1996–97 National Division 4 South

Rugby union competition in England 1996–97 National Division 4 South England Newbury (1st title) Henley (not promoted) Askeans, Charlton Park, High Wycombe, Berry Hill 182 1995–96 1997–98 The 1996–97 National Division 4 South was the tenth full season of rugby union within the fourth tier of the English league system, currently known as National League 2 South, and the last using the name National Division 4 South. Changes to the league structure by the RFU at the start of the season saw National Division 4 revert to two regional divisions (National Division 4 North and National Division 4 South), while (National Division 5) was split back into regional leagues - North 1, Midlands 1, London 1 and South West 1.These regional divisions had previously been tier 6 leagues during the days of National Division 5 but would revert to being level 5 leagues for the 1996-97 season. a This meant that National Division 4 South increased from 10 to 14 teams (28 overall) with multiple teams coming up from the discontinued Division 5.http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=29&Stagione=1995/96 Courage League - Division 5 1995/96 The Rugby Archive 18 December 2017 At the end of the season, Newbury were deserving champions, winning 25 league games that they played (one match was cancelled) and claiming the only promotion spot to the 1997–98 National Division 1 (formerly National Division 3), 10 points clear of their nearest challengers, Henley. At the other end of the table, four teams were relegated. Askeans and Charlton Park were comfortably the worst teams in the division and were the first two sides to go down, followed by High Wycombe and then Berry Hill, with Berry Hill putting up the most fight and finishing just one point from safety. Askeans and Charlton Park would drop to London Division 1 while High Wycombe and Berry Hill would fall to South West 1.http://www.rugbyarchive.net/pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=24 Courage League - Division 4 1996/97 The Rugby Archive 18 December 2017 30 December 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171230232916/http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=24 dead The reason Division 4 South had so many relegation places compared to Division 4 North (4 to 2) was that 3 out of 4 of the teams relegated from the division above were based in the south of the country, requiring more places to accommodate for their arrival the following season. Structure Each team played home and away matches against each of the other teams, playing a total of twenty-six matches each. The league champions were promoted to the new-look National League 1 while the bottom four sides dropped to either London 1 or South West 1 depending on locality. Participating teams and locations England south 550 right 1996–97 National Division 4 South teams in England England south 51.442724 -0.094856 white Askeans left 80 England south 51.5329399 0.1282700 white Barking right 80 England south 51.8100636 -2.6134068 white Berry Hill left 80 England south 51.3256493 -0.7516587 white Camberley left 80 England south 51.442724 -0.094856 white Charlton Park right 80 England south 51.8868 -2.0756 white Cheltenham right 80 England south 51.535764 -.902894 white Henley left 80 England south 51.6132301 -.7131767 white H Wycombe left 80 England south 51.3907318 -0.3500200 white MetPolice bottom 80 England south 51.3810997 -1.3341500 white Newbury left 80 England south 52.767880 1.3819292 white N Walsham bottom 80 England south 50.371397 -4.142431 white Plymouth right 80 England south 51.6762237 -0.3133373 white Tabard top 80 England south 51.347405 -2.977255 white Weston left 80 TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious seasonAskeans Broad Walk 1,500 (300 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 130 Askeans R.F.C. (Ground Details) Kidbrooke, London Promoted from Division 5 South (8th)BarkingGoresbrook 1,000 Becontree, Dagenham, London Promoted from Division 5 South (4th)Berry Hill Lakers Road Coleford, Gloucestershire Promoted from Division 5 South (5th)Camberley Watchetts Camberley, Surrey Promoted from Division 5 South (7th)Charlton Park Broad Walk 1,500 (300 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 130 Askeans R.F.C. (Ground Details) Kidbrooke, Greenwich, London Promoted from London 1 (champions) Cheltenham Newlands Park Southam, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Promoted from Division 5 South (6th) Henley Dry Leas 4,000 Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire Promoted from Division 5 South (3rd) High Wycombe Kingsmead Road High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire Promoted from Division 5 South (10th) Metropolitan Police Imber Court 3,500 (500 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 147 Metropolitan Police R.F.C. (Ground Details) East Molesey, Surrey Promoted from Division 5 South (12th) Newbury Monk's Lane 8,000 Newbury, Berkshire Promoted from South West 1 (champions) North Walsham Norwich Road 1,200 Scottow, Norfolk Promoted from Division 5 South (11th) Plymouth Albion Beacon Park1,950 (450 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 109 Plymouth Albion RFC (Ground Details) Plymouth, Devon 10th Tabard Cobden Hill Radlett, Hertfordshire Promoted from Division 5 South (9th) Weston-super-Mare Recreation Ground 3,000 Weston-super-Mare, Somerset Promoted from Division 5 South (runners up) League table main WDL 1996–97 National Division 4 South table Q 2 points NEW Newbury HEN Henley Hawks BAR Barking CAM Camberley CHE Cheltenham PLY Plymouth Albion MET Metropolitan Police WSM Weston-super-Mare TAB Tabard NOR North Walsham BER Berry Hill HIG High Wycombe CHA Charlton Park ASK Askeans 25 0 0 1170 295 C 19 2 5 754 477 16 1 9 740 496 15 2 9 688 513 15 2 9 559 420 13 3 10 709 591 14 1 11 659 558 12 0 14 503 501 10 3 13 511 557 10 1 15 426 604 10 0 16 425 643 R 8 1 17 560 707 R 3 1 22 351 1140 R 2 1 22 340 893 R #d8ffeb Promoted P #ffcccc Relegated R R R R Points are awarded as follows: 2 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw, 0 pts for a loss. If teams are level at any stage, difference between points for and against applies. complete Sponsorship National Division 4 South is part of the Courage Clubs Championship and is sponsored by Courage Brewery. This was their tenth and final season of sponsorship. See also 1996–97 National Division 1 1996–97 National Division 2 1996–97 National Division 3 1996–97 National Division 4 North Notes References N4 Category:National League 2 South