Rugby union competition in England
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The 1991–92 National Division 3 (sponsored by Courage Brewery) was the fifth season of the third tier of the English rugby union league system, the Courage Clubs Championship, currently known as National League 1. New teams to the division included Headingley and Richmond (demoted from tier 2) and Otley and Redurth (promoted from tier 4).
Richmond finished as league champions, two points clear of runners up Fylde. Both sides would be promoted to the 1992–93 National Division 2, with Richmond making an instant return after relegation the previous season. At the opposite end of the table, the relegated sides were Nuneaton (down to 1992–93 National Division 4 North) and Lydney (down to 1992–93 National Division 4 South).
Structure
Each side in the division played the others once to make a total of twelve matches each. The top two sides would be promoted to National Division 2 while the bottom two would drop to either National Division 4 North or National Division 4 South depending on locality.
Participating teams and locations
| Team | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Askeans | Broad Walk | 1,500 (300 seats)[2] | Kidbrooke, London | 6th |
| Broughton Park | Chelsfield Grove | 2,000 (400 seats)[3] | Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester | 8th |
| Clifton | Station Road | 2,200 (200 seats)[4] | Cribbs Causeway, Henbury, Bristol | 5th |
| Exeter | County Ground | 5,750 (750 seats)[5] | Exeter, Devon | 4th |
| Fylde | Woodlands | 7,500 (500 seats)[6] | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire | 3rd |
| Headingley | Clarence Fields | 7,850 (850 seats)[7] | Leeds, West Yorkshire | Relegated from National 2 (13th) |
| Lydney | Regentsholm | 3,000 (340 seats)[8] | Lydney, Gloucestershire | 11th |
| Nuneaton | Harry Cleaver Ground | 5,000 (650 seats)[9] | Nuneaton, Warwickshire | 7th |
| Otley | Cross Green | 7,000 (852 seats)[10] | Otley, West Yorkshire | Promoted from National 4 North (1st) |
| Redruth | Recreation Ground | 12,000 | Redruth, Cornwall | Promoted from National 4 South (1st) |
| Richmond | Athletic Ground | 7,300 (1,300 seats)[11] | Richmond, London | Relegated from National 2 (12th) |
| Roundhay | Chandos Park | 3,000[12] | Roundhay, Leeds West Yorkshire | 9th |
| Sheffield | Abbeydale Park | 3,300 (100 seats)[a] | Dore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire | 10th |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond (C) | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 296 | 124 | +172 | 21 | Promoted |
| 2 | Fylde | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 198 | 109 | +89 | 19 | |
| 3 | Clifton | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 298 | 132 | +166 | 18 | |
| 4 | Exeter | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 203 | 138 | +65 | 18 | |
| 5 | Redruth | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 155 | 123 | +32 | 13 | |
| 6 | Broughton Park | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 196 | 157 | +39 | 11 | |
| 7 | Askeans | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 149 | 203 | −54 | 11 | |
| 8 | Sheffield | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 146 | 228 | −82 | 11 | |
| 9 | Otley | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 177 | 190 | −13 | 10 | |
| 10 | Roundhay | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 161 | 240 | −79 | 8 | |
| 11 | Headingley | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 139 | 220 | −81 | 8 | |
| 12 | Nuneaton | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 153 | 237 | −84 | 4 | Relegated |
| 13 | Lydney | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 91 | 261 | −170 | 4 |
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, the following tiebreaker is applied: Difference between points for and against.
(C) Champions
Notes
- 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.[13]