Bishop's Stortford is an English rugby union team based in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. The club runs five senior men's sides, a ladies' team, O2 touch rugby section and the full range of mini and junior teams, from under-6's to under-18's.[1] The first XV were promoted to the third tier of the English rugby union system, National League 1 for the first time in season 2017–18.
| Full name | Bishop's Stortford Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Hertfordshire RFU | |
| Founded | 1921 | |
| Location | Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England | |
| Ground(s) | Silver Leys (Capacity: 1,600) | |
| Chairman | Steve Dunkley | |
| President | Len Lindop | |
| Coach(es) | Tom Coleman | |
| Captain(s) | James Ayrton | |
| League(s) | National League 1 | |
| 2023–24 | 11th | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
History
editBishop's Stortford Rugby Football Club was formed in 1920 and has played at its current location at Silver Leys since 1928. When the league system was introduced in 1987 the club was placed in the London 3 tier and won promotion to London 2 North. It took fifteen attempts to win promotion to London 1 in 2003. The club earned promotion to National League 2 South in April 2013.[1] Four years later they gained another promotion, winning the National League 2 South on 22 April 2017, after beating Exmouth 60–7 away.[2] On 30 April 2017, the club recorded its highest attendance, with 1,664 for the final league match of the season against Barnes.[3]
Current standings
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rams | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 270 | 130 | +140 | 6 | 0 | 38 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Richmond | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 300 | 164 | +136 | 6 | 0 | 36 | |
| 3 | Rotherham Titans | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 284 | 189 | +95 | 5 | 1 | 30 | |
| 4 | Rosslyn Park | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 297 | 186 | +111 | 5 | 1 | 26 | |
| 5 | Blackheath | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 253 | 185 | +68 | 5 | 1 | 26 | |
| 6 | Sale FC | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 186 | 213 | −27 | 4 | 1 | 25 | |
| 7 | Birmingham Moseley | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 193 | 169 | +24 | 4 | 0 | 24 | |
| 8 | Plymouth Albion | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 225 | 216 | +9 | 6 | 2 | 24 | |
| 9 | Dings Crusaders | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 242 | 281 | −39 | 5 | 0 | 19 | |
| 10 | Bishop's Stortford | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 189 | 217 | −28 | 4 | 1 | 17 | |
| 11 | Sedgley Park | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 220 | 214 | +6 | 3 | 3 | 14 | |
| 12 | Leicester Lions | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 152 | 286 | −134 | 3 | 1 | 8 | Relegation place |
| 13 | Esher | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 190 | 356 | −166 | 4 | 0 | 8 | |
| 14 | Darlington Mowden Park | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 140 | 335 | −195 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Rules for classification: 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
Honours & club records
edit1st team:
- Hertfordshire 7's winners (6): 1965, 1972, 1986, 1994, 1997, 1998
- Hertfordshire Presidents' Cup winners (4): 1972, 1979, 1996, 2009
- London 3 North West champions: 1987–88
- London Division 2 North champions: 2002–03
- National League 3 London & SE champions: 2012–13
- National League 2 South champions: 2016–17
2nd team (Blues):
- Hertfordshire Presidents' Cup winners (4): 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018
Colts
- Hertfordshire Colts Cup winners (12): 1991, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014
- National Colts Cup winners (2): 2006, 2013
- National Colts Plate winners: 2011
Club records
- Highest attendance: 1,664 v Barnes on 29 April 2017 in National League 2 South[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c Club website history page
- ^ "Bishop's Stortford Rugby Club are promoted after Exmouth victory". Hertfordshire Mercury. 22 April 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Bishop's Stortford First XV 28 Barnes 21". Bishop's Stortford RFC (Pitchero). 29 April 2017.
- ^ "National League 1". NCA Rugby.