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The 2014 County Championship Plate, also known as Bill Beaumont Cup Division 2, was the 13th version of the annual Englishrugby union, County Championship organized by the RFU for the tier 2English counties. Each county drew its players from rugby union clubs from the third tier and below of the English rugby union league system (typically National League 1, National League 2 South or National League 2 North). The counties were divided into two regional pools (north/south) with three teams in the north division and three in the south, with the winners of each pool meeting in the final held at Twickenham Stadium. New teams to the division included Durham County and Kent who were relegated from the 2013 Bill Beaumont Cup.
By the end of the group stage, both Durham County and Kent, relegated the previous season, made an instant return to the first division by winning their respective groups with relative ease. At the final at Twickenham, Kent were comfortable winners, defeating Durham County 31-23 to claim their first title at Twickenham for 28 years.
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 1 June 2014.
Participating counties and ground locations
Locations of the 2014 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: 24 May 2014 Source: . englandrugby.com.
Round 1
10 May 2014 15:00
(BP) East Midlands
27 - 26
Eastern Counties (2BP)
Cut Throat Lane, Wellingborough Attendance: 150 Referee: Michael Harris
Round 2
17 May 2014 14:15
Eastern Counties
13 - 37
Durham County (BP)
The Haberden, Bury St Edmunds Attendance: 220 Referee: Simon Dodds
Round 3
24 May 2014 15:00
Durham County
24 - 8
East Midlands
Blackwell Meadows, Darlington Attendance: 245 Referee: Steven Bennett
Division 2 South
County
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Points For
Points Against
Points Difference
Try Bonus
Losing Bonus
Points
2014 County Championship Plate Division 2 South Table
2014 County Championship Plate Division 2 South Table
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: 24 May 2014 Source: . englandrugby.com.
Round 1
10 May 2014 14:30
Somerset
20 - 15
Devon (BP)
Bath Road, Bridgwater Attendance: 194 Referee: Luis Caviglia
Round 2
17 May 2014 14:30
Devon
17 - 34
Kent (BP)
Astley Park, Brixham Attendance: 289 Referee: Guy Steel-Bodger
Round 3
24 May 2014
Kent
28 - 9
Somerset
Priestfields, Rochester Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Callum Howard
Final
1 June 2014 10:00
Durham County
23 - 31
Kent
Twickenham Stadium, London
Total season attendances
Does not include final at Twickenham which was a neutral venue and involved teams from all three county divisions on the same day
County
Home Games
Total
Average
Highest
Lowest
% Capacity
Devon
1
289
289
289
289
16%
Durham County
1
245
245
245
245
8%
East Midlands
1
150
150
150
150
Eastern Counties
1
220
220
220
220
7%
Kent
1
1,200
1,200
1,200
1,200
Somerset
1
194
194
194
194
4%
Individual statistics
Note if players are tied on tries or points the player with the lowest number of appearances comes 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 also include final.
