1987–88 Rugby Union County Championship

1987–88 Toshiba County Championship
Countries England
ChampionsLancashire (13th title)
Runners-upWarwickshire

The 1987–88 Toshiba Rugby Union County Championship was the 88th edition of England's County Championship rugby union club competition.[1][2][3]

Lancashire won their 13th title after defeating Warwickshire in the final.

The final only attracted 2,000 spectators at Twickenham Stadium which was blamed on the fact that the Grand National was taking place at the same time.[4] However a more logical explanation was the introduction of the 1987–88 Courage League which provided the sport with its first official league table after replacing the former Merit table. Consequently clubs, players and fans now prioritised the Courage League over the County Championship.[1]

Semi finals

Date Venue Team One Team Two Score
12 Mar Vale of Lune Lancashire Gloucestershire 11-6
13 Mar Coundon Road Warwickshire Middlesex 31-19

Final

9 April 1988
Lancashire23–18Warwickshire
Try: Hanavan, O'Brien, Ainscough, Aitchison
Con: Ainscough (2)
Pen: Aisncough		Try: Hall, Johnson
Con: Thomas (2)
Pen: Thomas (2)
Twickenham
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Roger Quittenton (London)


A Higgin Vale of Lune
B Hanavan Fylde
D Fell Orrell
G Ainscough Orrell
Nigel Heslop Waterloo
I Aitchison Waterloo
G Williams Pwllheli
D O'Brien Orrell
N Hitchen Orrell
D Southern Orrell
Bob Kimmins Orrell
Wade Dooley Fylde
D Cleary Orrell
P Cook Nottingham
S Gallagher Waterloo
Steven Hall Barkers' Butts
C Leake Coventry
M Warr Barkers' Butts
K Shaw Barkers' Butts
Stuart Hall Coventry
M Lakey Coventry
S Thomas Coventry
L Johnson Coventry
A Farrington Coventry
S Wickes Coventry
A Gulliver Coventry
P Bowman Rugby
P Thomas Coventry
R Travers Coventry
K Hickey Moseley

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Jones, Stephen (1991) [1990]. Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 152–153. ISBN 0-356-19162-1.
  2. ^ "English County Championship". Rugby Football History.
  3. ^ "The County Finals". County Rugby.com.
  4. ^ "Stiles, Bryan. "Lancashire defence stands firm after." Times, 11 Apr. 1988, p. 31". Times Digital Archives.