2014 County Championship Plate


The 2014 County Championship Plate, also known as Bill Beaumont Cup Division 2, was the 13th version of the annual English rugby union, County Championship organized by the RFU for the tier 2 English counties. Each county drew its players from rugby union clubs from the third tier and below of the English rugby union league system. The counties were divided into two regional pools 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

CountyStadiumCapacityCity/Area
DevonAstley Park1,800Brixham, Devon
Durham CountyBlackwell Meadows3,000Darlington, County Durham
East MidlandsCut Throat LaneN/AWellingborough, Northamptonshire
Eastern CountiesThe Haberden3,000Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
KentPriestfieldsN/ARochester, Kent
SomersetBath Road5,000Bridgwater, Somerset

Group stage

Division 2 North

Round 1

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Round 2

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Round 3

Division 2 South

Round 1

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Round 2

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Round 3

Final

Total season attendances

CountyHome
Games
TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Devon128928928928916%
Durham County12452452452458%
East Midlands1150150150150
Eastern Counties12202202202207%
Kent11,2001,2001,2001,200
Somerset11941941941944%

Individual statistics

Top try scorers