2001–02 National Division Two Explained
The 2001–02 National Division Two was the second version (fifteenth overall) of the third division of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division included Orrell and Waterloo who were relegated from the 2000–01 National Division One while Stourbridge (champions) and Sedgley Park (playoffs) came up from the 2000–01 National Division Three North and Plymouth Albion as champions of the 2000-01 National Division Three South.[1] [2] [3] [4] The league points system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
The title race was extremely tight and went to the last game with Orrell winning their rescheduled game away to Nottingham to draw dead level with Plymouth Albion at the top of the table and take the title by virtue of a better points difference – the fact Orrell had won both of their games against Plymouth was largely responsible for their victory.[5] Both sides would be promoted to the 2002–03 National Division One with Orrell making an instant return following their relegation at the start of the season while Plymouth would make it a second promotion in a row. As well as gaining promotion the Devon-based side would also be easily the most popular side in the division with over 19,000 fans in total attending throughout the season. At the opposite end of the table Preston Grasshoppers and Waterloo would be the first sides to be relegated, followed by Rosslyn Park who battled to the end but never had quite enough to overtake relegation rivals Stourbridge and Kendal.[6] Preston and Waterloo would drop down to the 2002–03 National Division Three North while Rosslyn Park went down to the 2002–03 National Division Three South, with Waterloo suffering their second consecutive relegation.[7] [8] It was quite a turn around for Rosslyn Park who went within a whisker to being promoted the previous season only to be relegated this season.
Participating teams and locations
| width=29% | Team | width=29% | Stadium | width=15% | Capacity | width=30% | City/Area |
|---|
| Esher | Molesey Road | 3,000 | Hersham, Surrey |
| Fylde | Woodlands Memorial Ground | 9,000 | Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire |
| Harrogate | Claro Road | | Harrogate, North Yorkshire |
| Kendal | Mint Bridge | 3,000 (300 stand) | Kendal, Cumbria |
| Newbury Blues | Monk's Lane | 8,000 | Newbury, Berkshire |
| Nottingham | Ireland Avenue | 4,950 | Beeston, Nottinghamshire |
| Orrell | Edge Hall Road | 5,500 | Orrell, Greater Manchester |
| Plymouth Albion | Beacon Park | 3,500 | Plymouth, Devon |
| Preston Grasshoppers | Lightfoot Green | 5,000 | Preston, Lancashire |
| Rosslyn Park | The Rock | 2,000 | Roehampton, London |
| Sedgley Park | Park Lane | 3,000 | Whitefield, Greater Manchester |
| Stourbridge | Stourton Park | 3,500 (499 seats) | Stourbridge, West Midlands |
| Waterloo | St Anthony's Road | 9,000
(200 seats) | Blundellsands, Merseyside |
| Wharfedale | The Avenue | 2,000 | Threshfield, Craven, North Yorkshire |
|
Results
Round 1
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Round 2
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Round 3
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Round 4
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Round 5
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Round 6
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Round 7
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Round 8
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Round 9
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Round 10
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 December 2001.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 December 2001.
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Round 11
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Round 12
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Round 13
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
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Round 14
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
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Round 10 (rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 24 November 2001.
- Game rescheduled from 24 November 2001.
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Round 15
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 2002.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
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Round 16
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Round 17
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Round 18
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
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Round 19
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Round 20
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
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Rounds 13 & 15 (rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
- Game rescheduled from 15 December 2001.
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
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Round 21
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Rounds 14, 18 & 20 (rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 22 December 2001.
- Game rescheduled from 9 February 2002.
- Game rescheduled from 26 January 2002.
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Round 22
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Round 23
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Round 24
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Round 25
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Round 26
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Round 15 (rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
Total season attendances
| Club | Home
Games | Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
|---|
| Esher | 11 | 3,600 | 327 | 500 | 150 | 11% |
| Fylde | 11 | 4,850 | 441 | 500 | 300 | 5% |
| Harrogate | 13 | 5,829 | 448 | 784 | 263 | |
| Kendal | 12 | 5,121 | 427 | 728 | 232 | 14% |
| Newbury Blues | 12 | 4,765 | 397 | 720 | 220 | 5% |
| Nottingham | 12 | 4,185 | 349 | 546 | 211 | 7% |
| Orrell | 13 | 9,300 | 715 | 1,300 | 300 | 13% |
| Plymouth Albion | 12 | 19,117 | 1,593 | 2,100 | 1,080 | 46% |
| Preston Grasshoppers | 12 | 3,995 | 333 | 680 | 85 | 7% |
| Rosslyn Park | 12 | 6,175 | 515 | 750 | 175 | 26% |
| Sedgley Park | 13 | 5,415 | 417 | 800 | 240 | 14% |
| Stourbridge | 13 | 4,520 | 348 | 700 | 100 | 10% |
| Waterloo | 12 | 2,998 | 250 | 464 | 100 | 3% |
| Wharfedale | 12 | 5,750 | 479 | 650 | 400 | 24% |
|
Individual statistics
- Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
| Rank | Player | Team | Appearances | Points |
|---|
| 1 | | | 26 | 343 |
| 2 | | | 26 | 311 |
| 3 | | | 25 | 298 |
| 4 | | | 26 | 284 |
| 5 | | | 26 | 278 |
| 6 | | | 26 | 271 |
| 7 | | | 21 | 244 |
| 8 | | | 26 | 211 |
| 9 | | | 25 | 210 |
| 10 | | | 17 | 203 |
|
[9] Top try scorers
| Rank | Player | Team | Appearances | Tries |
|---|
| 1 | | | 26 | 23 |
| 2 | | | 23 | 19 |
| | 25 | 19 |
| 3 | | | 25 | 16 |
| | 26 | 16 |
| 4 | | | 26 | 15 |
| | 25 | 15 |
| 5 | | | 15 | 13 |
| 6 | | | 15 | 12 |
| | 17 | 12 |
|
[10] Season records
Team
- Largest home win — 57 pts92 - 0 Plymouth Albion at home to Esher on 30 March 2002
Largest away win — 59 pts67 - 8 Orrell away to Preston Grasshoppers on 16 March 2002
Most points scored — 67 pts67 - 8 Orrell away to Preston Grasshoppers on 16 March 2002
Most tries in a match — 11Orrell away to Preston Grasshoppers on 16 March 2002
Most conversions in a match — 8 (x2)Plymouth Albion at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 23 February 2002
Orrell away to Nottingham on 20 April 2002
Most penalties in a match — 8Esher at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 1 December 2001
Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2)Kendal away to Esher on 10 November 2001
Sedgley park away to Fylde on 1 December 2001
[11] [12] [13] [14]
Player
- Most points in a match — 30 (x2) Colin Stephens for Sedgley Park at home to Wharfedale on 15 December 2001
Ben Harvey for Stourbridge at home to Esher on 6 April 2002
Most tries in a match — 4 Mark Farrar for Harrogate against Preston Grasshoppers on 6 April 2002
Most conversions in a match — 8 (x2) Chris Atkinson for Plymouth Albion at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 23 February 2002
Richard Welding for Orrell away to Nottingham on 20 April 2002
Most penalties in a match — 8 Jonathon Gregory for Esher at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 1 December 2001
Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2) Mike Scott for Kendal away to Esher on 10 November 2001
Colin Stephens for Sedgley park away to Fylde on 1 December 2001
[15] [16] [17] [18] [19]
Attendances
- Highest — 2,100Plymouth Albion at home to Fylde on 5 January 2002
Lowest — 85 Preston Grasshoppers at home to Newbury Blues on 2 March 2002
Highest Average Attendance — 1,593Plymouth Albion
Lowest Average Attendance — 250 Waterloo
[20]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: 2000-01 league tables . Moseley Rugby . 28 April 2001 .
- Web site: National League 3 North 2000-01 . englandrugby.com . 26 May 2001 .
- Web site: National League 3 South 2000-01 . englandrugby.com . 28 April 2001 .
- Web site: National League Playoffs 2000-01 . englandrugby.com . 26 May 2001 .
- Web site: Rugby Union round-up . Liverpool Echo . 22 April 2002 .
- Web site: 2001/02 League Tables . Moseley Rugby . 20 April 2002 .
- Web site: National League Three North . englandrugby.com . 31 August 2001 .
- Web site: National League Three South . englandrugby.com . 31 August 2001 .
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Leading top scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Leading try scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Most tries in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 20 April 2002 .
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Most conversions in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 20 April 2002 .
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Most penalties in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 20 April 2002 .
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Most drop goals in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 20 April 2002 .
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Most points in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 20 April 2002 .
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Most tries in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 20 April 2002 .
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Most conversions in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 20 April 2002 .
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Most penalties in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 20 April 2002 .
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Most drop goals in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 20 April 2002 .
- Web site: National Two 01/02 Home attendance . Rugby Statbunker . 20 April 2002 .
