2017 Bill Beaumont County Championship Division 1

Last updated
2017 Bill Beaumont County Championship Division 1
CountriesFlag of England.svg  England
Date6 May 2017 - 28 May 2017
Champions Lancashire (24th title)
Runners-up Cornwall
Matches played19
Attendance27,548
(average 1,450 per match)
Highest attendance7,000
Lancashire v Cornwall on 28 May 2017
Lowest attendance150
Gloucestershire v Devon on 6 May 2017
Tries scored149
(average 7.8 per match)
Top point scorer Flag of England.svg Sam Goatley (Gloucestershire) / Flag of England.svg Calum Irvine (Yorkshire) 35
Top try scorer Flag of England.svg Sam Goatley (Gloucestershire) 7
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The 2017 Bill Beaumont County Championship Division 1 was the 117th version of the annual, English rugby union, County Championship organised by the RFU for the top tier English counties. This was the first season it would be officially known as Bill Beaumont Division 1 having previously been known as the Bill Beaumont Cup. [1] Each county drew its players from rugby union clubs from the third tier and below of the English rugby union league system (typically National League 1, National League 2 North or National League 2 South). The counties were divided into two regional sections (each divided into two pools, for a total of four) with the winners of each meeting in the final held at Twickenham Stadium. Cornwall were the defending champions. [2] [3]

Contents

Due to changes to the County Championship format (more detail of this below) four new teams were added to the competition, with East Midlands and Northumberland joining the northern section, while Kent and Devon joined the south. East Midlands (winners) and Kent (runners up) were promoted after reaching the final of the 2016 County Championship Plate, while Northumberland and Devon were promoted by virtue of their performances in the competition over the past couple of seasons. It also saw a lucky escape for the likes of Yorkshire, who would have been playing tier 2 rugby this year were it not for the competition restructuring. [4] [5] [6]

By the end of the group stages, Lancashire and Cornwall came top of their respective pools, winning all three of their games with a bonus point in each to qualify for the final in what would be the fourth county championship final between the two sides. Lancashire possibly had the harder time of it as they edged rivals Yorkshire by just one point with neither side playing each other due to the new format, while Cornwall won all their games. In the Twickenham final, the first half started with Cornwall dominant in taking an 8-0 lead into the break - although they perhaps should have capitalized more on a Lancashire yellow card towards the end of the half. The second half was a completely different story, however, as Lancashire played some breath-taking rugby scoring three delightful tries to take the game 19-8, ending Cornwall's hope of a treble of championships, and claiming the 24th county championship title for the Red Rose. [7]

Competition format

The 2017 County Championships saw a new competition structure introduced across all three divisions. In tier 1 there were now twelve teams instead of the eight from 2016, with six counties in the northern group, and six in the southern group. To complicate matters further, each county only played three games per group instead of five. This meant that some counties had two home games, while the others had just one. The RFU plans to switch this around the following year so that teams that played one home game in 2017 will get two during the 2018 competition - it is assumed that this is against the three teams in the group they did not play the previous season.

At the end of the group stage the top teams with the best record from each group (north and south) advanced to the final held on 28 May 2017 at Twickenham Stadium. A further change will see relegation occur every two seasons instead of one, with points accumulated over the two seasons taken into consideration. This system will also apply to promoted teams in tier 2. [4]

Participating Counties and ground locations

Group stage

Division 1 North

2017 Bill Beaumont Division 1 North Table
CountyPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints
1 Lancashire (Q)330011546693015
2 Yorkshire 330012154672014
3 East Midlands 32018467172010
4 Cheshire 31025479-25105
5 Northumberland 300362118-56101
6 Eastern Counties 300351123-72011
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background means the county qualified for the final.Updated: 20 May 2017
Source: "County Championships". englandrugby.com.

Round 1

6 May 2017
14:15
(BP) Eastern Counties21 - 24East Midlands (BP)
Report
Grantchester Road, Cambridge
Attendance: 300
Referee: Jack Sutton
6 May 2017
15:00
(BP) Lancashire48 - 28Northumberland (BP)
Report
Woodlands Memorial Ground, Lytham St. Annes
Attendance: 545
Referee: Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts
6 May 2017
15:00
Yorkshire26 - 17Cheshire
Report
Lockwood Park, Huddersfield
Attendance: 436
Referee: Andrew Wigley

[8]

Round 2

13 May 2017
14:15
Eastern Counties15 - 38Lancashire (BP)
Report
University Football Ground, Cambridge
Attendance: 314
Referee: Neil Chivers
13 May 2017
15:00
(BP) Cheshire32 - 24East Midlands
Report
Paton Field, Thurstaston
Attendance: 325
Referee: Matt Turvey
13 May 2017
15:00
Northumberland22 - 34Yorkshire (BP)
Greensfield, Alnwick
Attendance: 256
Referee: Ieuan Davies

[9]

Round 3

20 May 2017
15:00
Cheshire5 - 29Lancashire (BP)
Heywood Park, Sale
Attendance: 450
Referee: Andrew Wrigley
20 May 2017
15:00
(BP) East Midlands36 - 14Northumberland
Report
Dillingham Park, Ampthill
Attendance: 350
Referee: Claire Hodnett
20 May 2017
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire61 - 15Eastern Counties
Brantingham Park, Brantingham
Attendance: 484
Referee: Ieuan Davies

[10]

Division 1 South

2017 Bill Beaumont Division 1 South Table
CountyPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints differenceTry bonusLosing bonusPoints
1 Cornwall (Q)330013553823015
2 Gloucestershire 320113070602010
3 Kent 3201585621110
4 Hertfordshire 3201937617208 [a 1]
5 Surrey 300343108-65011
6 Devon 300343139-96000
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background means the county qualified for the final.Updated: 20 May 2017
Source: "County Championships". englandrugby.com.
Notes
  1. ↑
    • Hertfordshire were initially deducted 4 points for fielding an ineligible player against Kent on 6 May 2017. It was later reduced to a 2 point deduction. [11] [12]

Round 1

6 May 2017
15:00
(BP) Gloucestershire55 - 12Devon
Report
The Hayfields, Mangotsfield
Attendance: 150
Referee: James Clarke
6 May 2017
15:00
(BP) Kent12 - 19Hertfordshire
Report
Broad Way, Kidbrooke, London
Attendance: 452
Referee: Gareth Holsgrove
6 May 2017
15:00
Surrey14 - 34Cornwall (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground, Richmond, London
Attendance: 643
Referee: Neil Chivers

[8]

Round 2

13 May 2017
15:00
Devon11 - 56Cornwall (BP)
Report
Cross-in-Hand, Ivybridge
Attendance: 1,025
Referee: Robert Bourke
13 May 2017
15:00
(BP) Hertfordshire46 - 19Gloucestershire
Report
Highfields, Ware
Attendance: 450
Referee: Philip Davies
13 May 2017
15:00
(BP) Surrey17 - 18Kent
Report
The Big Field, Dorking
Attendance: 231
Referee: Calum Howard

[9]

Round 3

20 May 2017
15:00
(BP) Cornwall45 - 28Hertfordshire (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground, Camborne
Attendance: 3,525
Referee: Ben Russell
20 May 2017
15:00
Devon20 - 28Kent (BP)
Pottington Road, Barnstaple
Attendance: 412
Referee: Kevin Williams
20 May 2017
15:00
(BP) Gloucestershire56 - 12Surrey
Report
Regentsholm, Lydney
Attendance: 200
Referee: James Milliner

[10]

Final

28 May 2017
12:00
Lancashire19–8Cornwall
Try: Bingham, Burtonwood, Armstrong
Con: Johnson (2)		 Report Try: Jones
Pen: Shepherd
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Ben Blain


15Lewis Allen Preston Grasshoppers
14Scott Armstrong Fylde
13Chris Briers Fylde
12Scott Rawlings Sale FC
11Anthony Bingham Fylde
10 Chris Johnson Sale FC
9Sam Stelmaszek Fylde
1Dan Birchall Fylde
2Tom Burtonwood Fylde
3Adam Lewis Fylde
4Bob Birtwell Sedgley Park
5Reece Tomlinson Rossendale
6Mark Goodwin Sedgley Park
7Evan Stewart (capt) Fylde
8Tom Ailes Sale FC
Replacements:
16Peter Altham Preston Grasshoppers
17Johnny Matthews Sedgley Park
18Simon Griffiths Fylde
19Greg Smith Fylde
20Connor Wilkinson Fylde
21Rhys Davies Sale FC
22Steve Collins Sedgley Park
23Ciaran Connolly Sale FC
15 Matthew Shepherd Plymouth Albion
14Seti Raumakita Plymouth Albion
13Robin Wedlake Plymouth Albion
12Jake Murphy (capt) Barnstaple
11Tom Notman Redruth
10Jake Elderkin Redruth
9Jack Oulton Redruth
1Tommy Phillips Redruth
2Richard Brown Redruth
3Craig Williams Redruth
4Tony Whittle Camborne
5Bryn Jenkins Barnstaple
6George Jones Penryn
7Sam Matavesi Camborne
8Grant Randlesome Penryn
Replacements:
16Matt Ballard Wadebridge Camels
17Dan Collier Plymouth Albion
18Jack Simmons Camborne
19Andrius Zacharovas Camborne
20Chris Fuca Redruth
22David Mankee Camborne
23Barrie-John Chapman Redruth

[7]

Total season attendances

CountyHome
Games		TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Cheshire277538845032511%
Cornwall13,5253,5253,5253,52550%
Devon21,4377191,02541221%
East Midlands135035035035012%
Eastern Counties261430731430017%
Gloucestershire235017520015013%
Hertfordshire1450450450450
Kent1452452452452
Lancashire15455455455456%
Northumberland125625625625621%
Surrey287443764323115%
Yorkshire292046048443631%

[8] [9] [10]

Individual statistics

Competition records

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "County Championships renamed to honour rugby legends". England Rugby. 27 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "County Championship final 2016: Cornwall beat Cheshire to retain title at Twickenham". BBC Sport. 29 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "Cornwall win back to back Twickenham triumphs". Plymouth Herald. 29 May 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. 1 2 "Full Men's County Championship fixture list 2016-17" (PDF). England Rugby. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "Rugby: Bedfordshire players inspire East Midlands to Twickenham triumph". Bedfordshire News. 29 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "East Midlands win County Champs Division 2 Plate". England Rugby. 29 May 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "LANCASHIRE WIN BILL BEAUMONT COUNTY CHAMPS FINAL". England RFU. 28 May 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bill Beaumont Cup". The RUGBYPaper. No. 451. Rugby Paper Ltd. 7 May 2017. pp. 30–31 & 34.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bill Beaumont Cup". The RUGBYPaper. No. 452. Rugby Paper Ltd. 14 May 2017. pp. 30–31.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bill Beaumont Cup". The RUGBYPaper. No. 453. Rugby Paper Ltd. 21 May 2017. pp. 24–25 & 30.
  11. ↑ "Gloucestershire back in the race for Twickenham". Camborne RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  12. ↑ "Herts points deduction halved". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
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