1978–79 Rugby Union County Championship

1978–79 County Championship
Countries England
ChampionsMiddlesex (7th title)
Runners-upNorthumberland

The 1978–79 Rugby Union County Championship was the 79th edition of England's County Championship rugby union club competition.[1][2]

Middlesex won their seventh title after defeating Northumberland in the final.[3]

First Round

Pos Northern Division P W D L F A Pts
1 Northumberland 5 4 0 1 90 37 8
2 Lancashire 5 4 0 1 96 41 8
3 Yorkshire 5 3 0 2 75 57 6
4 Durham 5 2 0 3 49 76 4
5 Cumbria 5 1 0 4 28 74 2
6 Cheshire 5 1 0 4 29 82 2
Pos Midlands East Division P W D L F A Pts
1 Notts, Lincs & Derby 2 2 0 0 33 17 4
2 Leicestershire 2 1 0 1 24 26 2
3 East Midlands 2 0 0 2 16 30 0
Pos Midlands West Division P W D L F A Pts
1 Warwickshire 2 2 0 0 50 6 4
2 North Midlands 2 1 0 1 17 20 2
3 Staffordshire 2 0 0 2 6 47 0
Pos London Group A P W D L F A Pts
1 Middlesex 2 2 0 0 48 9 4
2 Kent 2 1 0 1 18 10 2
3 Eastern Counties 2 0 0 2 10 57 0
Pos London Group B P W D L F A Pts
1 Surrey 3 3 0 0 84 27 6
2 Sussex 3 2 0 1 41 32 4
3 Hertfordshire 3 1 0 2 50 62 2
4 Hampshire 3 0 0 3 25 79 0
Pos South-West Division P W D L F A Pts
1 Gloucestershire 3 2 1 0 59 21 5
2 Cornwall 3 2 1 0 35 20 5
3 Somerset 3 1 0 2 20 63 2
4 Devon 3 0 0 3 25 35 0
Pos Southern Division P W D L F A Pts
1 Oxfordshire 3 3 0 0 87 39 6
2 Buckinghamshire 3 2 0 1 61 48 4
3 Berkshire 3 1 0 2 44 67 2
4 Dorset & Wilts 3 0 0 3 36 74 0

Second Round

Venue Team One Team Two Score
Newark Notts, Lincs & Derbys Warwickshire 19-12
Richmond Middlesex Surrey 38-30
Cheltenham Gloucestershire Oxfordshire 25-10

Semi finals

Date Venue Team One Team Two Score
9 Dec Gosforth Northumberland Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 19-6
9 Dec Gloucester Gloucestershire Middlesex 13-21

Final

30 December 1978
Middlesex19–6Northumberland
Try: Lambert, Hess
Con: Charles Ralston
Pen: Charles Ralston (3)		Try: Patrick
Con: Young
Twickenham
Referee: Laurie Prideaux (North Midlands)
Charles Ralston Rosslyn Park
Colin Lambert Harlequins
Alan Friell London Scottish
Rick Gordon London Scottish
T Morrison London New Zealand
T A Bryan Northampton
Alan Lawson London Scottish
Andy Ripley Rosslyn Park
Adrian Alexander Harlequins
M A H Hess Richmond
Chris Ralston (capt) Richmond
Bob Mordell Rosslyn Park
Clint McGregor Saracens
I Thomas London Welsh
Les Barlow Rosslyn Park
Replacements:
David Croydon Saracens (for Gordon 39 mins)
Brian Patrick Gosforth
Jim Pollock Northern
Alan MacMillan Morpeth
Alastair Tindle Northern
Steve Gustard (capt) Gosforth
Richard Breakey Gosforth
Malcolm Young Gosforth
Roger Uttley Gosforth
Iain Richardson Northern
G E Longstaff Northern
Steve Bainbridge Gosforth
P J Gordon Morpeth
A D Johnson Alnwick
John Blissett Gosforth
L W Smith Alnwick
Replacements:
I Pringle Morpeth (for Longstaff HT)

See also

References

  1. ^ Jenkins, Vivian (1980) [1979]. Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Brickfield Publications Ltd. pp. 120–126. ISBN 0354-09087-9.
  2. ^ "English County Championship". Rugby Football History.
  3. ^ "The County Finals". County Rugby.com.