Southern Counties North
Introduction '''Counties 1 Southern North''' (formerly known as '''Southern Counties North''') is a division at level 7 of the English rugby union system. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was known as Southern Counties but since 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues – Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern North currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and features teams based in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The league champions at the end of each season are automatically promoted to Regional 2 South Central. Relegated teams usually drop to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South.
Format  The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league table as follows:*    4 points are awarded for a win*    2 points are awarded for a draw*    0 points are awarded for a loss, however*    1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer*    1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match
Current season TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Beaconsfield  Oak Lodge Meadow   Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire  Relegated from Regional 2 Thames  Bicester  Oxford Road   Bicester, Oxfordshire  4th Bletchley  Manor Fields   Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire  7th Bracknell II  Lily Hill Park    Bracknell, Berkshire  5th Buckingham  Floyd Field   Maids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire  Relegated from Regional 2 South Central (12th) Chinnor III  Kingsey Road  2,000  Thame, Oxfordshire  1st Grove  Cane Lane   Grove, Oxfordshire  Relegated from Regional 2 South Central (11th) Milton Keynes  Emerson Valley   Shenley Brook End, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire  6th Oxford Harlequins II  Oxford Road     Horspath, Oxfordshire  Promoted from Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon North (1st) Rams III  Old Bath Road  1,250  Sonning, Reading, Berkshire  Promoted from Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon South (1st) Wallingford  Wallingford Sports Park   Wallingford, Oxfordshire  3rd Windsor  Home Park   Windsor, Berkshire  Relegated from Regional 2 Thames
2022–23 ===League table==='''Counties 1 Southern North 2022–23''' TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPointsPoints deducted 1  '''Chinnor III'''  22  19  2  1  852  219  633  16  0  '''98'''  2  Marlow  22  18  1  3  755  301  454  16  2  '''92'''  3  Wallingford  22  16  1  5  495  246  249  10  3  '''80'''  4  Bicester  22  15  1  6  699  370  329  10  2  '''74'''  5  Bracknell II  22  12  1  9  697  384  313  12  6  '''68'''  6  Milton Keynes  22  12  0  10  462  486  −24  9  0  '''58'''  7  Bletchley  22  7  0  15  352  563  −211  7  3  ''39'''  8  Gosford All Blacks  22  8  0  14  385  586  −201  5  5  '''38'''  −5 9  Reading Abbey  21  6  0  15  263  599  −336  4  3  '''32'''  10  High Wycombe  22  7  0  15  365  629  −264  5  1  '''29'''  −5 11  Swindon College Old Boys ('''R''')  21  5  0  16  382  770  −388  5  0  '''25'''  12  Thatcham ('''R''')  22  3  0  19  212  766  −554  1  2  '''5'''  −20*If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:# Number of matches won# Number of draws# 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 is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places. '''Updated: 18 April 2023''' Source:
2021–22 TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Aylesbury  Ostler's Field   Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire  6th Bicester  Oxford Road   Bicester, Oxfordshire  7th Gosford All Blacks  Stratfield Brake   Kidlington, Oxfordshire  Promoted from BBO Premier (champions) High Wycombe  Kingsmead Road   High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire  5th Marlow  Riverwoods Drive   Marlow, Buckinghamshire  4th Milton Keynes  Emerson Valley   Shenley Brook End, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire  Promoted from BBO Premier (runners-up) Reading  Holme Park   Sonning, Reading, Berkshire  2nd Reading Abbey  Rosehill   Reading, Berkshire  10th Shipston-on-Stour  Mayo Road  600  Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire  3rd Stow-on-the-Wold  Oddington Road   Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire  8th Thatcham  Henwicky Worthy Sports Field   Thatcham, Berkshire  Level transfer from  Southern Counties South (11th) Wallingford  Wallingford Sports Park   Wallingford, Oxfordshire 9th
2020–21 Due to the coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.
2019–20 TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Aylesbury  Ostler's Field   Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire  5th Bicester  Oxford Road   Bicester, Oxfordshire  4th Chesham  Chiltern Hills Academy   Chesham, Buckinghamshire  Promoted from BBO Premier (champions) Didcot  Boundary Park   Didcot, Oxfordshire  Promoted from BBO Premier (runners up) High Wycombe  Kingsmead Road   High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire  9th Marlow  Riverwoods Drive   Marlow, Buckinghamshire  3rd Reading  Holme Park   Sonning, Reading, Berkshire  8th Reading Abbey  Rosehill   Reading, Berkshire  7th Shipston-on-Stour  Mayo Road  600  Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire  Promoted from Midlands 3 WS (runners up - level transfer) Stow-on-the-Wold  Oddington Road   Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire  10th Wallingford  Wallingford Sports Park   Wallingford, Oxfordshire  6th Witney  Witney Road   Hailey, Witney, Oxfordshire  Relegated from South West 1 East (12th)
2018–19 TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Aylesbury  Ostler's Field   Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire  4th Bicester  Oxford Road   Bicester, Oxfordshire  Relegated from South West 1 East (14th) Buckingham  Floyd Field   Maids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire  3rd Littlemore  Oxford Academy   Littlemore, Oxford, Oxfordshire  Promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (runners up) High Wycombe  Kingsmead Road   High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire  9th Marlow  Riverwoods Drive   Marlow, Buckinghamshire  Relegated from South West 1 East (12th) Reading  Holme Park   Sonning, Reading, Berkshire  7th Reading Abbey  Rosehill   Reading, Berkshire  8th Slough  Tamblyn Fields   Slough, Berkshire  Promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (champions) Stow-on-the-Wold  Oddington Road   Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire  10th Wallingford  Wallingford Sports Park   Wallingford, Oxfordshire  6th Windsor  Home Park   Windsor, Berkshire  Runners up (lost playoff)
2017–18 TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Aylesbury  Ostler's Field   Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire  3rd Beaconsfield  Oak Lodge Meadow   Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire  7th Buckingham  Floyd Field   Maids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire  4th Drifters  Farnham Common Sports Club   Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire  Promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (runners up) Gosford All Blacks  Stratfield Brake   Kidlington, Oxfordshire  10th High Wycombe  Kingsmead Road   High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire  8th Reading  Holme Park   Sonning, Reading, Berkshire  Relegated from South West 1 East (14th) Reading Abbey  Rosehill   Reading, Berkshire  Relegated from South West 1 East (13th) Stow-on-the-Wold  Oddington Road   Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire  9th Thatcham  Henwicky Worthy Sports Field   Thatcham, Berkshire  5th Wallingford  Wallingford Sports Park   Wallingford, Oxfordshire  6th Windsor  Home Park   Windsor, Berkshire  Relegated from South West 1 East (12th)
2016–17 TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Aylesbury  Ostler's Field   Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire  2nd (lost playoff) Beaconsfield  Oak Lodge Meadow   Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire  6th Bicester  Oxford Road   Bicester, Oxfordshire  4th Bletchley  Manor Fields   Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire  8th Buckingham  Floyd Field   Maids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire  3rd Gosford All Blacks  Stratfield Brake   Kidlington, Oxfordshire  Promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (champions) High Wycombe  Kingsmead Road   High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire  Relegated from South West 1 East (12th) Marlow  Riverwoods Drive   Marlow, Buckinghamshire  7th Milton Keynes  Emerson Valley   Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire   Promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (runners up) Stow-on-the-Wold  Oddington Road   Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire  9th Thatcham  Henwicky Worthy Sports Field   Thatcham, Berkshire  10th Wallingford  Wallingford Sports Park   Wallingford, Oxfordshire  5th
2015–16 The 2015–16 Southern Counties North consisted of twelve teams; six from Buckinghamshire, two each from Berkshire and Oxfordshire, and one each from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The season started on 12 September 2015 and the last league matches were played on 23 April 2016.Seven of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions High Wycombe were promoted to the South West 1 East while Milton Keynes and Alchester were relegated to the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier. Royal Wootton Bassett, who finished 4th, were level transferred to Southern Counties South.TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Aylesbury  Ostler's Field   Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire  2nd (lost promotion play-off) Beaconsfield  Oak Lodge Meadow   Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire  8th Bicester  Oxford Road   Bicester, Oxfordshire  5th Bletchley  Manor Fields   Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire  relegated from South West 1 East (14th) Buckingham  Floyd Field   Maids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire  relegated from South West 1 East (13th) Drifters  Farnham Common Sports Club   Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire  9th Marlow  Riverwoods Drive   Marlow, Buckinghamshire  7th Reading Abbey  Rosehill   Reading, Berkshire  promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (champions) Stow-on-the-Wold  Oddington Road   Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire  4th Swindon College Old Boys  Nationwide Sports Pavilion   Swindon, Wiltshire  promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (runner-up) Thatcham  Henwicky Worthy Sports Field   Thatcham, Berkshire  6th Wallingford  Wallingford Sports Park   Wallingford, Oxfordshire  10th
2014–15 *Alchester*Aylesbury*Beaconsfield*Bicester '''(promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier)'''*Drifters*High Wycombe*Marlow '''(relegated from South West 1 East)'''*Milton Keynes*Royal Wootton Bassett*Stow-on-the-Wold*Thatcham*Wallingford
2013–14 *Alchester*Aylesbury*Bletchley*Drifters*High Wycombe*Milton Keynes*Reading Abbey*Royal Wootton Bassett*Stow-on-the-Wold*Swindon College Old Boys*Thatcham*Wallingford
2012–13 *Alchester*Aylesbury*Buckingham*Drifters*Grove*Milton Keynes*Olney*Reading Abbey*Slough*Tadley*Thatcham*Wallingford
Original teams When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Southern Counties) contained the following teams:*Aylesbury*Banbury*Bletchley*Bracknell *Marlow*Oxford Marathon*Oxford Old Boys*Redingensians*Swindon*Wimborne*Windsor
Counties 1 Southern North honours ===Southern Counties (1987–1993)===Originally the Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South leagues were combined in a single division called Southern Counties. It was a tier 7 league with promotion to South West 2 and relegation to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 or Bucks/Oxon 1. '''Southern Counties'''SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsRef 1987–88  11  '''Redingensians'''  Swindon  Bracknell   1988–89  11  '''Banbury'''  Aylesbury  Oxford Marathon   1989–90  11  '''Marlow'''  Swanage & Wareham  Oxford Old Boys   1990–91  11  '''Sherborne'''  Windsor  Swindon, Chiltern, Slough, Bracknell    1991–92  11  '''Banbury'''  Aylesbury  No relegation   1992–93  13  '''Swanage & Wareham'''  Dorchester  Grove    Green backgrounds are promotion places.===Southern Counties (1993–1996)===At the end of the 1992–93 season the top six teams from London Division 1 and the top six from South West Division 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that Southern Counties dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to South West 2 and relegation to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 or Bucks/Oxon 1. '''Southern Counties North'''SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsRef 1993–94  13  '''Bournemouth'''  Bracknell  Royal Wootton Bassett, Redingensians      1994–95  13  '''Dorchester'''  Bracknell  Slough, Oxford Marathon   1995–96  13  '''Amersham & Chiltern'''  Bracknell  No relegation   Green backgrounds are promotion places.===Southern Counties North (1996–2000)===Restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Southern Counties split into two separate leagues, Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. They reverted to tier 7 leagues due to the cancellation of National 5 South. Promotion from Southern Counties North was now to the new South West 2 East while relegation was now only to Bucks/Oxon 1. '''Southern Counties North'''SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsRef 1996–97  10  '''Stow-on-the-Wold'''  Bicester  Grove   1997–98  10  '''Slough'''  Olney  Milton Keynes, Witney   1998–99  10  '''Olney'''  Bicester  Farnham Royal   1999–00  10  '''Witney'''  Beaconsfield  Oxford, Wallingford   Green backgrounds are promotion places.===Southern Counties North (2000–2009)===Southern Counties North remained a tier 7 league, with promotion continuing to South West 2 East. However, the transfer of Berkshire clubs from the Dorset/Wilts leagues to the Bucks/Oxon leagues, meant that relegation was now to new Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 (formerly Bucks/Oxon 1). '''Southern Counties North'''SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsRef 2000–01  11  '''Windsor'''  Grove  Drifters, Bletchley, Phoenix   2001–02  10  '''Oxford Harlequins'''  Grove  Oxford, Milton Keynes, Chipping Norton   2002–03  10  '''High Wycombe'''  Aylesbury  Wallingford, Beaconsfield, Swindon   2003–04  10  '''Aylesbury'''  Amersham & Chiltern  No relegation   2004–05  12  '''High Wycombe'''  Henley Wanderers  Phoenix, Bicester   2005–06  12  '''Redingensians'''  Swindon  Slough, Stow-on-the-Wold, Olney   2006–07  12  '''Bletchley'''  Tadley  Supermarine, Chipping Norton   2007–08  12  '''Olney'''  Wallingford  Newbury Stags, Amersham & Chiltern   2008–09  12  '''Buckingham'''  Marlow  Beaconsfield   Green backgrounds are promotion places.===Southern Counties North (2009–2022)===Despite widespread league restructuring by the RFU, Southern Counties North continued as a tier 7 league, with promotion to South West 1 East (formerly South West 2 East) and relegation to Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier. '''Southern Counties North'''SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsRef 2009–10  12  '''Witney'''  Amersham & Chiltern  Bicester, Slough   2010–11  12  '''Swindon'''  Aylesbury  Chipping Norton, Oxford, Crowthorne   2011–12  12  '''Beaconsfield'''  Milton Keynes  Marlborough   2012–13  12  '''Buckingham'''  Grove  Slough, Tadley   2013–14  12  '''Bletchley'''  Aylesbury  Swindon College Old Boys, Reading Abbey   2014–15  12  '''High Wycombe'''  Aylesbury  Milton Keynes, Alchester   2015–16  12  '''Reading Abbey'''  Aylesbury  Drifters, Swindon College Old Boys   2016–17  12  '''Marlow'''  Bicester  Bletchley, Milton Keynes    2017–18  12  '''Beaconsfield'''  Windsor  Drifters, Gosford All Blacks  2018–19  12  '''Windsor'''  Buckingham  Littlemore, Slough   2019–20  12  '''Witney'''  Reading  Didcot, Chesham   2020–21  12  Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. 2021–22  12  '''Stow-on-the-Wold'''  Reading  No relegation due to league reorganisation  Green backgrounds are promotion places.===Counties 1 Southern North (2022– )===Following the reorganisation of the leagues, Southern Counties North was renamed Counties 1 Southern North and remained a level seven league. The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South Central and the bottom side is relegated, depending on location, to a level eight league; Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South. '''Regional 2 South Central'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated team(s)Ref 2022–23  12  22  '''Chinnor III'''  Marlow  Swindon College Old Boys and Thatcham   Green background is the promotion place.
Promotion play-offs Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South for the third and final promotion place to South West 1 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Southern Counties North teams have been the most successful with twelve wins to the Southern Counties South teams seven; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six. '''Southern Counties North v Southern Counties South promotion play-off results'''SeasonHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendance 2000–01  '''Salisbury''' (S)  49-20  Grove (N)  Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire  2001–02  '''Grove''' (N)  30-13  Oakmeadians (S)  Recreation Lane, Grove, Oxfordshire  2002–03  '''Oakmeadians''' (S)  24-17  Aylesbury (N)  Meryick Park, Bournemouth, Dorset  2003–04  '''Amersham & Chiltern''' (N)   Tadley (S)  Ash Grove, Amersham, Buckinghamshire  2004–05  Frome (S)  12-38  '''Henley Wanderers''' (N)  Gypsy Lane, Frome, Somerset  2005–06  Oldfield Old Boys (S)  32-33  '''Swindon''' (N)  Shaft Road, Monkton Combe, Somerset  2006–07  Wootton Bassett (S)  17-20  '''Tadley''' (N)  Ballards Ash Sports Ground, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire  2007–08  '''Wallingford''' (N)  22-3  Wootton Bassett (S)  Wallingford Sports Park,	Wallingford, Oxfordshire  2008–09  '''Marlow''' (N)  18-15  Wootton Bassett (S)  Riverwoods Drive, Marlow, Buckinghamshire  2009–10  '''Amersham & Chiltern''' (N)  45-12  Frome (S)  Ash Grove, Amersham, Buckinghamshire  2010–11  Aylesbury (N)  10-39  '''Oldfield Old Boys''' (S)  Ostler's Field, Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire  2011–12   '''Windsor''' (N)  22-15  Dorcester (S)   Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire  2012–13  '''Grove''' (N)  39-20  Trowbridge (S)  Recreation Lane, Grove, Oxfordshire  2013–14  '''Trowbridge''' (S)  27-19  Aylesbury (N)  Doric Park, Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire  2014–15  '''Salisbury''' (S)  34-16  Aylesbury (N)  Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire  2015–16  '''Midsomer Norton''' (S)  29-22  Aylesbury (N)  Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset  2016–17  '''Bicester''' (N)  53-20  Trowbridge (S)  Oxford Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire  2017–18  Windsor (N)  29-31  '''Marlborough''' (S)  Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire  2018–19  Frome (S)  10-23  '''Buckingham''' (N)  Gypsy Lane, Frome, Somerset  400 2019–20  Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Frome (S) - promoted instead. 2020–21  Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. 2021–22  No play-off due to league reorganisation Green background is the promoted team. N = Southern Counties North and S = Southern Counties South
Number of league titles *High Wycombe (3)*Witney (3)*Banbury (2)*Beaconsfield (2)*Bletchley (2)*Buckingham (2)*Marlow (2)*Olney (2)*Redingensians (2)*Windsor (2)*Amersham & Chiltern (1)*Aylesbury (1)*Bournemouth (1)*Dorchester (1)*Oxford Harlequins (1)*Reading Abbey (1)*Sherborne (1)*Slough (1)*Stow-on-the-Wold (2)*Chinnor III (1)*Swanage & Wareham (1)*Swindon (1)
See also * South West Division RFU* Berkshire RFU* Buckinghamshire RFU* Oxfordshire RFU* English rugby union system* Rugby union in England
Notes
References