2002–03 National Division Two
The 2002–03 National Division Two was the third version (sixteenth overall) of the third division of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division included Henley Hawks and Bracknell who were relegated from the 2001–02 National Division One while promoted teams included Doncaster who were champions of the 2001–02 National Division Three North as well as Cornish teams Penzance & Newlyn (champions) and Launceston (playoffs) who came up from the 2001–02 National Division Three South.[1][2][3][4] The league points system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
| 2002–03 National Division Two | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  England |
| Champions | Penzance & Newlyn |
| Runners-up | Henley Hawks (also promoted) |
| Relegated | Fylde, Kendal, Launceston |
| Attendance | 80,093 (average 480 per match)[a 1] |
| Highest attendance | 2,200 Penzance & Newlyn at home to Henley Hawks on 18 January 2003 |
| Lowest attendance | 120 (x2) Bracknell against Nottingham 8 March 2003 & Sedgley Park on 15 March 2003 |
| Top point scorer | Barry Reeves Henley Hawks 327 points |
| Top try scorer | Nnamdi Obi Henley Hawks 20 tries |
Penzance & Newlyn finished the season as champions with Henley Hawks six points behind as runners up, both sides being convincingly the best in the division and would be promoted to the 2003–04 National Division One for the next season.[5][6] For Penzance & Newlyn it was their second successive promotion while Henley made an instant return having been relegated the following season. Fylde and Kendal were the first two sides to be relegated but the battle for the last relegation spot was very tight with just three points separating 12th from 8th in the division.[7] Launceston went into their last game ahead of relegation rivals Nottingham and Wharfedale, but while those sides won their games, Launceston lost their home game against league champions and local rivals Penzance & Newlyn to condemn the Polson Bridge side to the drop – dead level with Nottingham but with a worse points difference.[5][6] Fylde and Kendal would drop to the 2003–04 National Division Three North while Launceston returned to the 2003–04 National Division Three South.[8][9]
Participating teams and locations
Locations of the 2002-03 National Division Two teams
| Team | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bracknell | Lily Hill Park | 1,250 (250 seats) | Bracknell, Berkshire |
| Doncaster | Castle Park | 3,075 | Doncaster, South Yorkshire |
| Esher | Molesey Road | 3,000 | Hersham, Surrey |
| Fylde | Woodlands Memorial Ground | 9,000 | Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire |
| Harrogate | Claro Road | Harrogate, North Yorkshire | |
| Henley Hawks | Dry Leas | 4,000 | Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire |
| Kendal | Mint Bridge | 3,000 (300 stand) | Kendal, Cumbria |
| Launceston | Polson Bridge | 3,000 | Launceston, Cornwall |
| Newbury Blues | Monk's Lane | 8,000 | Newbury, Berkshire |
| Nottingham | Ireland Avenue | 4,950 | Beeston, Nottinghamshire |
| Penzance & Newlyn | Mennaye Field | 3,500 | Penzance, Cornwall |
| Sedgley Park | Park Lane | 3,000 | Whitefield, Greater Manchester |
| Stourbridge | Stourton Park | 3,500 (499 seats) | Stourbridge, West Midlands |
| Wharfedale | The Avenue | 2,000 | Threshfield, Craven, North Yorkshire |
Final league table
| |||||||||||||
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points Diff | Points | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penzance & Newlyn (C) | 26 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 849 | 442 | 407 | 45 | ||||
| 2 | Henley Hawks (P) | 26 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 782 | 473 | 309 | 39 | ||||
| 3 | Esher | 26 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 700 | 550 | 150 | 33 | ||||
| 4 | Harrogate | 26 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 606 | 496 | 110 | 32 | ||||
| 5 | Bracknell | 26 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 597 | 525 | 72 | 32 | ||||
| 6 | Sedgley Park | 26 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 702 | 572 | 130 | 30 | ||||
| 7 | Doncaster | 26 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 630 | 551 | 79 | 28 | ||||
| 8 | Stourbridge | 26 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 628 | 783 | -155 | 23 | ||||
| 9 | Newbury Blues | 26 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 491 | 618 | -127 | 22 | ||||
| 10 | Wharfedale | 26 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 517 | 579 | -62 | 21 | ||||
| 11 | Nottingham | 26 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 530 | 629 | -99 | 20 | ||||
| 12 | Launceston (R) | 26 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 540 | 643 | -103 | 20 | ||||
| 13 | Kendal (R) | 26 | 6 | 1 | 19 | 446 | 840 | -394 | 13 | ||||
| 14 | Fylde (R) | 26 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 457 | 774 | -317 | 6 | ||||
| Reference englandrugby.com: Updated 26-04-2003 | |||||||||||||
Results
Round 1
31 August 2002 |
| Penzance & Newlyn | 46 - 7 | Fylde |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Mennaye Fields Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Paul Dix |
Round 2
7 September 2002 |
| Esher | 26 - 31 | Penzance & Newlyn |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Molesey Road Attendance: 450 Referee: David Sainsbury |
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
12 October 2002 |
| Harrogate | 31 - 29 | Penzance & Newlyn |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Claro Road Attendance: 604 Referee: Nick Williams |
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
16 November 2002 |
| Bracknell | 46 - 26 | Henley Hawks |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Lily Hill Park Attendance: 310 Referee: David Sainsbury |
Round 10
23 November 2002 |
| Henley Hawks | 16 - 12 | Penzance & Newlyn |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Dry Leas Attendance: 600 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
23 November 2002 |
| Nottingham | 21 - 20 | Fylde |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Ireland Avenue Attendance: 230 Referee: Graham Hughes |
Round 11
30 November 2002 |
| Penzance & Newlyn | 32 - 22 | Bracknell |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Paul Dix |
30 November 2002 |
| Sedgley Park | 29 - 0 | Kendal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Park Lane Attendance: 750 Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts |
Round 12
7 December 2002 |
| Bracknell | 28 - 24 | Fylde |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Lily Hill Park Attendance: 275 Referee: David Sainsbury |
Round 13
Round 14
21 December 2002 |
| Penzance & Newlyn | 22 - 11 | Launceston |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Mennaye Field Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Rowan Kitt |
21 December 2002 |
| Kendal | P - P | Fylde |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 December 2002.
21 December 2002 |
| Wharfedale | P - P | Harrogate |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 December 2002.
Round 14 (rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 21 December 2002.
- Game rescheduled from 21 December 2002.
Round 15
4 January 2003 |
| Esher | P - P | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.
Round 16
11 January 2003 |
| Bracknell | P - P | Penzance & Newlyn |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.
11 January 2003 |
| Harrogate | P - P | Stourbridge |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
11 January 2003 |
| Henley Hawks | P - P | Fylde |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
11 January 2003 |
| Kendal | P - P | Sedgley Park |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2003.
11 January 2003 |
| Wharfedale | P - P | Newbury Blues |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.
Round 17
18 January 2003 |
| Penzance & Newlyn | 16 - 14 | Henley Hawks |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Mennaye Fields Attendance: 2,200 Referee: Nigel Higginson |
Round 18
25 January 2003 |
| Henley Hawks | 35 - 5 | Bracknell |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Dry Leas Attendance: 1,025 Referee: David Grashoff |
25 January 2003 |
| Sedgley Park | 47 - 5 | Newbury Blues |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Park Lane Attendance: 420 Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts |
Round 19
1 February 2003 |
| Esher | 12 - 10 | Sedgley Park |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Molesey Road Attendance: 400 Referee: David Sainsbury |
1 February 2003 |
| Launceston | 23 - 22 | Harrogate |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Polson Bridge Attendance: 350 Referee: Nick Williams |
1 February 2003 |
| Bracknell | P - P | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
1 February 2003 |
| Penzance & Newlyn | P - P | Doncaster |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
Round 20
Rounds 15 & 16 (rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 4 January 2003.
15 February 2003 |
| Wharfedale | 25 - 22 | Newbury Blues |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
The Avenue Attendance: 304 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
- Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
- Game rescheduled from 15 January 2003.
Round 21
Round 22
Rounds 16 & 19 (rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.
- Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
- Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
8 March 2003 |
| Penzance & Newlyn | 38 - 15 | Doncaster |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Mennaye Field Referee: Richard Parker-Sedgmore |
- Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.
Round 23
Round 16 (rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
Round 24
29 March 2003 |
| Sedgley Park | 42 - 27 | Henley Hawks |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Park Lane Attendance: 420 Referee: Bruce Robertson |
Round 25
Round 26
26 April 2003 |
| Launceston | 13 - 25 | Penzance & Newlyn |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Polson Bridge Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Paul Dix |
Total season attendances
| Club | Home Games |
Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bracknell | 12[a 2] | 2,775 | 231 | 350 | 120 | 18% |
| Doncaster | 11[a 3] | 7,600 | 691 | 850 | 500 | 22% |
| Esher | 13 | 5,000 | 385 | 500 | 250 | 13% |
| Fylde | 12[a 4] | 3,800 | 317 | 450 | 200 | 4% |
| Harrogate | 13 | 7,103 | 546 | 1,500 | 276 | |
| Henley Hawks | 13 | 6,655 | 512 | 1,025 | 250 | 13% |
| Kendal | 13 | 4,289 | 330 | 483 | 156 | 11% |
| Launceston | 13 | 5,950 | 458 | 2,000 | 200 | 15% |
| Newbury Blues | 13 | 6,575 | 506 | 1,055 | 300 | 6% |
| Nottingham | 13 | 4,622 | 356 | 575 | 230 | 7% |
| Penzance & Newlyn | 7[a 5] | 11,300 | 1,614 | 2,200 | 1,000 | 46% |
| Sedgley Park | 9[a 6] | 4,370 | 486 | 750 | 250 | 16% |
| Stourbridge | 13 | 4,100 | 315 | 400 | 200 | 9% |
| Wharfedale | 13 | 5,954 | 458 | 800 | 304 | 23% |
- Note that 15 home attendances are missing (see below) - so the total attendance will not be 100% accurate. The average attendance has also been taken into account with the missing games not included.
- Missing home attendance v Penzance & Newlyn on 16 February 2003.
- Missing home attendances v Kendal on 15 March 2003 & Harrogate on 12 April 2003.
- Missing home attendance v Harrogate on 26 October 2002.
- Missing home attendances v Sedgley Park on 28 September 2002, Wharfedale on 26 October 2002, Kendal on 4 January 2003, Doncaster on 8 March 2003, Stourbridge on 15 March 2003 & Esher on 12 April 2003.
- Missing home attendance v Nottingham on 7 September 2002, Bracknell on 21 September 2002, Fylde on 12 October 2002 & Harrogate on 4 January 2003.
Individual statistics
- Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
|
Top try scorers
|
Season records
Team
74 - 24 Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
54 - 12 Penzance & Newlyn away to Kendal on 7 December 2002
74 - 24 Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
Sedgley Park away to Wharfedale on 31 August 2002
Esher at home to Kendal on 28 September 2002 |
Player
Attendances
Penzance & Newlyn at home to Henley Hawks on 18 January 2003
Bracknell against Nottingham 8 March 2003 and Sedgley Park on 15 March 2003
Penzance & Newlyn
Bracknell |
References
- "Final League Tables – 2001/02". Moseley Rugby. 27 April 2002.
- "SIMPLY THE BEST?". Doncaster Free Press. 17 April 2002.
- "The Leagues 2001-2002". trelawnysarmy.org. 20 April 2002.
- "Rugby Union: National Three Play-Off - DK's Dream Shattered by Launceston Power Show; Launceston 26 Dudley Kingswinf'rd 0". Birmingham Post. 29 April 2002.
- "THE SENIOR LEAGUES 2002-2003". trelawnysarmy.org. 26 April 2003.
- "National League Two 2002-03". englandrugby.com. 26 April 2003.
- "Relegation guarantees more derbies". Lancashire Evening Post. 23 July 2003.
- "National League 3 North 2003-04". englandrugby.com. 13 September 2003.
- "National League 3 South 2003-04". englandrugby.com. 13 September 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 31 August 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 7 September 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 14 September 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 21 September 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 28 September 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 12 October 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 26 October 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 2 November 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 16 November 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 23 November 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 30 November 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 7 December 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 14 December 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 21 December 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 28 December 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 4 January 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 11 January 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 18 January 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 25 January 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 1 February 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 8 February 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 15 February 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 22 February 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 1 March 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 8 March 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 15 March 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 22 March 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 29 March 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 12 April 2003.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- "National Two 02/03 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
External links
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