1996–97 National Division 2

Rugby union competition in England 1996–97 National Division 2 England Richmond (1st title) Newcastle Falcons Rugby LionsNottingham 132 7 September 1996 – 11 May 1997 8,000 – Coventry v Newcastle (2 November 1996) 334 – Simon Mason (Richmond) 23 – John Bentley (Newcastle)The Official RFU Club Directory 2000–2001 2000 Queen Anne Press Harpenden Stephen McCormack 1995–96 1997–98 The 1996–97 National Division 2 (sponsored by Courage Brewery) was the tenth season of the top tier of the English rugby union league system, the Courage Clubs Championship, currently known as Champ Rugby, and was the first season that saw professional rugby openly introduced into the English game. It was also the tenth and final season of sponsorship by Courage.Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98 1997 Headline Book Publishing London 0-7472-7732-X Mick Cleary and John Griffiths New sides to the division included Richmond, Coventry, Rugby Lions and Rotherham (all promoted from tier 3) and there had been no teams relegated from tier 1 due to league restructuring. The top two teams, Richmond and Newcastle Falcons were automatically promoted to the new look 1997–98 Premiership 1 (formerly National Division 1), and for the first time there were play–offs between the third and fourth placed teams, and the ninth and tenth placed teams in Division One, which meant 2 to 4 teams could be promoted/relegated between the divisions.Courage League Championship 1996/97 http://www.moseleyrugby.co.uk/report_display12.php?menitem=103 Moseley Rugby Club 8 August 2012 The Division 2 sides played at home first with the winners of the two matches, on aggregate score, playing in the top division the following season. Coventry and Bedford both failed to win promotion. At the end other end of the table, Rugby Lions and Nottingham were relegated to the newly named 1997–98 National League 1 (formerly National Division 3). Last season Nottingham finished in the bottom two and escaped relegation due to the division being increased from ten clubs to twelve clubs. This season they were not so lucky and next season will be their first in Division Three. yes Structure Restructuring from the previous season increased the division from ten to twelve teams with each side playing one another twice, in a round robin system, home and away, to make a total of twenty-two matches for each team. The reorganisation of the Courage Clubs Championship for the following season by the RFU meant there would be between two to four sides promoted to the new look Premiership 1. Sides finishing 1st and 2nd would be automatically promoted while sides finishing 3rd and 4th would be involved in a promotion/relegation playoff against the 9th and 10th ranked sides from the 1996–97 National Division 1 with 4th v 9th and 3rd v 10th. Participating teams England 400 right Locations of the 1996–97 National Division 2 teams England 52.1337 -0.4577 white Bedford right 80 England 51.478056 0.028056 white Blackheath right 80 England 52.4142 -1.5243 white Coventry left 80 England 51.46647 -0.30334 white L Scottish left 80 England 52.483056 -1.893611 white Moseley left 80 England 55.01562 -1.67643 white Newcastle right 80 England 52.923920 -1.212394 white Nottingham right 80 England 51.46647 -0.30334 white Richmond top 80 England 53.4301 -1.3572 white Rotherham right 80 England 52.370878 -1.265032 white Rugby right 80 England 53.683298 -1.505924 white Wakefield right 80 England 53.490429 -3.053955 white Waterloo left 80 TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaPrevious seasonBedfordGoldington Road6,500Goldington Road ground capacity up to 6,500 from 4,800 for 1996–97 season with a capacity crowd achieved versus Newcastle Gosforth on 5 April 1997.Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 85 Bedford R.U.F.C. (Ground Details).Bedford, Bedfordshire10th (no relegation)BlackheathRectory Field3,500 (500 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1994–95 1994 Tony Williamson Publications Windsor Bill Mitchell 179 Blackheath FC (Ground Details)Greenwich, London7thCoventryCoundon Road10,000 (1,100 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 94 Coventry F.C. (Ground Details) Coventry, West MidlandsPromoted from National 3 (1st)London ScottishAthletic Ground7,300 (1,300 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 112 Richmond F.C. (Ground Details)Richmond, London3rdMoseleyThe Reddings9,999 (1,800 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 61 Moseley F.C. (Ground Details)Birmingham, West Midlands6thNewcastleFormerly known as Newcastle Gosforth, the club changed their name to Newcastle ahead of the 1996–97 season.https://www.newcastleredbulls.com/en/misc/club-history CLUB HISTORY Newcastle Red Bulls 25 December 2025 Kingston Park6,600https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-winger-inga-has-the-power-1077669.html Rugby Union: Winger Inga has the power Independent 1 March 1999 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear8thNottinghamIreland Avenue4,990 (590 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 66 Nottingham R.F.C. (Ground Details) Beeston, Nottinghamshire9th (No relegation)RichmondAthletic Ground7,300 (1,300 seats)Richmond, LondonPromoted from National 3 (2nd)RotherhamClifton Lane2,500Rotherham, South YorkshirePromoted from National 3 (4th)RugbyWebb Ellis Road3,200 (200 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 116 Rugby F.C. (Ground Details)https://d2eq6t2r9q1quu.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/cms/9/911116.pdf Gloucester v. Leicester (PDF, opens in a new window) Gloucester Rugby Heritage 23 October 2024 Rugby, WarwickshirePromoted from National 3 (3rd)WakefieldCollege Grove4,000 (500 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 123 Wakefield R.F.C. (Ground Details) Wakefield, West Yorkshire4thWaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,950 (950 seats)Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 1990 Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd Windsor 3rd Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell 126 Waterloo F.C. (Ground Details) Blundellsands, Merseyside5th Table main WDL Q 1996–97 National Division 2 table 2 points RIC Richmond NEW Newcastle Falcons COV Coventry BED Bedford LOS London Scottish WAK Wakefield ROT Rotherham MOS Moseley WAT Waterloo BLA Blackheath RUG Rugby Lions NOT Nottingham 19 2 1 986 410 C 19 1 2 1255 346 16 1 5 738 394 15 0 7 720 482 11 0 11 549 568 11 0 11 504 557 10 0 12 525 661 9 0 13 492 741 8 0 14 506 661 7 0 15 412 641 3 0 19 317 1060 2 0 20 344 827 #d8ffeb Promoted P P #ffe6bd Promotion play–offs PP PP #ffcccc Relegated R R complete Points are awarded as follows: two points for a win one point for a draw no points for a loss If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: difference between points for and against total number of points for Fixtures & Results Round 1 7 September 1996 Bedford 41 – 23 Nottingham Goldington Road 7 September 1996 Blackheath 44 – 5 Rotherham Rectory Field 7 September 1996 Coventry 16 – 16 Richmond Coundon Road 7 September 1996 London Scottish 43 – 7 Rugby Lions Athletic Ground 7 September 1996 Moseley 17 – 30 Wakefield The Reddings 7 September 1996 Newcastle 30 – 13 Waterloo Kingston Park 1,400http://www.rugbyarchive.net/fixres Division Two 1996/97 Falcons Rugby 9 August 2012 http://www.rugbyarchive.net/fixres Fixtures / Results (September 9, 1995 to May 4, 1996) Rugby Archives 27 December 2025 https://rothrugby.co.uk/results/results.php?Season=s96r 1996/97 (National 2) Rotherham Titans Rugby 27 December 2025 Round 2 14 September 1996 Blackheath 11 – 3 Bedford Rectory Field 14 September 1996 Nottingham 29 – 74 Newcastle Ireland Avenue 14 September 1996 Richmond 64 – 38 Rotherham Athletic Ground 14 September 1996 Rugby Lions 3 – 61 Coventry Webb Ellis Road 14 September 1996 Wakefield 27 – 30 London Scottish College Grove 14 September 1996 Waterloo 20 – 13 Moseley St Anthony's Road Round 3 21 September 1996 Bedford 17 – 44 Richmond Goldington Road 21 September 1996 Coventry 24 – 25 Wakefield Coundon Road 21 September 1996 London Scottish 42 – 30 Waterloo Athletic Ground 21 September 1996 Moseley 34 – 22 Nottingham The Reddings 21 September 1996 Newcastle 61 – 0 Blackheath Kingston Park 21 September 1996 Rotherham 49 – 18 Rugby Lions Clifton Lane Round 4 28 September 1996 Blackheath 28 – 3 Moseley Rectory Field 28 September 1996 Nottingham 12 – 26 London Scottish Ireland Avenue 28 September 1996 Richmond 20 – 20 Newcastle Athletic Ground 7,000 28 September 1996 Wakefield 25 – 29 Rotherham College Grove 28 September 1996 Waterloo 17 – 36 Coventry St Anthony's Road 29 September 1996 Rugby Lions 6 – 34 Bedford Webb Ellis Road Round 5 5 October 1996 Bedford 25 – 19 Wakefield Goldington Road 5 October 1996 Coventry 102 – 22 Nottingham Coundon Road Nigel Yateshttps://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/coventry/s425/st198604/ghosts-of-nottingham-past Ghosts of Nottingham Past Rugby Network 6 April 2019 5 October 1996 London Scottish 23 – 31 Blackheath Athletic Ground 5 October 1996 Moseley 15 – 87 Richmond The Reddings 5 October 1996 Newcastle 156 – 5 Rugby Lions Kingston Park 5 October 1996 Rotherham 38 – 23 Waterloo Clifton Lane Round 6 12 October 1996 Blackheath 10 – 16 Coventry Rectory Field 12 October 1996 Nottingham 21 – 44 Rotherham Ireland Avenue 12 October 1996 Richmond 54 – 13 London Scottish Athletic Ground 12 October 1996 Rugby Lions 29 – 22 Moseley Webb Ellis Road 12 October 1996 Wakefield 17 – 47 Newcastle College Grove 12 October 1996 Waterloo 11 – 34 Bedford St Anthony's Road Round 7 19 October 1996 Bedford 44 – 30 Rotherham Goldington Road 19 October 1996 Coventry 66 – 6 London Scottish Coundon Road 19 October 1996 Moseley 9 – 75 Newcastle The Reddings 19 October 1996 Nottingham 12 – 22 Blackheath Ireland Avenue 19 October 1996 Richmond 64 – 8 Rugby Lions Athletic Ground 19 October 1996 Wakefield 45 – 12 Waterloo College Grove Round 8 26 October 1996 Blackheath 21 – 40 Richmond Rectory Field 26 October 1996 London Scottish 42 – 10 Moseley Athletic Ground 26 October 1996 Newcastle 49 – 12 Bedford Kingston Park 26 October 1996 Rotherham 11 – 42 Coventry Clifton Lane 26 October 1996 Rugby Lions 17 – 22 Wakefield Webb Ellis Road 26 October 1996 Waterloo 19 – 20 Nottingham St Anthony's Road Round 9 2 November 1996 Bedford 64 – 9 Moseley Goldington Road 2 November 1996 Blackheath 24 – 33 Rugby Lions Rectory Field 2 November 1996 Coventry 19 – 18 Reporthttps://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-harris-has-the-drop-on-tough-newcastle-1350637.html Rugby Union: Harris has the drop on tough Newcastle The Independent 4 November 1996 Newcastle Coundon Road 8,000Attendance figures for Coventry v Newcastle on 2 November vary. The match report by the Independent gave a crowd figure of 8,000, while others ranged from 7,500 to 9,000. A video recording appeared to show a full capacity crowd, and given that Coundon Road had a capacity of around 10,000 the crowd is likely to be higher. Neil Cousins 2 November 1996 Nottingham 18 – 40 Wakefield Ireland Avenue 2 November 1996 Richmond 64 – 13 Waterloo Athletic Ground 2 November 1996 Rotherham 28 – 18 London Scottish Clifton Lane Round 10 9 November 1996 London Scottish 26 – 27 Bedford Athletic Ground 9 November 1996 Moseley 19 – 35 Coventry The Reddings 9 November 1996 Rotherham P – P Newcastle Clifton Lane Postponed due to Newcastle requesting game be switched due to international call-ups.https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-leicester-and-quins-games-off-1351330.html Rugby Union: Leicester and Quins games off Independent 8 November 1999 Game rescheduled to 5 May 1997.The Rugby Archive listed this fixture as an 18 –9 victory at home for Rotherham versus Moseley. This was incorrect as Moseley were at home to Coventry on the same date (9 November 1996) and the reverse fixture had Newcastle playing against Rotherham on 19 April 1997. The Independent article finally cleared things up. 9 November 1996 Rugby Lions 20 – 12 Nottingham Webb Ellis 9 November 1996 Wakefield 7 – 23 Richmond College Grove 9 November 1996 Waterloo 16 – 10 Blackheath St Anthony's Road Round 11 16 November 1996 Bedford 30 – 23 Coventry Goldington Road 16 November 1996 Blackheath 13 – 17 Wakefield Rectory Field 16 November 1996 London Scottish 12 – 28 Newcastle Athletic Ground 16 November 1996 Nottingham 5 – 70 Richmond Ireland Avenue 16 November 1996 Rotherham 18 – 9The Rugby Archive lists the wrong opponent (Blackheath) and score (39 – 11) for Rotherham's home game on the 16 November 1996. The result from the Rotherham Titans website has been used instead. Moseley Clifton Lane 16 November 1996 Rugby Lions 15 – 56 Waterloo Webb Ellis Road Round 12 28 December 1996 Nottingham 13 – 36 Bedford Ireland Avenue 28 December 1996 Richmond 39 – 10 Coventry Athletic Ground 28 December 1996 Rotherham 39 – 11The Rugby Archive gives this result on the wrong date - the correct date is taken from the Rotherham Titans results page. Blackheath Clifton Lane 28 December 1996 Rugby Lions P – P London Scottish Webb Ellis Road Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 March 1997. 28 December 1996 Wakefield P – P Moseley College Grove Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 March 1997. 28 December 1996 Waterloo P – P Newcastle St Anthony's Road Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 April 1997. Round 13 4 January 1997 Bedford P – P Blackheath Goldington Road Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997. 4 January 1997 Coventry P – P Rugby Lions Coundon Road Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997. 4 January 1997 London Scottish P – P Wakefield Athletic Ground Postponed. Game rescheduled to 31 March 1997. 4 January 1997 Moseley P – P Waterloo The Reddings Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997. 4 January 1997 Newcastle P – P Nottingham Kingston Park Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 March 1997. 4 January 1997 Rotherham P – P Richmond Clifton Lane Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997. Round 14 11 January 1997 Blackheath P – P Newcastle Rectory Field Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 April 1997. 11 January 1997 Nottingham P – P Moseley Ireland Avenue Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 February 1997. 11 January 1997 Richmond P – P Bedford Athletic Ground Postponed. Game rescheduled to 25 January 1997. 11 January 1997 Rugby Lions P – P Rotherham Webb Ellis Road Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 March 1997. 11 January 1997 Wakefield P – P Coventry College Grove Postponed. Game rescheduled to 3 May 1997. 11 January 1997 Waterloo P – P London Scottish St Anthony's Road Postponed. Game rescheduled to 3 May 1997. Round 15 18 January 1997 Bedford 57 – 6 Rugby Lions Goldington Road 18 January 1997 Coventry 28 – 16 Waterloo Coundon Road 18 January 1997 London Scottish 33 – 10 Nottingham Athletic Ground 18 January 1997 Moseley 21 – 18 Blackheath The Reddings 18 January 1997 Newcastle P – P Richmond Kingston Park Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 March 1997. 18 January 1997 Rotherham 12 – 19 Wakefield Clifton Lane Round 14 (rescheduled games) 25 January 1997 Richmond 34 – 33 Bedford Athletic Ground Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997. 2 February 1997 Nottingham 11 – 22 Moseley Ireland Avenue Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997. Round 16 8 February 1997 Blackheath 13 – 19 London Scottish Rectory Field 8 February 1997 Nottingham 0 – 29 Coventry Ireland Avenue 8 February 1997 Richmond 37 – 27 Moseley Athletic Ground 8 February 1997 Rugby Lions 8 – 70 Newcastle Webb Ellis Road 8 February 1997 Wakefield 17 – 29 Bedford College Grove 8 February 1997 Waterloo 23 – 27 Rotherham St Anthony's Road Round 13 (rescheduled games) 22 February 1997 Bedford 72 – 18 Blackheath Goldington Road Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997. 22 February 1997 Moseley 17 – 13 Waterloo The Reddings Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997. 22 February 1997 Rotherham 6 – 28 Richmond Clifton Lane Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997. 23 January 1997 Coventry 24 – 10 Rugby Lions Coundon Road Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997. Round 17 8 March 1997 Bedford 38 – 6 Waterloo Goldington Road 8 March 1997 Coventry 74 – 10 Blackheath Coundon Road 8 March 1997 London Scottish 18 – 37 Richmond Athletic Ground 8 March 1997 Moseley 34 – 11 Rugby Lions The Reddings 8 March 1997 Newcastle 57 – 10 Wakefield Kingston Park 8 March 1997 Rotherham 30 – 24 Nottingham Clifton Lane Rounds 13 & 14 (rescheduled games) 15 March 1997 Rugby Lions 16 – 41 Rotherham Webb Ellis Road Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997. 16 March 1997 Newcastle 53 – 17 Nottingham Kingston Park Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997. Round 18 22 March 1997 Blackheath 24 – 0 Nottingham Rectory Field 22 March 1997 London Scottish 13 – 14 Coventry Athletic Ground 22 March 1997 Newcastle 88 – 19 Moseley Kingston Park 22 March 1997 Rotherham 11 – 32 Bedford Clifton Lane 22 March 1997 Rugby Lions 31 – 72 Richmond Webb Ellis Road 22 March 1997 Waterloo 16 – 11 Wakefield St Anthony's Road Rounds 12 & 15 (rescheduled games) 29 March 1997 Newcastle 37 – 17 Richmond Kingston Park Game rescheduled from 18 January 1997. 29 March 1997 Rugby Lions 16 – 45 London Scottish Webb Ellis Road Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996. 29 March 1997 Wakefield 13 – 42 Moseley College Grove Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996. Round 13 (rescheduled game) 31 March 1997 London Scottish 34 – 3 Wakefield Athletic Ground Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997. Round 19 5 April 1997 Bedford 34 – 28 https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-popplewell-s-punch-sullies-thriller-1265709.html Rugby Union: Popplewell's punch sullies thriller Independent 7 April 1997 Newcastle Goldington Road 6,500Attendance figures for Bedford v Newcastle on 5 April vary. The match report by the Independent gave a crowd figure of 6,500 while other sources had the figure as high as 7,500. S Lander 5 April 1997 Coventry 21 – 15 Rotherham Coundon Road 5 April 1997 Moseley 44 – 16 London Scottish The Reddings 5 April 1997 Nottingham 13 – 33 Waterloo Ireland Avenue 5 April 1997 Richmond 29 – 24 Blackheath Athletic Ground 5 April 1997 Wakefield 53 – 12 Rugby Lions College Grove Round 20 12 April 1997 London Scottish 25 – 3 Rotherham Athletic Ground 12 April 1997 Moseley 40 – 34 Bedford The Reddings 12 April 1997 Newcastle 49 – 17 Coventry Kingston Park 12 April 1997 Rugby Lions 24 – 32 Blackheath Webb Ellis Road 12 April 1997 Wakefield 31 – 16 Nottingham College Grove 12 April 1997 Waterloo 29 – 58 Richmond St Anthony's Road Round 15 (rescheduled game) 16 April 1997 Blackheath 10 – 72 Newcastle Rectory Field Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997. Round 21 19 April 1997 Bedford 14 – 28 London Scottish Goldington Road 19 April 1997 Blackheath 27 – 48 Waterloo Rectory Field 19 April 1997 Coventry 33 – 18 Moseley Coundon Road 19 April 1997 Nottingham 44 – 10 Rugby Lions Ireland Avenue 19 April 1997 Richmond 55 – 22 Wakefield Athletic Ground 19 April 1997 Rotherham 21 – 45 Newcastle Clifton Lane Round 22 26 April 1997 Coventry 30 – 10 Bedford Coundon Road 26 April 1997 Moseley 48 – 17 Rotherham The Reddings 26 April 1997 Newcastle 71 – 20 London Scottish Kingston Park 26 April 1997 Richmond 34 – 0 Nottingham Athletic Ground 26 April 1997 Wakefield 14 – 11 Blackheath College Grove 26 April 1997 Waterloo 45 – 12 Rugby Lions St Anthony's Road Round 12 (rescheduled game) 30 April 1997 Waterloo 24 – 66 Newcastle St Anthony's Road Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996. Rounds 10, 12 & 14 (rescheduled games) 3 May 1997 Wakefield 37 – 18 Coventry College Grove Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997. 3 May 1997 Waterloo 23 – 17 London Scottish St Anthony's Road Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997. 4 May 1997 Newcastle 61 – 13 Rotherham Kingston Park Game rescheduled from 9 November 1996. Promotion play–offs For the first time play–offs took place between the third and fourth placed teams in Division Two and the ninth and tenth placed teams in Division One. The play–offs followed a 4th v 9th, 3rd v 10th system - with the games being played over two legs and the second-tier team playing at home in the first leg. First leg 7 May 1997 Bedford 11 – 20 Bristol Goldington Road 7 May 1997 Coventry 16 – 14 London Irish Coundon Road Second leg 11 May 1997 Bristol 19 – 12 Bedford Memorial Ground Bristol won 39 – 23 on aggregate to retain their place in Division One 11 May 1997 London Irish 28 – 7 Coventry The Avenue London Irish won 42 – 23 on aggregate to retain their place in Division One Individual statistics Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Top points scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Points 1 IRE rugby union Simon Mason Richmond 22 324 2 ENG Rob Andrew Newcastle Falcons 22 297 3 ENG John Steele London Scottish 18 256 4 WAL Mike Rayer Bedford 21 238 5 ENG Jez Harris Coventry 20 236 6 ENG Mike Jackson Wakefield 19 199 7 NZ Richard Le Bas Moseley 14 177 8 ENG Chris Braithwaite Blackheath 14 137 9 ENG Tim Stimpson Newcastle Falcons 21 116 10 ENG John Bentley Newcastle Falcons 18 115 http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/LeadingTopScorers?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Leading points scorers Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 ENG John Bentley Newcastle Falcons 18 23 2 SCO Gary Armstrong Newcastle Falcons 21 21 WAL Scott Quinnell Richmond 21 21 3 ENG Jim Fallon Richmond 21 19 4 ENG Andy Smallwood Coventry 20 17 5 SAM Pat Lam Newcastle Falcons 11 15 IRE rugby union Darragh O'Mahony Moseley 13 15 6 ENG Andy McAdam Coventry 18 14 ENG Tim Stimpson Newcastle Falcons 18 14 7 ENG Ben Whetstone Bedford 18 13 IRE rugby union Guy Easterby Rotherham 21 13 http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/LeadingTryScorers?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Leading try scorers Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 Season records Team Largest home win — 151 pts 156 - 5 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996 Largest away win — 72 pts 87 - 15 Richmond away to Moseley on 5 October 1996 Most points scored — 151 pts 156 - 5 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996 Most tries in a match — 24 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996 Most conversions in a match — 18 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996 Most penalties in a match — 7 Rotherham away to Richmond on 14 September 1996 Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3) Coventry at home to Wakefield on 21 September 1996 London Scottish away to Blackheath on 8 February 1997 Blackheath at home to Nottingham on 22 March 1997 http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/TeamMostTryInMatch?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Most tries in a match (Team) Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/TeamMostConversionsInMatch?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Most conversions in a match (Team) Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/TeamMostPenaltiesInMatch?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Most penalties in a match (Team) Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/TeamMostDropGoalInMatch?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Most drop goals in a match (Team) Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 Player Most points in a match — 42 ENG Jez Harris for Coventry at home to Nottingham on 5 October 1996 Most tries in a match — 5 SAM Pat Lam for Newcastle Falcons at home to Rotherham on 4 May 1997 Most conversions in a match — 18 ENG Rob Andrew for Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996 Most penalties in a match — 7 AUS Matt Inman for Rotherham away to Richmond on 14 September 1996 Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2) ENG Jez Harris for Coventry at home to Wakefield on 21 September 1996 ENG Chris Braithwaite for Blackheath at home to Nottingham on 22 March 1997 http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/MostPointsScorerInMatch?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Most points in a match (Player) Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/MostTryScorerInMatch?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Most tries in a match (Player) Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/MostConversionsScorerInMatch?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Most conversions in a match (Player) Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/MostPenaltiesScorerInMatch?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Most penalties in a match (Player) Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/MostDropGoalScorerInMatch?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Most drop goals in a match (Player) Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 Attendances Note that attendances were very poorly documented this season and aside from a few big games there is almost no information available Highest — 8,000 Coventry at home to Newcastle Falcons on 2 November 1996https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-harris-has-the-drop-on-tough-newcastle-1350637.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-harris-has-the-drop-on-tough-newcastle-1350637.html 2022-05-01 subscription Rugby Union: Harris has the drop on tough Newcastle The Independent 4 November 1996https://thesouthstandchoir.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/falcons-in-division-two-199697/ Falcons in Division Two 1996/97 thesouthstandchoir.wordpress.com 9 August 2012 Lowest — N/A N/A Highest Average Attendance — N/A N/A Lowest Average Attendance — N/A N/A http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/HomeAttendance?comp_id=122 National Two 96/97 Home attendance Rugby Statbunker 11 May 1997 Notes See also 1996–97 National Division 1 1996–97 National Division 3 1996–97 National Division 4 North 1996–97 National Division 4 South References N2 Category:Champ Rugby seasons