Both Northumberland and North Midlands would make an instant return to the 2014 Bill Beaumont Cup as they won their respective pools, with North Midlands having a more difficult time of it as they were run close by Somerset. In the final at Twickenham, Northumberland proved to be a class apart, scoring six tries as they beat North Midlands 45–10 to claim their 4th title in the plate competition.
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 26 May 2013.
Participating Counties and ground locations
Locations of the 2013 County Championship Plate county teams
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: 18 May 2013 Source: . englandrugby.com.
Round 1
4 May 2013 15:00
East Midlands
14 - 34
Northumberland (BP)
Greens Norton Road, Towcester Attendance: 360 Referee: Andrew Rawson
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 South of the Bill Beaumont Cup for the following season. Updated: 18 May 2013 Source: . englandrugby.com.
Round 1
4 May 2013
(BP) North Midlands
50 - 34
Devon (BP)
Stourton Park, Stourbridge Attendance: 143 Referee: Daniel Parott
Round 2
11 May 2013
Devon
11 - 30
Somerset (BP)
Coronation Park, Tiverton Attendance: 204 Referee: Phil Watters
Round 3
18 May 2013
(2BP) Somerset
36 - 40
North Midlands (BP)
Bath Road, Bridgwater Attendance: 230 Referee: Tom Davis
Final
26 May 2013 9:30
Northumberland
45 - 10
North Midlands
Twickenham Stadium, London Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Total season attendances
Does not include final at Twickenham which is a neutral venue and involves teams from all three county divisions on the same day
County
Home Games
Total
Average
Highest
Lowest
% Capacity
Devon
1
204
204
204
204
29%
East Midlands
1
360
360
360
360
Eastern Counties
1
194
194
194
194
9%
North Midlands
1
143
143
143
143
4%
Northumberland
1
140
140
140
140
12%
Somerset
1
230
230
230
230
5%
Individual statistics
Note if players are tied on tries or points the player with the lowest number of appearances will come 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 will also include final.
