The 2014 County Championship Plate, also known as Bill Beaumont Cup Division 2, was the 13th version of the annual English rugby union, County Championship organized 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 South or National League 2 North). The counties were divided into two regional pools (north/south) with three teams in the north division and three in the south, with the winners of each pool meeting in the final held at Twickenham Stadium. New teams to the division included Durham County and Kent who were relegated from the 2013 Bill Beaumont Cup.
By the end of the group stage, both Durham County and Kent, relegated the previous season, made an instant return to the first division by winning their respective groups with relative ease. At the final at Twickenham, Kent were comfortable winners, defeating Durham County 31-23 to claim their first title at Twickenham for 28 years.
Competition format The competition format involved six teams divided into two regional group stages of three teams each, divided into north and south, with each team playing each other once. The top side in each group went through to the final held at Twickenham Stadium on 1 June 2014.
Participating counties and ground locations
CountyStadium(s) CapacityCity/Area DevonAstley Park1,800Brixham, DevonDurham CountyBlackwell Meadows3,000Darlington, County DurhamEast MidlandsCut Throat LaneN/AWellingborough, NorthamptonshireEastern CountiesThe Haberden3,000 (135 seats)Bury St Edmunds, SuffolkKentPriestfieldsN/ARochester, KentSomersetBath Road5,000Bridgwater, Somerset
Group stage
Division 2 North
2014 County Championship Plate Division 2 North TableCountyPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 1 Durham County (P) 2 2 0 0 61 21 40 1 0 9 2 East Midlands 2 1 0 1 35 50 -15 1 0 5 3 Eastern Counties 2 0 0 2 39 64 -25 1 1 2 If 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: 24 May 2014Source: Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Division 2 South
2014 County Championship Plate Division 2 South TableCountyPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTry BonusLosing BonusPoints 1 Kent (P) 2 2 0 0 62 26 36 1 0 9 2 Somerset 2 1 0 1 29 43 -14 0 0 4 3 Devon 2 0 0 2 32 54 -22 0 1 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 South of the Bill Beaumont Cup for the following season. Updated: 24 May 2014Source: Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Final
Total season attendances Does not include final at Twickenham which was a neutral venue and involved teams from all three county divisions on the same day CountyHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity Devon 1 289 289 289 289 16% Durham County 1 245 245 245 245 8% East Midlands 1 150 150 150 150 Eastern Counties 1 220 220 220 220 7% Kent 1 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 Somerset 1 194 194 194 194 4%
Individual statistics Note if players are tied on tries or points the player with the lowest number of appearances comes first. Also 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 also include final.
Top points scorers Rank Player County Club Side Appearances Points 1 Ben Summers Kent Blackheath 2 32 2 Cameron Mitchell Durham County Darlington Mowden Park 3 17 3 Ian Wilson Durham County Darlington Mowden Park 3 15 4 Tom Hodson Durham County Darlington Mowden Park 3 13 5 Luke Giles Kent Tonbridge Juddians 2 13
Top try scorers Rank Player County Club Side Appearances Tries 1 Cameron Mitchell Durham County Darlington Mowden Park 3 3 Ian Wilson Durham County Darlington Mowden Park 3 3 2 Jerone Awesu Eastern Counties Colchester 2 2 Ben Summers Kent Blackheath 2 2 Ali Taylor Somerset Wellington 2 2
See also English rugby union system Rugby union in England
References
External links NCA Rugby