2006 Rugby League National Leagues Explained

2006 National League
League:	National League
Season:	National League One
Season Champs:	Hull Kingston Rovers
Season Champ Name:	Champions
League Leaders:	Hull Kingston Rovers
League Leaders Name:	League leaders
Promote:	Hull Kingston Rovers
Promote From:	National League One
Relegate:	York City Knights Oldham
Relegate To:	National League Two
Season2:	National League Two
Season Champs2:	Dewsbury Rams
Season Champ Name2:	Champions
League Leaders Name2:	League leaders
Promote2:	Dewsbury Rams Sheffield Eagles
Promote From2:	National League Two
Season3:	National League Three
Season Champs3:	Bramley Buffaloes
Season Champ Name3:	Champions
League Leaders Name3:	League leaders
Prevseason Link:	2005 Rugby League National Leagues
Prevseason Year:	2005
Nextseason Link:	2007 Rugby League National Leagues
Nextseason Year:	2007

The 2006 National Leagues (known as the LHF Healthplan National Leagues) are the second, third and fourth divisions of rugby league in the UK.

The League One and League Three Grand Finals, and the League Two Play-off final were played at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium on 8 October 2006.

National League One

National League One was won by Hull Kingston Rovers, who as a result entered Super League for the first time. They had led the league for the majority of the season and defeated Widnes Vikings in the final. York City Knights and Oldham R.L.F.C. were relegated to National Two.

Table

Pos	Club	Pld	W	D	L	Pts for	Pts agst	Pts	Qualification
1		18	16	0	2	705	338	32	Play-off Semi-final
2	Widnes Vikings	18	14	0	4	729	449	28	Play-off Semi-final
3	Leigh Centurions	18	13	0	5	549	334	26	Elimination Finals
4	Whitehaven	18	12	1	5	516	408	25
5	Rochdale Hornets	18	8	0	10	462	435	16
6	Batley Bulldogs	18	8	0	10	393	467	16
7	Halifax	18	7	0	11	461	508	14
8	Doncaster	18	6	1	11	458	533	13
9	York City Knights	18	5	0	13	476	553	10	Relegated to National League Two
10	Oldham	18	0	0	18	220	944	0	Relegated to National League Two

Results

Round 14

Oldham are relegated to National League 2 following their 14th defeat of the season. York look certain to join them.

Leigh Centurions 36 Hull Kingston Rovers 10

Whitehaven 22 Doncaster Lakers 12

Oldham R.L.F.C. 8 |Halifax 56

Widnes Vikings 18 Rochdale Hornets 31

York City Knights 20 Batley Bulldogs 26

Round 15

Hull KR are very close to taking the league leadership into the play-offs. Widnes are now in second place and York cling to National One by their fingertips.

Widnes Vikings 32 Leigh Centurions 16

Hull Kingston Rovers 26 Rochdale Hornets 12

Halifax 40 Doncaster Lakers 24

Batley Bulldogs 44 Oldham R.L.F.C. 16

York City Knights 28 Whitehaven 18

Round 16

York go down fighting with their second straight win.

Oldham R.L.F.C. 28 Widnes Vikings 78

Leigh Centurions 28 Batley Bulldogs 10

Rochdale Hornets 24 |Halifax 14

Doncaster Lakers 28 York City Knights 44

Whitehaven 48 Hull Kingston Rovers 12

Round 17

Hull KR are confirmed as Minor Premiers and will have home advantage in the semi-final of the play-offs.

Oldham R.L.F.C. 12 Leigh Centurions 52

Batley Bulldogs 24 Hull Kingston Rovers 28

Halifax 18 Whitehaven 26

Doncaster Lakers 0 Widnes Vikings 56

York City Knights 24 Rochdale Hornets 18

Round 18

Leigh Centurions 60 York City Knights 16

Hull Kingston Rovers 30 Doncaster Lakers 22

Whitehaven 66 Oldham R.L.F.C. 4

Widnes Vikings 76 |Halifax 34

Rochdale Hornets 47 Batley Bulldogs 20

Play-offs

Grand Final

National League Two

National League Two was won by Dewsbury Rams, who only sealed the title on the last day of the season. Runners-up Sheffield Eagles won the play-off final against Swinton, who won through the play-offs by beating Barrow Raiders, Featherstone Rovers and Celtic Crusaders, who they beat in rugby league's first ever golden point extra time.

Table

Pos	Club	Pld	W	D	L	Pts for	Pts agst	Pts	Qualification
1		22	19	0	3	693	354	38	Promoted to National League One
2	Sheffield Eagles	22	18	0	4	808	390	36	Play-off Semi-final
3	Celtic Crusaders	22	14	1	7	730	387	29	Play-off Semi-final
4	Featherstone Rovers	22	14	1	7	596	504	29	Elimination Finals
5	Swinton Lions	22	13	1	8	641	475	27
6	Barrow Raiders	22	12	0	10	599	481	24
7	Gateshead Thunder	22	11	0	11	547	540	22
8	Workington Town	22	10	0	12	558	645	20
9	London Skolars	22	5	1	16	406	776	11
10	Hunslet Hawks	22	4	2	16	411	617	10
11	Keighley Cougars	22	4	1	17	419	736	9
12	Blackpool Panthers	22	4	1	17	350	853	9

Results

Round 1

Sheffield Eagles 44 Keighley Cougars 12

Featherstone Rovers 36 Gateshead Thunder 24

Workington Town 18 Celtic Crusaders 50

Swinton Lions 22 Barrow Raiders 20

London Skolars 30 Dewsbury Rams 34

Blackpool Panthers 14 Hunslet Hawks 12

Round 2

Dewsbury Rams 22 Keighley Cougars 16

Featherstone Rovers 30 Sheffield Eagles 56

Workington Town 30 Barrow Raiders 22

Celtic Crusaders 70 London Skolars 0

Swinton Lions 56 Blackpool Panthers 24

Hunslet Hawks 10 Gateshead Thunder 19

Round 3

Keighley Cougars 18 Hunslet Hawks 24

Sheffield Eagles 22 Celtic Crusaders 20

Barrow Raiders 26 Featherstone Rovers 24

London Skolars 24 Swinton Lions 38

Blackpool Panthers 16 Dewsbury Rams 36

Gateshead Thunder 54 Workington Town 6

Round 4

Keighley Cougars 34 Blackpool Panthers 24

Hunslet Hawks 20 London Skolars 16

Barrow Raiders 32 Celtic Crusaders 16

Swinton Lions 26 Gateshead Thunder 21

Dewsbury Rams 27 Featherstone Rovers 28

Sheffield Eagles 44 Workington Town 46

Round 5

Gateshead Thunder 38 Keighley Cougars 18

London Skolars 32 Barrow Raiders 34

Celtic Crusaders 36 Hunslet Hawks 16

Featherstone Rovers 16 Blackpool Panthers 6

Workington Town 23 Swinton Lions 18

Dewsbury Rams 27 Sheffield Eagles 12

Round 6

Sheffield Eagles 38 Gateshead Thunder 14

Keighley Cougars 30 Celtic Crusaders 30

Blackpool Panthers 12 London Skolars 30

Barrow Raiders 12 Swinton Lions 16

Hunslet Hawks 14 Featherstone Rovers 14

Workington Town 15 Dewsbury Rams 22

Round 7

Gateshead Thunder 16 Barrow Raiders 40

Celtic Crusaders 52 Blackpool Panthers 16

London Skolars 10 Sheffield Eagles 38

Swinton Lions 18 Dewsbury Rams 22

Hunslet Hawks 22 Keighley Cougars 4

Featherstone Rovers 19 Workington Town 12

Round 8

Barrow Raiders 46 London Skolars 16

Dewsbury Rams 42 Celtic Crusaders 4

Blackpool Panthers 8 Swinton Lions 44

Sheffield Eagles 34 Hunslet Hawks 20

Keighley Cougars 22 Featherstone Rovers 24

Workington Town 24 Gateshead Thunder 33

Round 9

Barrow Raiders 34 Workington Town 22

London Skolars 32 Blackpool Panthers 32

Celtic Crusaders 58 Keighley Cougars 18

Swinton Lions 54 Hunslet Hawks 22

Gateshead Thunder 27 Sheffield Eagles 26

Featherstone Rovers 34 Dewsbury Rams 14

Round 10

Sheffield Eagles 29 Barrow Raiders 8

Workington Town 28 Featherstone Rovers 26

Swinton Lions 18 Celtic Crusaders 50

Hunslet Hawks 45 Blackpool Panthers 22

Keighley Cougars 20 Gateshead Thunder 31

Dewsbury Rams 60 London Skolars 0

Round 11

Celtic Crusaders 28 Sheffield Eagles 12

Barrow Raiders 17 Hunslet Hawks 16

Featherstone Rovers 27 Swinton Lions 24

Blackpool Panthers 22 Keighley Cougars 18

Gateshead Thunder 16 Dewsbury Rams 20

London Skolars 16 Workington Town 30

Round 12

Sheffield Eagles 44 Featherstone Rovers 28

Keighley Cougars 26 Barrow Raiders 18

Hunslet Hawks 12 Dewsbury Rams 42 Swinton Lions 46 Workington Town 30

Blackpool Panthers 6 Gateshead Thunder 24

London Skolars 4 Celtic Crusaders 48

Round 13

Barrow Raiders 12 Sheffield Eagles 32

Featherstone Rovers 50 Keighley Cougars 32

Workington Town 30 Hunslet Hawks 12

Dewsbury Rams 66 Blackpool Panthers 6

Gateshead Thunder 36 London Skolars 6

Celtic Crusaders 10 Swinton Lions 21

Round 14

Barrow Raiders 48 Gateshead Thunder 10

Swinton Lions 14 Sheffield Eagles 24

Featherstone Rovers 54 London Skolars 6

Keighley Cougars 12 Dewsbury Rams 36

Hunslet Hawks 12 Celtic Crusaders 34

Blackpool Panthers 18 Workington Town 16

Round 15

Celtic Crusaders 42 Barrow Raiders 12

Dewsbury Rams 27 Hunslet Hawks 20

Gateshead Thunder 36 Blackpool Panthers 38

London Skolars 31 Keighley Cougars 6

Swinton Lions 26 Featherstone Rovers 22

Workington Town 10 Sheffield Eagles 70

Round 16

Blackpool Panthers 0 Celtic Crusaders 52

Hunslet Hawks 24 Swinton Lions 24

Dewsbury Rams 36 Gateshead Thunder 8

Sheffield Eagles 46 London Skolars 0

Keighley Cougars 19 Workington Town 12

Featherstone Rovers 32 Barrow Raiders 8

Round 17

Celtic Crusaders 18 Dewsbury Rams 38

Gateshead Thunder 22 Featherstone Rovers 36

Sheffield Eagles 18 Swinton Lions 14

London Skolars 24 Hunslet Hawks 16

Workington Town 58 Blackpool Panthers 20

Barrow Raiders 38 Keighley Cougars 14

Round 18

Celtic Crusaders 22 Gateshead Thunder 26

Keighley Cougars 28 Swinton Lions 6

London Skolars 31 Featherstone Rovers 12

Hunslet Hawks 18 Workington Town 44

Blackpool Panthers 20 Sheffield Eagles 40

Dewsbury Rams 24 Barrow Raiders 14

Round 19

Gateshead Thunder 26 Hunslet Hawks 18

Workington Town 50 Keighley Cougars 18

Swinton Lions 58 London Skolars 12

Featherstone Rovers 11 Celtic Crusaders 10

Barrow Raiders 36 Blackpool Panthers 14

Sheffield Eagles 21 Dewsbury Rams 20

Round 20

Dewsbury close in on automatic promotion but Sheffield keep chasing.

Blackpool Panthers 28 Featherstone Rovers 38

Hunslet Hawks 16 Barrow Raiders 36

Keighley Cougars 14 Sheffield Eagles 58

Dewsbury Rams 20 Swinton Lions 12

London Skolars 16 Gateshead Thunder 26

Celtic Crusaders 38 Workington Town 10

Round 21

Sheffield Eagles 52 Blackpool Panthers 0

Featherstone Rovers 34 Hunslet Hawks 24

Swinton Lions 54 Keighley Cougars 10

Barrow Raiders 26 Dewsbury Rams 28

Gateshead Thunder 16 Celtic Crusaders 28

Workington Town 28 London Skolars 18

Round 22

Dewsbury sealed automatic promotion to National League One with a comeback victory over Workington. The Sheffield Eagles finish second after their eleventh straight win.

Blackpool Panthers 4 Barrow Raiders 60

Celtic Crusaders 14 Featherstone Rovers 11

Dewsbury Rams 30 Workington Town 16

Gateshead Thunder 16 Swinton Lions 32

Hunslet Hawks 16 Sheffield Eagles 48

Keighley Cougars 32 London Skolars 44

Play-offs

Elimination matches, 17 September

Featherstone Rovers 46–18 Gateshead Thunder

Swinton Lions 26–20 Barrow Raiders

Semi-final, 22 September

Sheffield Eagles 26–16 Celtic Crusaders

Elimination match, 24 September

Featherstone Rovers 14–27 Swinton Lions

Semi-final, 1 October

This game was the first rugby league match in the UK to be settled in golden point extra time. After 80 minutes the score was 26–26. After two periods of extra time (10 minutes each) there was no further score. Two minutes into the additional overtime Swinton's Chris Hough dropped a goal to seal it for Swinton.

Celtic Crusaders 26–27 Swinton Lions

Grand Final

National League Two Grand Final, Sunday 8 October

Sheffield Eagles 35–10 Swinton Lions

National League Three

National League Three was won by Bramley Buffaloes, last year's losing finalists. The playoffs were initionally meant to involve the top 6 teams but Bradford Dudley Hill pulled out at the end of the regular season.

Table

Pos	Club	Pld	W	D	L	Pts for	Pts agst	Pts	Qualification
1	Bramley Buffaloes	16	14	0	2	606	240	26	Play-off Semi-finals
2		16	12	0	4	582	328	24
3	Warrington Wizards	16	11	0	5	624	338	22
4	St Albans Centurions	16	9	1	6	462	274	19	Elimination Final
5	Dewsbury Celtic	16	8	2	6	485	479	18	Elimination Final
6	Bradford Dudley Hill*	16	8	0	8	410	398	16
7	Underbank Rangers	16	4	0	12	246	530	8
8	Gateshead Storm	16	3	0	13	290	574	6
9	Featherstone Lions	16	1	1	14	214	758	3