1975–76 Rugby Union County Championship

1975–76 County Championship
Countries England
ChampionsGloucestershire (13th title)
Runners-upMiddlesex

The 1975–76 Rugby Union County Championship was the 76th edition of England's County Championship rugby union club competition.[1][2][3]

Gloucestershire won their 13th title after defeating Middlesex in the final.[4][5]

First round

Pos Northern Group P W D L F A Pts
1 Lancashire + 5 4 0 1 75 65 8
2 Cheshire 5 4 0 1 87 72 8
3 Northumberland 5 3 0 2 82 42 6
4 Yorkshire 5 3 0 2 70 57 6
5 Cumberland & Westmorland 5 1 0 4 67 87 2
6 Durham 5 0 0 5 41 99 0

+ Lancashire won play off 13-3

Pos Midland Group P W D L F A Pts
1 North Midlands 5 4 1 0 98 51 9
2 Warwickshire 5 4 0 1 104 60 8
3 Leicestershire 5 3 1 1 107 82 7
4 Notts, Lincs & Derby 5 2 0 3 90 76 4
5 Staffordshire 5 1 0 4 46 117 2
6 East Midlands 5 0 0 5 59 118 0
Pos South East Group P W D L F A Pts
1 Middlesex 5 5 0 0 198 27 10
2 Surrey 5 3 0 2 128 63 6
3 Eastern Counties 5 3 0 2 101 68 6
4 Kent 5 3 0 2 89 94 6
5 Sussex 5 1 0 4 53 196 2
6 Hampshire 5 0 0 5 47 168 0
Pos South-West Group P W D L F A Pts
1 Gloucestershire 3 3 0 0 58 21 6
2 Cornwall 3 2 0 1 48 32 4
3 Devon 3 1 0 2 30 57 2
4 Somerset 3 0 0 3 26 52 0
Pos Southern Group P W D L F A Pts
1 Hertfordshire 4 3 0 1 89 37 6
2 Buckinghamshire 4 2 0 2 52 42 4
3 Oxfordshire 4 2 0 2 58 64 4
4 Dorset & Wilts 4 2 0 2 53 89 4
5 Berkshire 4 1 0 3 26 46 2

Second round

Venue Team One Team Two Score
Croxley Green Hertfordshire Gloucestershire 7-29

Semi finals

Venue Venue Team One Team Two Score
28 Feb Bristol Gloucestershire Lancashire 15-7
7 Feb Moseley North Midlands Middlesex 9-20

Final

27 March 1976
Middlesex9–24Gloucestershire
Pen: Whibley (2)
Drop: Birkett		Try: Butler
Con: Butler
Pen: Butler (6)
Athletic Ground, Richmond
Referee: K Pattinson (North Midlands)


15 David Whibley Richmond
14 Colin Lambert Harlequins
13 Graham Birkett London Scottish
12 Alan Friell (capt) London Scottish
11 Elgan Rees Borough Road College
10 A J M Young St Mary's Hospital
9 Alan Lawson London Scottish
8 Andy Ripley Rosslyn Park
7 Bob Mordell Rosslyn Park
6 Adrian Alexander Harlequins
5 Chris Ralston Richmond
4 Ronald Wright Richmond
3 B J Adam Wasps
2 G G Bignell Wasps
1 Lee Barlow Rosslyn Park
Replacements:
16 P A Treseder Rosslyn Park
17 A W Hill Moseley
18 P Crerar London Scottish
19 A V Boddy Richmond
20 M F Claxton Harlequins
21 Kevin Bowring Borough Road College
15 Peter Butler Gloucester
14 Bob Clewes Gloucester
13 John Bayliss (capt) Gloucester
12 Chris J Williams Bristol
11 Alan Morley Bristol
10 Chris G Williams Gloucester
9 Peter Kingston Gloucester
8 Dave Rollitt Bristol
7 Mike Rafter Bristol
6 John Watkins Gloucester
5 Roger Powell Llanelli
4 John Fidler Gloucester
3 Mike Burton Gloucester
2 John Pullin Bristol
1 Barry Nelmes Cardiff
Replacements:
16 David Sorrell Bristol
17 Richard Mogg Gloucester
18 John Cannon Clifton
19 Kenneth Phelps Bristol
20 Alf Troughton Bristol
21 John Haines Gloucester

See also

References

  1. ^ Jenkins, Vivian (1977) [1976]. Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Brickfield Publications Ltd. pp. 114–119. ISBN 0362-00281-9.
  2. ^ "English County Championship". Rugby Football History.
  3. ^ "The County Finals". County Rugby.com.
  4. ^ "West, Peter. "Gloucestershire forwards and Butler hold the key." Times, 27 Mar. 1976, p. 18". Times Digital Archives.
  5. ^ "West, Peter. "A gluttonous Butler helps himself to Richmond banquet." Times, 29 Mar. 1976, p. 9". Times Digital Archives.