Counties 1 Western West

Last updated

Counties 1 Western West
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2022–23 Counties 1 Western West
Sport Rugby union
Instituted1987;37 years ago (1987)(as Western Counties)
Number of teams12
CountryEngland
HoldersTopsham (1st title) (2022–23 – promoted to Regional 2 South West)
Most titles Penryn (3 titles)
Website clubs.rfu.com

Counties 1 Western West (known as Counties 1 Tribute Western West for sponsorship reasons) is an English rugby union league. Originally a single division called Western Counties, in 1996 the division split into two regional leagues called Western Counties North and Western Counties West. Western Counties West was renamed Counties 1 Western West prior to the 2022–23 season and is currently a seventh tier league for clubs based in the south-west of England; mainly Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South West. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but is usually two or three to either Counties 2 Cornwall, Counties 2 Devon or Counties 2 Somerset, depending on location.

Contents

Topsham are the champions.

Format

The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South West (formerly South West 1 West), while the last two teams, depending on their location, are relegated to Counties 2 Cornwall, Counties 2 Devon or Counties 2 Somerset. In previous seasons teams were relegated to the Cornwall/Devon league. The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:

Current season

Participating teams and location


2022–23

Participating teams and location

League table

2022–23 Counties 1 Western West League Table [1]
PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
1Topsham(P)22200291242142116197
2Cullompton (P)22190393230662615395
3Kingsbridge22140866449317114373
4Pirates Amateur22131869852417414472
5 Tiverton 2213185774869111469
6Wiveliscombe2211011586525619356
7 Penryn 229112618662−4413556
8 Bideford 2210012446598−1528352
9Plymstock Albion Oakes229013554658−1049449
10 Bude 227015427771−3448440
11 Paignton 225116524687−1638737
12 Falmouth 2200222421049−807314
  • Points are awarded as follows: four points for a win; two points for a draw; no points for a loss; one bonus point for scoring four tries or more in a match; one bonus point for losing by seven points or less.

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

Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated:1 July 2023

2021–22

Participating teams and location

League table

2021–22 Western Counties West League Table [2]
PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPointsPoints adj
1 Wadebridge Camels 2626001136410726240128
2 Truro 26181776855021817192
3 Newton Abbot 26171882857625218392
4 Teignmouth 26152979452427015483
5Chard261501174854520318583
6Burnham-on-Sea261501181852928919478−5
7Kingsbridge261411183653230416372−5
8 Tiverton 2613211586656−7010268
9Wiveliscombe2611114567628−6110460
10 Penryn 2610214575599−2410359
11 Bideford 268117438740−3026545
12 Paignton 268018470716−2465239
13 Falmouth 264121363973−6105124
14Honiton2620243801329−9495013
  • Points are awarded as follows: four points for a win; two points for a draw; no points for a loss; one bonus point for scoring four tries or more in a match; one bonus point for losing by seven points or less.

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

Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated:7 August 2022

2020–21

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.

2019–20

Participating teams and location

League table

2019–20 Western Counties West League Table (to 16 March 2020, when play stopped due to COVID-19)Final Positions [3]
PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPointsFinal
position
TeamPoints
(adjusted)
1 St Austell 221903654334320122901Wellington (P)107
2Wellington (P)201604582324258143812St Austell106
3Kingsbridge221408736399337154753Teignmouth94
4 Teignmouth 19131553430423095684Kingsbridge89
5 Wadebridge Camels 21131754841813074655Wadebridge Camels80
6 Penryn 22130951637813894656Penryn74
7Chard211119473562−8983577Chard72
8 Bideford 2110110373420−4791528Bideford63
9 Tiverton 228113319522−20332399Tiverton46
10 Falmouth 227114360530−170523710Falmouth44
11Honiton227015366615−249453711Honiton42
12Wiveliscombe225017362689−327663212Saltash39
13Saltash206014388538−150423013Wiveliscombe39
14Cullompton224018369547−178582914Cullompton34
  • Points are awarded as follows: four points for a win; two points for a draw; no points for a loss; one bonus point for scoring four tries or more in a match; one bonus point for losing by seven points or less.

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

Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 2 April 2021

2018–19

Participating teams and location

League table

2018–19 Western Counties West League Table [4]
PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPointsPoints
(adjusted)
1Sidmouth(P)262024805406399172103
2Crediton (P)262123643423220121101
3Wellington262033816402414172100−5
4 St Austell 26172759739220514793
5 Tiverton 2613112605547589669
6 Wadebridge Camels 2613112554644−909366
7 Falmouth 2612113468625−1576157
8Kingsbridge269116502548−467853
9 Winscombe 2610016453605−1525651
10 Bideford 268117495485107849
11Saltash269017396626−2303746
12 Chard 268018456796−3408343
13 Truro 267316491651−1604442
14 Paignton 266119350481−1311936
  • 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 is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 13 February 2021

Promotion play-off

In the play-off for promotion, Crediton played Midsomer Norton from Western Counties North for promotion to South West 1 West. Midsomer Norton had the best playing record and hosted the match, losing 15 – 19. This was the first time either team had participated in the play-offs, at this level, and Crediton's win was the sixth time the away team had won match. Teams from Western Counties North lead 10–9 in the nineteen play-off matches played since 2001.

PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Midsomer Norton262006750595155202102
Crediton (P)262123643423220121101
27 April 2019
15:00
Midsomer Norton15 – 19Crediton
Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset

[5]

2017–18

Participating teams and location

The 2017–18 Western Counties West League consists of fourteen teams; seven from Devon, five from Cornwall and two from Somerset. The season started on 2 September 2017 and finished on 21 April 2018. Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2016–17 champions, Exeter University were promoted to South West 1 West, along with the play-off winners Cullompton, while Chard (12th place) and Kingsbridge (13th) were relegated from that league. Bude and Wellington were relegated to the Cornwall/Devon League and were replaced by Falmouth (champions) and Paignton (runner-up).

League table

2017–18 Western Counties West League Table [7]
PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPointsPoints
(adjusted)
1 St Ives (P)262204809478331201109
2 Devonport Services (P)26171871945626314690
3 St Austell 2617185984441548583
4Kingsbridge26162871439132311382
5 Wadebridge Camels 261538596527698175
6Sidmouth261421066854812010469−5
7 Chard 2610115462532−709556
8 Truro 269116539632−938753
9 Paignton 2610214462528−663451
10Crediton2610115427514÷874551
11 Tiverton 2610115462653−1913550
12 Falmouth 269215488636−1487249
13 Torquay Athletic 2610016446621−1758447−5
14Burnham-on-Sea264121343773−4302424
  • 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 is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 19 May 2017

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in Western Counties West and Western Counties North, participate in a play-off for promotion to South West 1 West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Chew Valley, host the match, and for the second successive season they lost, this time to Devonport Services 12 – 22. It is the first time Devonport Services are promoted to a level six league. [8] This match was the eighteenth play-off for promotion; the northern sides lead with ten victories to the west's eight and the home teams are leading thirteen to five.

PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Chew Valley26180879845834015592
Devonport Services (P)26171871945626314690
April 2018
15:00
Chew Valley12 – 22Devonport Services
Chew Lane, Chew Magna

2016–17

Participating teams and location

The 2016–17 Western Counties West League consists of fourteen teams; seven from Devon, five from Cornwall and two from Somerset. The season began on 3 September 2016 and finished on 22 April 2017. Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition, the 2015–16 champions, Okehampton were promoted to South West 1 West, along with the play-off winners Kingsbridge. Two Cornish teams, Penryn and Saltash were relegated to the Cornwall/Devon League and were replaced by Bude (champions) and St Ives (runner-up). The three relegated teams from South West One were all allocated places in Western Counties North so the two most westerly teams from that division, Burnham and Wellington were transferred to this league to bring the number of teams to fourteen.

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Bude Bencoolen Meadow750 Bude, Cornwall promoted from Cornwall/Devon (1st)
Burnham-on-Sea BASC Ground Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset level transfer from Western Counties North (6th)
CreditonBlagdon Crediton, Devon 12th
CullomptonStafford Park Cullompton, Devon7th
Devonport Services The Rectory2,000 Devonport, Plymouth, Devon9th
Exeter University Duckes Meadow, Salmon Pool Lane Exeter, Devon4th
SidmouthBlackmore Field Sidmouth, Devon8th
St Austell Tregorrick Park4,000 (300 seats) St Austell, Cornwall11th
St Ives Recreation Ground3,000 (275 seats) St Ives, Cornwallpromoted from Cornwall/Devon (2nd)
Tiverton Coronation Field750 Tiverton, Devon6th
Torquay Athletic Recreation Ground 3,000 (300 seats) Torquay, Devon5th
Truro St Clement's Hill2,000 Truro, Cornwall3rd
Wadebridge Camels Molesworth Field500 Wadebridge, Cornwall10th
Wellington Athletic Ground Wellington, Somersetlevel transfer from Western Counties North (10th)

[9]

League table

2016–17 Western Counties West League Table [10]
PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
1 Exeter University (P)252104960329631181103
2Cullompton (P)262204659311348112101
3 Devonport Services 2617185874741138482
4 Truro 24141960348711611372
5 Wadebridge Camels 2615011510548−386571
6 St Ives 2612014710503207121070
7 St Austell 261301366551115410769
8Sidmouth2612014608593158561
9 Torquay Athletic 2611015433697−2645655
10Crediton269017439574−1355748
11 Tiverton 269017390657−2674646
12Burnham-on-Sea258017429521−924945
13 Bude 268018413892−4794339
14Wellington268018342651−3091432
  • 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 is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 19 May 2017

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in Western Counties West and Western Counties North, participate in a play-off for promotion to South West 1 West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Chew Valley, host the match and they lost to Cullompton 12 – 29.

PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Chew Valley262204822493329180106
Cullompton (P)262204659311348112101
29 April 2017
15:00
Chew Valley12 – 29Cullompton
Chew Lane

2015–16

The 2015–16 Western Counties West League consists of fourteen teams; nine from Devon and five from Cornwall. The seasons started on 5 September 2015 and the last matches were played on 30 April 2016.

Participating teams and location

Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Teignmouth were promoted to South West 1 West and Tavistock and St Ives were relegated to the Cornwall/Devon League. The only team from Somerset, Wellington, was transferred to Western Counties North.

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
CreditonBlagdon Crediton, Devon promoted from Cornwall/Devon
CullomptonStafford Park Cullompton, Devonrelegated from South West 1 West
Devonport Services The Rectory2,000 Devonport, Plymouth, Devon6th
Exeter University Duckes Meadow, Salmon Pool Lane Exeter, Devon9th
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 (50 seats) Kingsbridge, Devon2nd
Okehampton Showground1,120 (120 seats) Okehampton, Devon7th
Penryn Memorial Ground4,000 (200 seats) Penryn, Cornwall 11th
SaltashMoorlands Lane Saltash, Cornwallpromoted from Cornwall/Devon
SidmouthBlackmore Field Sidmouth, Devon8th
St Austell Tregorrick Park4,000 (300 seats) St Austell, Cornwallrelegated from South West 1 West
Tiverton Coronation Field750 Tiverton, Devon3rd
Torquay Athletic Recreation Ground 3,000 (300 seats) Torquay, Devon12th
Truro St Clement's Hill2,000 Truro, Cornwall4th
Wadebridge Camels Molesworth Field500 Wadebridge, Cornwall5th

[11]

League table

2015–16 Western Counties West League Table [12]
PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
1 Okehampton (P)262303605308297150108
2Kingsbridge (P)262204745264481162106
3 Truro 261601063653510115585
4 Exeter University 26171873849224613381
5 Torquay Athletic 26160106416113011378
6 Tiverton 2613013478425537867
7Cullompton2611213528478505760
8 St Austell 2610115455511−567958
9 Devonport Services 2610016478610−13210555
10 Wadebridge Camels 269116505530−257853
11Sidmouth2610016494631−1374549
12Crediton269314447658−2115249
13 Penryn 267019413742−3295538
14Saltash265021426794−3685732
  • 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 is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 9 May 2016

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in Western Counties North and Western Counties West, participate in a play-off for promotion to South West 1 West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Kingsbridge, hosted the match against Keynsham and won 16  10.

TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Kingsbridge (P)262204745264481162108
Keynsham262024681306375144102
8 May 2016
15:00
Kingsbridge16 – 10Keynsham
High House

2014–15

Participating teams and location

The 2014–15 Western Counties West consisted of fourteen teams; nine from Devon, four from Cornwall and one from Somerset. The season started on 6 September 2014 and finished on 18 April 2015. Teignmouth became champions with two matches to play after Exeter University had fifty points deducted for playing ineligible players. Teignmouth were promoted to South West 1 West, while the second place team, Kingsbridge, lost to the runner-up of Western Counties North, Newent in the play-off for promotion. The last two teams, Tavistock and St Ives were relegated to Cornwall/Devon.

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Devonport Services The Rectory2,000 Devonport, Plymouth, Devon 8th
Exeter University Duckes Meadow, Salmon Pool Lane Exeter, Devonpromoted from Cornwall/Devon
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 (50 seats) Kingsbridge, Devon3rd
Okehampton Showground1,120 (120 seats) Okehampton, Devon9th
Penryn Memorial Ground4,000 (200 seats) Penryn, Cornwall 6th
St Ives Recreation Ground3,000 (275 seats) St Ives, Cornwall12th
SidmouthBlackmore Field Sidmouth, Devonrelegated from South West 1 West
TavistockSandy Park Tavistock, Devon11th
Teignmouth Bitton Sports Ground1,210 (210 stand) Teignmouth, Devon2nd
Tiverton Coronation Field750 Tiverton, Devonpromoted from Cornwall/Devon
Torquay Athletic Recreation Ground3,000 Torquay, Devon7th
Truro St Clement's Hill2,000 Truro, Cornwall5th
Wadebridge Camels Molesworth Field500 Wadebridge, Cornwallrelegated from South West 1 West
WellingtonAthletic Ground Wellington, Somerset 10th

[13]

League table

2014–15 Western Counties West League Table [14]
TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstDiffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
1 Teignmouth (P)262303989356633182112
2Kingsbridge26180870142227912488
3 Tiverton 26170957428129311483
4 Truro 261501177059817212578
5 Wadebridge Camels 261501170750320411475
6 Devonport Services 2615011556466908270
7 Okehampton 2613013593504898666
8Sidmouth2611114526646−1208560
9 Exeter University 26220489855134716156 [lower-alpha 1]
10Wellington269017490625−1356446
11 Penryn 269017531608−777740
12 Torquay Athletic 265021510898−3888836
13Tavistock265021393927−5346127
14 St Ives 2641213031156−8535118
  • 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 is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 8 May 2015

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in Western Counties North and Western Counties West, participate in a play-off for promotion to South West 1 West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Newent, hosted the match; their opponents were Kingsbridge who lost the match 26  28 to a stoppage time penalty.

TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Newent (P)262303827399428161110
Kingsbridge26180870142227912488
25 April 2015
15:00
Newent28 – 26Kingsbridge
Newent
Kingsbridge
Recreation Ground

2013–14

[15]

2009–10

2007–08

2007–08 Western Counties West
ClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints DiffBonus PointsPoints
Paignton221804629252377036
Sidmouth221714495260235035
Wadebridge Camels 221237618303315027
Tiverton 22121938131665025
Bude 221129349354−5024
Ivybridge 22921134032911020
Devonport Services 229211488501−84020
Minehead Barbarians229211429421−197020
Kingsbridge22911240837236019
Withycombe229013242439−197018
Hayle226214235537−302014
Penryn 223019177536−35906

[16]

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Western Counties) contained the following teams:

Western Counties honours

In the first season of the English rugby union league pyramid, sponsored by Courage, there was ten, tier seven leagues. The Western Counties League was for teams based in the south-west of England from Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucester and Somerset. Each team played one match against each of the other teams with the winning team awarded two points, and there was one point for each team in a drawn match. [17] This system prevailed for five seasons, and in 1992–93 the number of teams increased from eleven to thirteen. The following season Western Counties League was renamed Courage South West 2 League, and three seasons later in 1996–97 a major reorganisation occurred with South West 2 being split into two regional leagues: [18]

  1. Courage Western Counties North consisted of sixteen teams based in Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset, and each team continued to play the others once
  2. Courage Western Counties West consisted of eleven teams based in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, and each team played the other twice.

Western Counties (1987–1993)

Originally Western Counties North and Western Counties West was a single division called Western Counties (sponsored by Courage), involving teams based in the south-west of England including Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucester and Somerset. Each team played one match against each of the other teams with the winning team awarded two points, and there was one point for each team in a drawn match. [17] It was a tier 7 league with promotion up to South West 2 [lower-alpha 2] and relegation to either Cornwall/Devon or Gloucestershire/Somerset. [lower-alpha 3]

Western Counties
SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated team(s)Ref
1987–881110 Matson Gordon League Avon & Somerset Police, Sidmouth [19]
1988–891110 Gordon League Avonmouth Old Boys Devonport Services, Crediton [20]
1989–901110 Penryn Avonmouth Old Boys Cirencester, Devon & Cornwall Police [20]
1990–911110 Coombe Down Avonmouth Old Boys Truro
1991–921110 Clevedon Bridgwater & Albion [lower-alpha 4] Newquay Hornets [21]
1992–931312 Gloucester Old Boys Launceston Plymouth Civil Service, Devon & Cornwall Police [22]

Western Counties (1993–1996)

At the end of the 1992–93 season the top six teams from London Division 1 and the top six from South West Division 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that Western Counties dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to South West 2 and relegation down to either Cornwall/Devon or Gloucestershire/Somerset. [lower-alpha 5] The league continued to be sponsored by Courage.

Western Counties
SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated team(s)Ref
1993–941312 Old Patesians Tiverton Wiveliscombe [23]
1994–951312 Launceston Devonport Services Avonmouth Old Boys [24]
1995–961312 Dings Crusaders Spartans [lower-alpha 6] No relegation [lower-alpha 7] [25]
Green background are the promotion places.

Western Counties West (1996–2009)

Major restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Western Counties split into two separate leagues, Western Counties North and Western Counties West, which reverted to tier 7 leagues due to the cancellation of National 5 South. [18] Promotion from Western Counties West was now to the new South West 2 West division (formerly South West 2) [lower-alpha 8] while relegation was now to Cornwall/Devon. [lower-alpha 9] From the 2008–09 season the league sponsor is Tribute.

Western Counties West
SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated team(s)Ref
1996–971120 Okehampton St Austell Old Plymouthians, Crediton, Saltash [26]
1997–981018 St Austell Kingsbridge Sidmouth, Bideford [27]
1998–991018 Truro Ivybridge Devonport Services, Kingsbridge [28]
1999–001018 Ivybridge Withycombe No relegation [lower-alpha 10] [29]
2000–011222 Crediton Withycombe St Ives, Wellington, Paignton, Devonport Services [lower-alpha 11] [30] [31]
2001–021222 Exmouth Penryn South Molton, St Austell [32]
2002–031222 Penryn Withycombe Okehampton, Bideford [33]
2003–041222 Camborne Torquay Athletic Tiverton, St Just [34]
2004–051222 Mounts Bay St Ives Wessex, Devonport Services [35]
2005–061222 Torquay Athletic Newton Abbot Paignton, Ivel Barbarians [36]
2006–071222 Barnstaple Hayle Crediton, Truro [37]
2007–081222 Paignton Sidmouth Hayle, Penryn [38]
2008–091426 Cullompton Ivybridge No relegation [lower-alpha 12] (14th Withycombe) [39]

Western Counties West (2009–2022)

Despite widespread league restructuring by the RFU, Western Counties West continued as a tier 7 league, with promotion to South West 1 West (formerly South West 2 West) and relegation to Cornwall/Devon. Tribute continued to sponsor the league.

Western Counties West
SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated team(s)Ref
2009–101426 Camborne Wadebridge Camels Minehead Barbarians, Withycombe [40]
2010–111426 Penryn Kingsbridge Tavistock, Newquay Hornets [41]
2011–121426 North Petherton Torquay Athletic Tiverton, St Ives [42]
2012–131426 St Austell Bideford Exeter Saracens, Honiton [43]
2013–141426 Ivybridge Teignmouth Bude, Paignton [44]
2014–151426 Teignmouth Kingsbridge St Ives, Tavistock [45]
2015–161426 Okehampton Kingsbridge Saltash, Penryn [46]
2016–171426 Exeter University Cullompton Wellington, Bude [47]
2017–181426 St Ives Devonport Services Burnham-on-Sea, Torquay Athletic [48]
2018–191426 Sidmouth Crediton Paignton, Truro [49]
2019–201426 Wellington St Austell Cullompton, Saltash [50]
2020–211426Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–221426 Wadebridge Camels Truro Honiton

Counties 1 Western West (2022–23)

Counties 1 Western West
SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated team(s)Ref
2022–231222TopshamCullompton Paignton and Falmouth (subject to confirmation from the RFU) [51]

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Western Counties North and Western Counties West for the third and final promotion place to South West 1 West. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. As of the end of the 2019–20 season the northern sides have been the more successful with ten victories to the west's nine while the home team has won thirteen times compared to the away teams six.

Western Counties (west v north) promotion play-off results
SeasonHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendance
2000–01 [52] Taunton Titans (N)24–16 Withycombe (W)Hyde Park, Taunton, Somerset
2001–02 [53] St Mary's Old Boys (N)43–7 Penryn (W)Trench Lane, Almondsbury, Bristol
2002–03 [54] Thornbury (N)12–5 Withycombe (W)Cooper's Farm, Thornbury, Gloucestershire
2003–04 [55] Spartans (N)18–7 Torquay Athletic (W)Lansdown Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
2004–05 [56] St Ives (W)27–5 Thornbury (N)Alexandra Road, St Ives, Cornwall
2005–06 [57] Newton Abbot (W)24–12 Walcot (N)Rackerhayes, Newton Abbot, Devon
2006–07 [58] Hayle (W)11–27 Barts Rugby (N)Memorial Park, Hayle, Cornwall
2007–08 [59] [60] Sidmouth (W)23–20 Old Redcliffians (N)Blackmore Field, Sidmouth, Devon 1,000 [61]
2008–09 [62] [63] Chosen Hill Former Pupils (N)33–25 Ivybridge (W)Brookfield Road, Churchdown, Gloucester
2009–10 [64] [65] Wadebridge Camels (W)25–21 Thornbury (N)Molesworth Field, Wadebridge, Cornwall
2010–11 [66] [67] Thornbury (N)54–7 Kingsbridge (W)Cooper's Farm, Thornbury, Gloucestershire
2011–12 [68] [69] Old Centralians (N)39–7 Torquay Athletic (W)Saintbridge Sports Centre, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
2012–13 [70] [71] Wells (N)20–27 Bideford (W)Charter Way, Wells, Somerset 400
2013–14 [72] [73] Teignmouth (W)10–35 Matson (N)Bitton Park Sports Ground, Teignmouth, Devon
2014–15 [74] [75] Newent (N)28–26 Kingsbridge (W)Recreation Ground, Newent, Gloucestershire
2015–16 [76] Kingsbridge (W)16–10 Keynsham (N)High House, Kingsbridge, Devon
2016–17 [77] Chew Valley (N)12–29 Cullompton (W)Chew Lane, Chew Magna, Somerset 700
2017–18 [78] Chew Valley (N)12–22 Devonport Services (W)Chew Lane, Chew Magna, Somerset
2018–19 [79] Midsomer Norton (N)15–19 Crediton (W)Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
2019–20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up – St Austell (W) – promoted instead.
2020–21Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22Cancelled due to league reorganisation
Green background represent the promoted team, (N) stands for Western Counties North teams, (W) stands for Western Counties West teams

Number of league titles

Summary of tier seven format since 1987

Format of tier seven Western Counties West
YearNameNo of teamsNo of matches
1987–92Western Counties League1110
1992–96Western Counties League1312
1996–97Western Counties West1120
1997–00Western Counties West1018
2000–08Western Counties West1222
2008–22Western Counties West1426
2022–23Counties 1 Western West1222

[20] [21] [80] [81] [82] [30]

Sponsorship

The Western Counties League was part of the Courage Clubs Championship and was sponsored by Courage Brewery from the first season, 1987–88 to season 1996–97. [83] The league was unsponsored until season 2007–08 when St Austell Brewery sponsored South-west based leagues under the Tribute Ale label.

Notes

  1. Exeter University deducted 50 points after playing ineligible players.
  2. South West 2 is currently two regional divisions - South West 1 East and South West 1 West.
  3. Gloucestershire/Somerset is currently two separate leagues - Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier.
  4. Old Culverhaysians also promoted.
  5. Gloucestershire/Somerset is currently two separate leagues – Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier.
  6. League restructuring meant that five teams were promoted, including 3rd to 5th place Penzance & Newlyn, Devonport Services and Tiverton.
  7. There was no relegation as Western Counties was due to split into Western Counties North and Western Counties West.
  8. From the 1996–97 season South West 2 was split into two regional divisions - South West 2 East and South West 2 West.
  9. Relegated Western Counties North clubs dropped to Gloucestershire/Somerset (currently Gloucester Premier / Somerset Premier.
  10. There was no relegation this season due to restructuring of the league system by the RFU.
  11. At the end of the 2000–01 season there were more relegations from Western Counties West than usual due to with four teams going down, including 9th placed Paignton and 8th placed Devonport Services. Due to the Foot-and-mouth disease teams were unable to fulfil all fixtures which meant that 10th placed South Molton escaped relegation on aggregate points from games played.
  12. There was no relegation this season due to restructuring of the league system by the RFU.
  13. One of Penryn's title wins was back when the league was known as Western Counties.
  14. Clevedon's title win was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  15. Coombe Down title win was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  16. Dings Crusaders title win was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  17. Gloucester Old Boys title win was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  18. Gordon League's title win was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  19. Launceston's title win was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  20. Matson's title win was back when the league was known as Western Counties.
  21. Old Patesians title win was back when the league was known as Western Counties.

See also

Related Research Articles

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