1998–99 National League 1
Rugby union competition in England
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The 1998–99 National League 1, sponsored by Jewson, was the twelfth full season of rugby union within the third tier of the English league system.
England| 1998–99 National League 1 | |
|---|---|
| Countries | England |
| Champions | Henley (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Manchester (also promoted) |
| Relegated | Morley, Liverpool St Helens |
| Matches played | 182 |
Henley finished the season as champions and along with runners up Manchester were promoted to Premiership Two. The relegated sides were Morley and Liverpool St Helens, both of whom would drop to National League 2 North.
Structure
The league consisted of fourteen teams, playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of twenty-six matches for each team. There were two promotion places with the top two teams promoted to the Premiership Two. Two teams were relegated to either National League 2 North or South, depending on geographical location.[1][2]
Participating teams and locations
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham & Solihull | Sharmans Cross | 4,000[3] | Solihull, West Midlands | Promoted from National 2 North (1st) |
| Camberley | Watchetts Recreation Ground | Camberley, Surrey | Promoted from National 2 South (1st) | |
| Harrogate | Claro Road | 4,500 (500 seats)[4] | Harrogate, North Yorkshire | 14th |
| Henley | Dry Leas | 4,000 | Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire | Promoted from National 2 South (2nd) |
| Liverpool St Helens | Moss Lane | 4,370 (370 seats)[5][6] | St Helens, Merseyside | 11th |
| Lydney | Regentsholm | 3,000 (340 seats)[7] | Lydney, Gloucestershire | 12th |
| Manchester | Grove Park | 4,000 | Cheadle Hulme, Stockport | Promoted from National 2 North (2nd) |
| Morley | Scatcherd Lane | 6,000 (1,000 seats)[8] | Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire | 13th |
| Newbury | Monks Lane | 8,000 | Newbury, Berkshire | 7th |
| Nottingham | Ireland Avenue | 4,990 (590 seats)[9] | Nottingham, Nottinghamshire | 6th |
| Otley | Cross Green | 7,000 (852 seats)[10] | Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire | 9th |
| Reading | Holme Park | Sonning, Berkshire | 8th | |
| Rosslyn Park | The Rock | 4,630 (630 seats)[11] | Roehampton, London | 5th |
| Wharfedale | The Avenue | 2,000 | Threshfield, North Yorkshire | 10th |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henley | 26 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 642 | 299 | +343 | 45 | Promoted |
| 2 | Manchester | 26 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 758 | 372 | +386 | 41 | |
| 3 | Rosslyn Park | 26 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 588 | 371 | +217 | 35 | |
| 4 | Nottingham | 26 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 590 | 467 | +123 | 32 | |
| 5 | Otley | 26 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 508 | 416 | +92 | 31 | |
| 6 | Newbury | 26 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 552 | 476 | +76 | 29 | |
| 7 | Wharfedale | 26 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 477 | 421 | +56 | 27 | |
| 8 | Lydney | 26 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 438 | 482 | −44 | 24 | |
| 9 | Camberley | 26 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 529 | 661 | −132 | 21 | |
| 10 | Reading | 26 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 468 | 635 | −167 | 20 | |
| 11 | Birmingham & Solihull | 26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 422 | 521 | −99 | 18 | |
| 12 | Harrogate | 26 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 309 | 461 | −152 | 18 | |
| 13 | Morley | 26 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 468 | 643 | −175 | 15 | Relegated |
| 14 | Liverpool St Helens | 26 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 335 | 859 | −524 | 8 |
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.