1987–88 John Player Cup

1987–88 John Player Special Cup
Countries England
ChampionsHarlequins
Runners-upBristol
Highest attendance37,000 Harlequins v Bristol at Twickenham

The 1987–88 John Player Special Cup was the 17th edition of England's premier rugby union cup competition. Harlequins won the competition, for the first time, defeating Bristol in the final at Twickenham Stadium.[1] The competition was sponsored by John Player cigarettes.[2]

First round

Home Away Score
Askeans London Irish 10-12
Bedford Barkers Butts 35-4
Berry Hill Salisbury 12-0
Devonport Services Maidenhead 11-12
Dixonians Droitwich 21-6
Ealing Southend 10-9
Gordon League Chiltern 44-7
Fylde Hartlepool Rovers 30-9
Leighton Buzzard Derby 10-7
Letchworth Blackheath 0-26
Lewes Havant 15-13
Lichfield Vipers 31-3
London Scottish Sudbury 9-3
Nuneaton Aspatria 4-43
Old Alleynians Maidstone 12-0
Oxford Camborne 14-0
Redruth Old Culverhaysians 26-9
Tynedale Vale of Lune 16-15
Wakefield Morley 22-0
Widnes Birkenhead Park 4-3

Second round

Home Away Score
Berry Hill Lewe 35-9
Dixonians Asptatria 3-53
Gordon League Oxford 18-16
Leighton Buzzard Bedford 6-24
Lichfield Widnes 31-3
London Irish Ealing 13-10
Maidenhead Old Alleynians 13-3
Redruth Blackheath 9-13
Tynedale London Scottish 11-9
Wakefield Fylde 24-21

Third round

Home Away Score
Aspatria Wasps 6-13
Bedford Bristol 4-21
Coventry Tynedale 7-6
Gloucester Orrell 19-9
Gordon League Headingley 10-0
Harlequins Maidenhead 40-0
Lichfield Bath 3-43
London Irish Sale 3-16
London Welsh Berry Hill 10-13
Plymouth Albion Northampton 14-7
Richmond Liverpool St Helens 10-6
Rosslyn Park Leicester 0-15
Ruislip Gosforth 10-13
Saracens Blackheath 15-3
Waterloo Nottingham 19-6
Wakefield Moseley 4-14

Fourth round

Home Away Score
Berry Hill Harlequins 4-17
Bristol Richmond 34-0
Coventry Sale 0-13
Gloucester Wasps 13-24
Gordon League Waterloo 9-11
Leicester Bath 6-13
Moseley Gosforth 33-9
Plymouth Albion Saracens 14-6

Quarter-finals

Home Away Score
Plymouth Albion Wasps 4-26
Harlequins Waterloo 37-4
Moseley Bath 4-3
Sale Bristol 15-19

Semi-finals

Moseley6–34Bristol
The Reddings
Wasps16–20 (a.e.t.)Harlequins
Sudbury
Notes
  1. ^ The score was 16–16 at 80'.

Final

30 April 1988
Harlequins28–22Bristol
Try: Carling 2
Harriman
Con: Thresher
Salmon
Pen: Thresher
Salmon 3		Try: Duggan
Penalty try
Con: Webb
Pen: Webb 3
Drop: Knibbs
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 37,000 (record for competition)
Referee: Fred Howard (Liverpool)
15 Stuart Thresher
14 Andrew Harriman
13 Jamie Salmon
12 Will Carling
11 Everton Davis
10 Adrian Thompson
9 Richard Moon
8 Richard Langhorn
7 Tim Bell
6 Mick Skinner
5 Neil Edwards
4 Paul Ackford
3 Andy Mullins
2 John Olver (c)
1 Paul Curtis
Replacements:
16 Simon Hunter
17 Richard Cramb
18 Alan Woodhouse
19 David Butcher
20 S Conway
21 Chris Sheasby
Coach:
A Jonathan Webb
B Huw Duggan
C David Thomas
D Ralph Knibbs
E John Carr
F Simon Hogg
G Richard Harding
O Paul Collings
N Wayne Hone
M Andy Dun
L Nigel Pomphrey (c)
K Andy Blackmore
J John Doubleday
I Dave Palmer
H Crayton Phillips
Replacements:
P Kevin Morgan
Q Paul Jeffrey
R Kevin Bogira
S Darryll Hickey
T Geoff Crane
U Pete Polledri
Coach:
Bob Hesford

[p 1]

Notes
  1. ^ This game would also count as Harlequins and Bristol's league match in the 1987–88 Courage League Division One.

Records

  • The attendance for the final of 37,000 was highest in the competition's history
  • Bath's unbeaten sequence of 22 matches ended when Moseley beat them in a quarter-final at The Reddings

[1]

Sponsorship

The competition was sponsored, for the last time, by John Player and the prize money was £125,000 (an increase of £15,000). Both finalists received £3,750 each and in thirteen years of sponsorship over £1 million has been provided.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Austin, Michael (1988). Jones, Stephen (ed.). John Player Special Cup 1987–88. In Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89 (17th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 117–122.
  2. ^ "Times Archives". Oxfordshire Libraries.