Bedford, the champions, were promoted to the Allied Dunbar Premiership for season 1998–99, along with runner-up West Hartlepool. From next season, the top two divisions would consist of fourteen teams, an increase of two per division. The bottom two teams in the top tier played the third and fourth teams in Premiership Two for the final two places in the top division. Third place London Scottish won promotion by beating Bristol in a two legged play-off, while fourth placed Rotherham lost to London Irish. There was no relegation to Jewson National League 1 because of the increase in teams in the top two divisions.[2]
Source: moseleyrugby.co.uk at the Wayback Machine (archived 2016-03-08) Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows: two points for a win; one point for a draw; no points for a loss.
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: (1) difference between points for and against; (2) total number of points for.
There was no relegation this season. (C) Champions Notes:
^Two points deducted for fielding three overseas players
77 – 3 Bedford at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997
Largest away win — 60 pts
67 – 7 Bedford away to Fylde on 27 December 1997
Most points scored — 151 pts
77 – 3 Bedford at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997
Most tries in a match — 11
Bedford Blues at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997
Most conversions in a match — 8 (x3)
Bedford at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997
Bedford away to Fylde on 27 December 1997
West Hartlepool at home to Fylde on 14 February 1998
Most penalties in a match — 6 (x9)
N/A - multiple teams
Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x4)
Exeter at home to Bedford on 13 September 1997
Moseley at home to Orrell on 25 October 1997
Coventry at home to West Hartlepool on 31 January 1998
Wakefield at home to Rotherham on 28 March 1998
[5][6][7][8]
Mike Rayer for Bedford at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997
Most tries in a match — 4 (x3)
John Clarke for Blackheath at home to Fylde on 20 September 1997 Jason Forster for Bedford at home to Fylde on 17 January 1998 Ben Wade for Rotherham at home to Exeter on 25 April 1998
Most conversions in a match — 8 (x3)
Mike Rayer for Bedford at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997 Mike Rayer for Bedford away to Fylde on 27 December 1997 Steven Vile for West Hartlepool at home to Fylde on 14 February 1998
England
Mike Rayer
Darragh O'Mahony
