3. WEST HARTLEPOOL
Before the game turned professional, the club enjoyed several seasons in the Courage League and Allied Dunbar premiership during the 1990s before finally being relegated in the 1998–99 season.
There followed a drop through the divisions over the next three years that took them out of the national leagues and into the regional leagues.
Some significant signings during that period include a number of All Blacks: Alan Whetton, Gary Whetton and Mike Brewer.