1987–88 John Player Cup
The 1987–88 John Player Special Cup was the 17th edition of England's premier rugby union cup competition. Harlequins won the competition, for the first time, defeating Bristol in the final at Twickenham Stadium.[1] The competition was sponsored by John Player cigarettes.[2]
| 1987–88 John Player Special Cup | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  England |
| Champions | Harlequins |
| Runners-up | Bristol |
| Highest attendance | 37,000 Harlequins v Bristol at Twickenham |
First round
| Home | Away | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Askeans | London Irish | 10-12 |
| Bedford | Barkers Butts | 35-4 |
| Berry Hill | Salisbury | 12-0 |
| Devonport Services | Maidenhead | 11-12 |
| Dixonians | Droitwich | 21-6 |
| Ealing | Southend | 10-9 |
| Gordon League | Chiltern | 44-7 |
| Fylde | Hartlepool Rovers | 30-9 |
| Leighton Buzzard | Derby | 10-7 |
| Letchworth | Blackheath | 0-26 |
| Lewes | Havant | 15-13 |
| Lichfield | Vipers | 31-3 |
| London Scottish | Sudbury | 9-3 |
| Nuneaton | Aspatria | 4-43 |
| Old Alleynians | Maidstone | 12-0 |
| Oxford | Camborne | 14-0 |
| Redruth | Old Culverhaysians | 26-9 |
| Tynedale | Vale of Lune | 16-15 |
| Wakefield | Morley | 22-0 |
| Widnes | Birkenhead Park | 4-3 |
Second round
| Home | Away | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Berry Hill | Lewe | 35-9 |
| Dixonians | Asptatria | 3-53 |
| Gordon League | Oxford | 18-16 |
| Leighton Buzzard | Bedford | 6-24 |
| Lichfield | Widnes | 31-3 |
| London Irish | Ealing | 13-10 |
| Maidenhead | Old Alleynians | 13-3 |
| Redruth | Blackheath | 9-13 |
| Tynedale | London Scottish | 11-9 |
| Wakefield | Fylde | 24-21 |
Third round
| Home | Away | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Aspatria | Wasps | 6-13 |
| Bedford | Bristol | 4-21 |
| Coventry | Tynedale | 7-6 |
| Gloucester | Orrell | 19-9 |
| Gordon League | Headingley | 10-0 |
| Harlequins | Maidenhead | 40-0 |
| Lichfield | Bath | 3-43 |
| London Irish | Sale | 3-16 |
| London Welsh | Berry Hill | 10-13 |
| Plymouth Albion | Northampton | 14-7 |
| Richmond | Liverpool St Helens | 10-6 |
| Rosslyn Park | Leicester | 0-15 |
| Ruislip | Gosforth | 10-13 |
| Saracens | Blackheath | 15-3 |
| Waterloo | Nottingham | 19-6 |
| Wakefield | Moseley | 4-14 |
Fourth round
| Home | Away | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Berry Hill | Harlequins | 4-17 |
| Bristol | Richmond | 34-0 |
| Coventry | Sale | 0-13 |
| Gloucester | Wasps | 13-24 |
| Gordon League | Waterloo | 9-11 |
| Leicester | Bath | 6-13 |
| Moseley | Gosforth | 33-9 |
| Plymouth Albion | Saracens | 14-6 |
Quarter-finals
| Home | Away | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Albion | Wasps | 4-26 |
| Harlequins | Waterloo | 37-4 |
| Moseley | Bath | 4-3 |
| Sale | Bristol | 15-19 |
Final
| 30 April 1988 |
| Harlequins | 28–22 | Bristol |
Try: Carling 2  Harriman Con: Thresher Salmon Pen: Thresher Salmon 3 | Try: Duggan Penalty Try Con: Webb Pen: Webb 3 Drop: Knibbs |
| Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 37,000 (record for competition) Referee: Fred Howard (Liverpool) |
        Harlequins
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    Bristol
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Records
- The attendance for the final of 37,000 was highest in the competition's history
- Bath's unbeaten sequence of 22 matches ended when Moseley beat them in a quarter-final at The Reddings
Sponsorship
The competition was sponsored, for the last time, by John Player and the prize money was £125,000 (an increase of £15,000). Both finalists received £3,750 each and in thirteen years of sponsorship over £1 million has been provided.[1]
References
- Austin, Michael (1988). Jones, Stephen (ed.). John Player Special Cup 1987–88. In Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89 (17th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 117–122.
- "Times Archives". Oxfordshire Libraries.
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