2002–03 National Division Two Explained

2002–03 National Division Two
Champions:Penzance & Newlyn
Runnersup:Henley Hawks (also promoted)
Relegated:Fylde, Kendal, Launceston
Highest Attendance:2,200 Penzance & Newlyn at home to Henley Hawks on 18 January 2003
Attendance:80,093 (average 480 per match)
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
Prevseason:2001–02
Nextseason:2003–04

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.

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

width=29%Teamwidth=29%Stadiumwidth=15%Capacitywidth=30%City/Area
BracknellLily Hill Park1,250 (250 seats)Bracknell, Berkshire
DoncasterCastle Park3,075Doncaster, South Yorkshire
EsherMolesey Road3,000Hersham, Surrey
FyldeWoodlands Memorial Ground9,000Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire
HarrogateClaro RoadHarrogate, North Yorkshire
Henley HawksDry Leas4,000Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
KendalMint Bridge3,000 (300 stand)Kendal, Cumbria
LauncestonPolson Bridge3,000Launceston, Cornwall
Newbury BluesMonk's Lane8,000Newbury, Berkshire
NottinghamIreland Avenue4,950Beeston, Nottinghamshire
Penzance & NewlynMennaye Field3,500Penzance, Cornwall
Sedgley ParkPark Lane3,000Whitefield, Greater Manchester
StourbridgeStourton Park3,500 (499 seats)Stourbridge, West Midlands
WharfedaleThe Avenue2,000Threshfield, 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

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Round 11

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Round 12

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Round 13

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Round 14

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Round 14 (rescheduled games)

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Round 15

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Round 16

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Round 17

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Round 18

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Round 19

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Round 20

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Rounds 15 & 16 (rescheduled games)

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Round 21

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Round 22

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Rounds 16 & 19 (rescheduled games)

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Round 23

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Round 16 (rescheduled game)

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Round 24

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Round 25

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Round 26

Total season attendances

ClubHome
Games		TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Bracknell 12 2,775 231 350 120 18%
Doncaster 11 7,600 691 850 500 22%
Esher 13 5,000 385 500 250 13%
Fylde 12 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 11,300 1,614 2,200 1,000 46%
Sedgley Park 9 4,370 486 750 250 16%
Stourbridge 13 4,100 315 400 200 9%
Wharfedale 13 5,954 458 800 304 23%

Individual statistics

Top points scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Points
1 26 327
2 26 315
3 25 296
4 20 234
5 23 229
6 19 223
7 19 214
8 26 201
9 25 191
10 24 187
[10]

Top try scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Tries
1 21 20
2 23 19
24 19
3 19 18
4 21 14
5 24 13
6 17 12
7 13 11
19 11
20 11
[11]

Season records

Team

Largest home win — 50 pts74 - 24 Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
  • Largest away win — 42 pts54 - 12 Penzance & Newlyn away to Kendal on 7 December 2002
  • Most points scored — 74 pts74 - 24 Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
  • Most tries in a match — 10Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
  • Most conversions in a match — 9Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
  • Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2)Sedgley Park away to Wharfedale on 31 August 2002
    Stourbridge at home to Kendal on 16 November 2003
  • Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3)Esher at home to Kendal on 28 September 2002
    Kendal at home to Henley Hawks on 2 November 2002
    Kendal at home to Newbury Blues on 8 February 2003

    • [12] [13] [14] [15]

    Player

    Most points in a match — 28 (x2) Chris Glynn for Sedgley Park away to Wharfedale on 31 August 2002
    Jonathon Davies for Wharfedale at home to Kendal on 12 April 2003
  • Most tries in a match — 4 (x2) Victor Olonga for Penzance & Newlyn away to Kendal on 7 December 2002
    Nash Shumba for Esher away to Stourbridge on 8 February 2003
  • Most conversions in a match — 9 Barry Reeves for Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
  • Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2) Chris Glynn for Sedgley Park away to Wharfedale on 31 August 2002
    Ben Harvey for Stourbridge at home to Kendal on 16 November 2003
  • Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3) Chris Finch for Esher at home to Kendal on 28 September 2002
    Mike Scott for Kendal at home to Henley Hawks on 2 November 2002
    Mike Scott for Kendal at home to Newbury Blues on 8 February 2003

    • [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

    Attendances

    Highest — 2,200Penzance & Newlyn at home to Henley Hawks on 18 January 2003
  • Lowest — 120 (x2)Bracknell against Nottingham 8 March 2003 and Sedgley Park on 15 March 2003
  • Highest Average Attendance — 1,614Penzance & Newlyn
  • Lowest Average Attendance — 231Bracknell

    • [21]

    See also

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Final League Tables – 2001/02 . Moseley Rugby . 27 April 2002 . 20 July 2015 . 19 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181019205705/http://moseleyrugby.co.uk/oldsite/%5E%20CLUB_HISTORY/League%20Tables/past%20leagues%20200102.htm . dead .
    2. Web site: SIMPLY THE BEST? . Doncaster Free Press . 17 April 2002 .
    3. Web site: The Leagues 2001-2002 . trelawnysarmy.org . 20 April 2002 .
    4. Web site: 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 .
    5. Web site: THE SENIOR LEAGUES 2002-2003 . trelawnysarmy.org . 26 April 2003 .
    6. Web site: National League Two 2002-03 . englandrugby.com . 26 April 2003 .
    7. Web site: Relegation guarantees more derbies . Lancashire Evening Post . 23 July 2003 . 20 July 2015 . 23 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150723135405/http://www.lep.co.uk/sport/relegation-guarantees-more-derbies-1-98206 . dead .
    8. Web site: National League 3 North 2003-04 . englandrugby.com . 13 September 2003 .
    9. Web site: National League 3 South 2003-04 . englandrugby.com . 13 September 2003 .
    10. Web site: National Two 02/03 Leading top scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
    11. Web site: National Two 02/03 Leading try scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
    12. Web site: National Two 02/03 Most tries in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2003 .
    13. Web site: National Two 02/03 Most conversions in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2003 .
    14. Web site: National Two 02/03 Most penalties in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2003 .
    15. Web site: National Two 02/03 Most drop goals in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2003 .
    16. Web site: National Two 02/03 Most points in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2003 .
    17. Web site: National Two 02/03 Most tries in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2003 .
    18. Web site: National Two 02/03 Most conversions in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2003 .
    19. Web site: National Two 02/03 Most penalties in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2003 .
    20. Web site: National Two 02/03 Most drop goals in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2003 .
    21. Web site: National Two 02/03 Home attendance . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2003 .

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