2007–08 National Division Three South Explained

2007–08 National Division Three South
Champions:Mounts Bay
Runnersup:Cinderford (also promoted)
Relegated:Luton, North Walsham, Clifton
Highest Attendance:2,100
Cinderford v Lydney
8 September 2007
Attendance:58,060 (average 348 per match)
Lowest Attendance:66
Clifton v Barking
2 February 2008
Top Point Scorer: Lee Jarvis (Mounts Bay)
266 points
Top Try Scorer: Owen Bruynseels (Ealing Trailfinders)
20 tries
Prevseason:2006–07
Nextseason:2008–09

The 2007–08 National Division Three South was the eighth season (21st overall) of the fourth division (south) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three South. New teams to the division included Barking who were relegated from the 2006–07 National Division Two while promoted sides included London Scottish (champions) and Ealing (playoffs) who came up from London Division 1, Mounts Bay who came up as champions of South West Division 1 and Luton who were Midlands Division 1 champions.[1] [2] [3] [4] In the case of Luton, Midlands league champions usually moved up to National Division Three North but due to number imbalances in that division, for this season, they would go into National Division Three South instead. The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into National Division Two while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from National Division Three North (at the home ground of the club with the superior league record) for the final promotion place.

In what was a very competitive league there were a number of teams tipped to go up but in the end it was Mounts Bay who came out on top as champions 12 points clear and sealing promotion to the 2008–09 National Division Two – part of an incredible sequence of six successive promotions stretching back to Cornwall 1 in 2003–04.[5] [6] The battle for the runner up spot was keenly contested between Cinderford and newly promoted Ealing Trailfinders but in the end the Gloucestershire side took second spot despite losing their final game to the west Londoners. Cinderford would join Mounts Bay in National Division Two after defeating 2007–08 National Division Three North runners up Darlington Mowden Park in a very close playoff game viewed by over 2,000 spectators at Dockham Road.[7] [8] At the other end of the table newly promoted Luton went straight back down as the worst side in the division followed by North Walsham. The third and final relegation spot was very closely contested but eventually Clifton went down just 1 point behind relegation rivals Barking and Havant – a last gasp away victory against relegation rivals Havant not being enough as Barking had a shock win against champions Mount Bays to keep them up instead.[5] Luton and North Walsham would drop to London Division 1 while Clifton would go into South West Division 1.[9] [10]

Participating teams and locations

width=20%Teamwidth=20%Stadiumwidth=20%Capacitywidth=25%City/Area
BarkingGoresbrook1,000Barking, London
Bridgwater & AlbionBath Road5,000Bridgwater, Somerset
CanterburyMerton Lane1,000Canterbury, Kent
CinderfordDockham Road2,500Cinderford, Gloucestershire
CliftonStation Road2,500 (400 seats)Clifton, Bristol
Dings CrusadersLandseer Avenue1,500Lockleaze, Bristol
Ealing TrailfindersTrailfinders Sports Ground3,020Ealing, London
HavantHook's Lane1,500Havant, Hampshire
London ScottishAthletic Ground4,500Richmond, London
LutonNewlands RoadLuton, Bedfordshire
LydneyRegentsholme1,500Lydney, Gloucestershire
Mounts BayMennaye Field3,500Penzance, Cornwall
North WalshamNorwich Road1,200Scottow, North Walsham, Norfolk
Rosslyn ParkThe Rock2,000Roehampton, London

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 15

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Round 12 (rescheduled game)

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Round 16

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Round 17

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Round 12 (rescheduled game)

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Round 18

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Round 19

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Round 20

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Round 21

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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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Promotion play-off

The league runners up of National Division Three South and North would meet in a playoff game for promotion to National Division Two. Cinderford were the southern division runners up and as they had a superior league record than northern runners-up, Darlington Mowden Park, they hosted the play-off match.

[7]

Total season attendances

ClubHome
Games
TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Barking 10 1,766 177 300 100 18%
Bridgwater & Albion 13 8,109 624 973 375 12%
Canterbury 13 3,049 254 436 164 25%
Cinderford 13 5,918 455 2,100 200 18%
Clifton 11 1,499 136 312 66 5%
Dings Crusaders 13 1,920 148 276 105 10%
Ealing Trailfinders 13 3,624 279 506 134 9%
Havant 13 3,351 258 350 180 17%
London Scottish 11 5,670 515 1,320 300 11%
Luton 12 3,256 271 626 150
Lydney 12 5,795 483 675 340 32%
Mounts Bay 10 5,408 541 1,000 300 15%
North Walsham 11 4,191 381 1,400 230 30%
Rosslyn Park 12 4,504 375 560 170 19%

Individual statistics

Top points scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Points
1 24 266
2 24 215
3 26 212
4 19 187
5 22 170
6 22 166
7 Adam Westall 14 127
8 19 122
9 25 121
10 12 120
[11]

Top try scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Tries
1 26 20
2 22 19
3 19 15
25 15
4 18 14
22 14
25 14
26 14
5 25 13
6 19 12
20 12
23 12
[12]

Season records

Team

Largest home win – 61 pts61 – 0 Cinderford at home to North Walsham on 22 September 2007
  • Largest away win – 39 pts39 – 0 Cinderford away to Havant on 27 October 2007
  • Most points scored – 71 pts71 – 17 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
  • Most tries in a match – 10 (x4)Cinderford at home to North Walsham on 22 September 2007Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
    London Scottish at home to Luton on 19 January 2008
    Mounts Bay v Luton on 15 March 2008
  • Most conversions in a match – 9 (x2)Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
    Mounts Bay v Luton on 15 March 2008
  • Most penalties in a match – 6 (x2)Mounts Bay away to Ealing Trailfinders on 3 November 2007
    Luton at home to North Walsham on 22 December 2007
  • Most drop goals in a match – 1N/A – multiple teams
  • [13] [14] [15] [16]

    Player

    Most points in a match – 27 Lee Jarvis for Mounts Bay away to Bridgwater & Albion on 8 September 2007
  • Most tries in a match – 4 (x2) Stuart Peel for London Scottish at home to Barking on 20 October 2007
    Gert De Kock for Canterbury at home to Barking on 12 April 2008
  • Most conversions in a match – 9 (x2) Lee Jarvis for Mounts Bay at home to Barking on 1 September 2007
    Ben Ward for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
  • Most penalties in a match – 6 (x3) Tim Mosey for Mounts Bay away to Ealing Trailfinders on 3 November 2007
    Lee Jarvis for Mounts Bay at home to Lydney on 10 November 2007
    Andy Davey for Luton at home to North Walsham on 22 December 2007
  • Most drop goals in a match – 1N/A – multiple players
  • [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

    Attendances

    Highest – 2,100Cinderford at home to Lydney on 8 September 2007
  • Lowest – 66Clifton at home to Barking on 2 February 2008
  • Highest Average Attendance – 624Bridgwater & Albion
  • Lowest Average Attendance – 136Clifton
  • [22]

    See also

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: National League Two 2006-07 . Rugby Football Union . 28 April 2007 .
    2. Web site: London 1 2006-07 . Rugby Football Union . 14 April 2007 .
    3. Web site: South West 1 2006-07 . Rugby Football Union . 21 April 2007 .
    4. Web site: Midlands 1 2006-07 . Rugby Football Union . 24 April 2007 .
    5. Web site: National League Three South 2007-08 . 19 April 2008 .
    6. Web site: 2007–08 Season . trelawnysarmy.org . 1 June 2008 .
    7. Web site: National League Play Offs 2007-08 . Rugby Football Union . 26 April 2008 .
    8. Web site: Foresters play-off win 'no fluke' . BBC News . 30 April 2008 .
    9. Web site: London 1 2008-09 . Rugby Football Union . 13 September 2008 .
    10. Web site: South West 1 2008-09 . Rugby Football Union . 13 September 2008 .
    11. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Leading top scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 19 April 2008.
    12. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Leading try scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 19 April 2008.
    13. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Most tries in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 19 April 2008 .
    14. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Most conversions in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 19 April 2008 .
    15. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Most penalties in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 19 April 2008 .
    16. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Most drop goals in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 19 April 2008 .
    17. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Most points in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 19 April 2008 .
    18. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Most tries in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 19 April 2008 .
    19. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Most conversions in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 19 April 2008 .
    20. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Most penalties in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 19 April 2008 .
    21. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Most drop goals in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 19 April 2008 .
    22. Web site: National Three South 07/08 Home attendance . Rugby Statbunker . 19 April 2008 .