North 1 West

North 1 West is a rugby union league at the sixth level within the English league system. The league is made up of teams from north west England and the Isle of Man; principally consisting of the English counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. The league was known as North Division 2 when it was first created back in 1987 and was a single division. It has since split into two regional leagues, with North West 1 and its compatriot North 1 East being the longest running versions of the division.

North 1 West
Current season or competition:
2019–20 North 1 West
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987)
Number of teams14
Country England,  Isle of Man
HoldersBurnage (1st title) (2019–20)
(promoted to North Premier)
Most titlesAltrincham Kersal, Birkenhead Park, Vale of Lune (2 titles)
WebsiteEngland RFU

Promotion and relegation determine the makeup of the league each season, with the top team automatically moving into North Premier and the second-placed team entering into a play-off match with the second-placed team in North 1 East. Occasionally, depending on promotion and relegation, teams from either North 1 East and North 1 West may be required to compete in the opposite league to ensure that the number of teams in the east and west leagues remains at 14 teams each. Teams dropping from the league go into North 2 West.

Teams 2021–22

The teams competing in 2021-22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019–20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020–21.

2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [1] that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning North 1 West was not contested.

Teams 2019–20

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this was a single division containing the following teams from the north of England:

North 1 West honours

North Division 2 (1987–1993)

The original North Division 2 was a tier 6 league with promotion up to North Division 1 and relegation down to either North East 1 or North West 1.

North Division 2
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams
1987–8811AspatriaHalifaxWilmslow, Manchester
1988–89[3]11Bradford & BingleyMiddlesbroughDavenport
1989–90[3]11RotherhamWidnesNo relegation
1990–91[3]11StocktonSandalNew Brighton
1991–92[3]11WharfedaleLymmNo relegation
1992–9313ManchesterHuddersfieldSandbach
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

North Division 2 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season, meant that North Division 2 dropped from being a tier 6 league to a tier 7 league for the years that National 5 North was active.

North Division 2
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams
1993–9413YorkWest Park BramhopeCarlise, Wigan, Lymm
1994–9513Macclesfield BridlingtonNorthwich
1995–9613New BrightonSedgley ParkBirkenhead Park, West Park St Helens, Old Crossleyeans, Hartlepool Rovers[lower-alpha 2]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

North Division 2 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 North at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that North Division 2 reverted to being a tier 6 league.

North Division 2 honours
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams
1996–9712DoncasterMiddlesbroughDurham City
1997–9812NorthernBlaydonHalifax
1998–99[4]12Bradford & BingleyDriffieldYork, Percy Park
1999–00[5]12Darlington Mowden ParkChesterNo relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

North 2 West

For the 2000–01 season, North Division 2 was split into two regional divisions - North 2 East and North 2 West. While promotion continued up into North Division 1, the cancellation of the North West 1, North West 2 and North West 3 meant that relegation was to either North Lancashire/Cumbria or South Lancs/Cheshire 1.

North 2 West
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams
2000–01[6]12West Park St HelensAldwiniansWidnes, Penrith, Blackburn
2001–02[7]12Birkenhead ParkVale of LuneCaldy, Workington, Warrington
2002–03[8]12Vale of LuneRochdaleWilmslow, Aldwinians
2003–04[9]12Altrincham KersalCaldyBroughton Park, Rochdale, Wigton
2004–05[10]12CaldyStockportBlackburn, Aspull, Oldham
2005–06[11]12StockportWinnington ParkWidnes, Rossendale, Fleetwood
2006–07[12]12Liverpool St HelensLymmStoke-on-Trent, Wilmslow, Bowdon
2007–08[13]12ChesterStockportTyldesley, Winnington Park, Vale of Lune
2008–09[14]12RochdaleRossendaleNo relegation due to league restructure[lower-alpha 3]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

North 1 West

For the 2009–10 season the division would be renamed North 1 West as part of wholesale national restructure of the league system by the RFU leading to mass changes at all levels including in the north.

North 1 West
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams
2009–10[15]14LymmNorthwichAspatria, Blackburn, Tyldesley
2010–11[16]14Altrincham KersalBurnageWest Park St Helens, Kirkby Lonsdale, New Brighton
2011–12[17]14SandbachLiverpool St HelensAspatria, Broughton Park, Wigton
2012–13[18]14Sale FCLiverpool St HelensFleetwood, Manchester, Anselmians
2013–14[19]14WirralBirkenhead ParkAltrincham Kersal, Leigh, Liverpool St Helens
2014–15[20]14Birkenhead ParkKirkby LonsdaleWigton, New Brighton, Bolton
2015–16[21]14KendalKirkby LonsdaleBroughton Park, Widnes, Carlisle
2016–17[22]14Kirkby LonsdaleBirkenhead ParkEccles, Leigh, West Park St Helens
2017–18[23]13[lower-alpha 4]Vale of LuneWilmslowRochdale, Altrincham Kersal[lower-alpha 5]
2018–19[25]14CarlisleBlackburnDe La Salle, Anselmians, Manchester
2019–20[26]14BurnageNorthwichWarrington, Keswick
2020–2114
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of North 1 East and North 1 West for the third and final promotion place to North Premier. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the North 1 East have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the North 1 West teams six; and the home team has won promotion on fifteen occasions compared to the away teams five.

North 1 East v North 1 West promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[27]Darlington (E)49-0Aldwinians (W)Blackwell Meadowns, Darlington, County Durham
2001–02[28]Huddersfield (E)26-10Vale of Lune (W)Lockwood Park, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
2002–03[29]Sheffield (E)32-15Rochdale (W)Abbeydale Park, Dore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
2003–04[30]Middlesbrough (E)21-13Caldy (W)Acklam Park, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
2004–05[31]Huddersfield (E)22-13Stockport (W)Lockwood Park, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
2005–06[32]Beverley (E)21-16Winnington Park (W)Beaver Park, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire
2006–07[33]Sheffield Tigers (E)50-10Lymm (W)Dore Moor, Dore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
2007–08[34]Durham City (E)13-18Stockport (W)Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham
2008–09[35]Old Crossleyans (E)25-31Rossendale (W)Broomfield Avenue, Halifax, West Yorkshire
2009–10[36]Sandal (E)30-22Northwich (W)Milnthorpe Green, Sandal Magna, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
2010–11[37]Percy Park (E)26-27Burnage (W)Preston Avenue, North Shields, Tyne and Wear
2011–12[38]Percy Park (E)18-12Liverpool St Helens (W)Preston Avenue, North Shields, Tyne and Wear500
2012–13[39]Liverpool St Helens (W)17-28Morley (E)Moss Lane, St Helens, Merseyside
2013–14[40]Birkenhead Park (W)19-29Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. (E)Upper Park, Birkenhead, Merseyside
2014–15[41]Kirkby Lonsdale (W)29-35Sheffield (E)Underley Park, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria1,000
2015–16[42]Kirkby Lonsdale (W)33-38 (aet)Morley (E)Underley Park, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria
2016–17[43]Birkenhead Park (W)29-21Penrith (E)Upper Park, Birkenhead, Merseyside
2017–18[44]Driffield (E)21-24Wilmslow (W)Show Ground, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire
2018–19[45]Blackburn (W)17-7Scarborough (E)Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn, Lancashire
2019–20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Northwich (W) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. E = North 1 East (formerly North 2 East) and W = North 1 West (formerly North 2 West)

Number of league titles

See also

Notes
  1. Davenport would be renamed as Stockport RUFC in 1992.[2]
  2. The introduction of a number of new leagues in the north for the 1996–97 season meant that more teams than normal were relegated between leagues to populate the new divisions.
  3. The division would be renamed North Division 1 West for the next season and along with the whole national restructure of the league system by the RFU lead to mass changes at all levels.
  4. The division started with 14 teams but St Benedicts decided to quit the league in April 2018 due to fixture buildup and issues with their home pitch. They would automatically be relegated.[24]
  5. St Benedicts also relegated due to quitting the league - all league results involving the club were wiped out.[24]
  6. Aspatria's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  7. Bradford & Bingley's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  8. Darlington Mowden Park's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  9. Doncaster's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  10. Manchester's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  11. Manchester's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  12. New Brighton's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  13. Northern's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  14. Rotherham's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  15. Stockton's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  16. Wharfedale's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  17. York's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.

References
  1. "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  2. "History". Stockport RUFC. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  3. "Sheet1 - Wharfedale". Wharfedale RUFC. Wharfedale RUFC. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  4. "1998-99 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  5. "1999-00 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. "2000–2001 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  7. "2001–2002 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  8. "2002–2003 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  9. "2003–2004 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  10. "2004–2005 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  11. "2006–2007 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  12. "2006–2007 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  13. "2007–2008 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  14. "2008–2009 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  15. "2009–2010 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  16. "2010–2011 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  17. "2011–2012 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  18. "2012–2013 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  19. "2013–2014 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  20. "2014–2015 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  21. "2015–2016 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  22. "2016–2017 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  23. "2017-18 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  24. "Northwich's rivals lose points after St Benedicts drop out". York Press. 1 April 2018.
  25. "2018-19 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  26. "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  27. "2000-01 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  28. "2001-02 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 18 May 2002.
  29. "2002-03 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
  30. "2003-04 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  31. "2004-05 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 30 April 2006.
  32. "2005-06 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  33. "2006-07 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  34. "2007-08 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  35. "2008-09 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  36. "2009-10 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 1 May 2010.
  37. "2010-11 North Playoffs". England Ruby. 23 April 2011.
  38. "Percy Park 18 Liverpool St Helens 12". St Helens Star. 3 May 2012.
  39. "2012-13 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 27 April 2013.
  40. "2013-14 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2014.
  41. "Kirkby defeated as Sheffield step it up at end of hard game". The Westmorland Gazette. 1 May 2015.
  42. "Rugby Union: Morley edge thriller to earn promotion". Morley Observer & Advertiser. 30 April 2016.
  43. "Birkenhead Park promoted back to National League Three after 'winner-take-all' clash with Penrith". Wirral Globe. 30 April 2017.
  44. "Escapologists Never Say Die". Wimslow RUFC (Pitchero). 12 May 2018.
  45. "Scarborough RUFC battle hard but edged out in play-off at Blackburn". The Scarborough News. 27 April 2019.
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