The 2016 County Championship Plate, also known as Bill Beaumont Cup Division 2, was the 15th version of the annual English rugby union, County Championship organised by the RFU for the tier 2 English counties. 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 pools (north/south) with four teams in each and the winners of each pool meet in the final to be held at Twickenham Stadium. New counties to the division included Kent and Durham County who were relegated from the 2015 Bill Beaumont Cup while Leicestershire were promoted as the winners of the 2015 County Championship Shield.
At the end of the pool stage, pool winners East Midlands (north) and Kent (south) met in the final at Twickenham. Despite it being their first final against regulars Kent, East Midlands won 33-27, with former Tongan international, Maama Molitika, scoring three tries in the game. He would finish as the competition's top try scorer.
Competition format The competition format is two regional group stages divided into north and south, with each team playing each other once. This means that two teams in the pool have two home games, while the other two had just one. The top side in each group goes through to the final held at Twickenham Stadium, with both teams also being promoted to the top tier for the following season. Typically there was no relegation although teams have dropped out/been invited to join the division.
Due to changes to the County Championships to be implemented for the 2017 competition, four teams instead of two would be promoted to the top tier. This meant that the two group winners would be joined by two other teams from the plate competition based on how well they have done over the past couple of seasons.
Participating Counties and ground locations
CountyStadium(s) CapacityCity/Area DevonBitton Park Sports Ground1,210 (210 seats)Teignmouth, DevonDurham CountyCrow TreesBrinkburn 2,000 (400 seats)1,000 (76 seats)Swalwell, Tyne and WearHartlepool, County Durham East MidlandsRushmere RoadFortress FengateN/AN/ANorthampton, NorthamptonshirePeterborough, CambridgeshireKentMerton LanePriestfields1,500 (75 seats)N/ACanterbury, KentRochester, KentLeicestershireHinckley RoadN/ALeicester Forest East, LeicestershireNorth MidlandsHeathbrook2,260 (260 seats)Kingswinford, West MidlandsNorthumberlandGrange House Field1,000Morpeth, NorthumberlandSomersetHyde Park2,000 (198 seats)Taunton, Somerset
Group stage
Division 2 North
2016 Beaumont Cup Division 2 North TableCountyPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 1 East Midlands (P) 3 3 0 0 90 36 54 2 0 14 2 Leicestershire 3 2 0 1 60 73 -13 1 0 9 3 Northumberland (P) 3 1 0 2 45 58 -13 1 0 5 4 Durham County 3 0 0 3 76 104 -28 1 0 1If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams 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 and is also promoted to the Division 1 North of the Bill Beaumont Cup for the following season. Updated: 12 May 2016Source: Notes
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Division 2 South
2016 Beaumont Cup Division 2 South TableCountyPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 1 Kent (P) 3 2 0 1 94 62 32 2 1 11 2 Devon (P) 3 2 0 1 97 57 40 2 0 10 3 Somerset 3 2 0 1 50 68 -18 0 0 8 4 North Midlands 3 0 0 3 53 107 -54 1 1 2If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams 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 and is also promoted to the Division 1 South of the Bill Beaumont Cup for the following season. Updated: 21 May 2016Source: Notes
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Final
Total season attendances Does not include final at Twickenham which is a neutral venue and involves teams from all three county divisions on the same day CountyHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity Devon 1 820 820 820 820 68% Durham County 2 377 189 297 80 17% East Midlands 2 770 385 450 320 Kent 2 514 257 284 230 15% Leicestershire 1 250 250 250 250 North Midlands 1 203 203 203 203 9% Northumberland 1 252 252 252 252 25% Somerset 2 410 205 260 150 10%
Individual statistics Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Appearance figures also include coming on as substitutes (unused substitutes not included). Statistics will also include final.
Top points scorers Rank Player County Club Side Appearances Points 1 Joe Daniel East Midlands Kettering 4 38 2 Maama Molitika East Midlands Ampthill 4 30 3 Josh Bragman Durham County Hull 3 26 4 Brad Barnes Somerset Clifton 2 25 5 Jordan Petherbridge Devon Barnstaple 2 22
Top try scorers Rank Player County Club Side Appearances Tries 1 Maama Molitika East Midlands Ampthill 4 6 2 Callum Mackenzie Durham County Darlington Mowden Park 3 4 3 Dan Williams Devon Torquay Athletic 2 3 Ben Haigh Northumberland Tynedale 3 3 Terry Read Kent Canterbury 3 3
See also English rugby union system Rugby union in England
References
External links NCA Rugby