2007–08 National Division Two Explained

2007–08 National Division Two
Champions:Otley
Runnersup:Manchester (also promoted)
Relegated:Halifax, Henley Hawks, Nuneaton
Highest Attendance:1,453 Blackheath at home to Westcombe Park on 24 November 2007
Attendance:87,398 (average 483 per match)
Lowest Attendance:100 Nuneaton at home to Manchester on 10 November 2007
Top Point Scorer: Gareth Wynne
Manchester 286 points
Top Try Scorer: Christoff Lombaard
Cambridge 21 tries
Prevseason:2006-07

The 2007–08 National Division Two was the eighth version (twenty first overall) of the third division of the English rugby union league system using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division included Waterloo and Otley who were relegated from the 2006–07 National Division One while promoted teams included Blaydon coming up from the 2006–07 National Division Three North while Southend (champions) and Westcombe Park (playoffs) came up from the 2006–07 National Division Three South.[1] [2] [3] [4]

At the end of the season Otley made an instant return to their former division by beating runners up Manchester to the title by just one point, with Manchester also gaining promotion by virtue of their second-place finish - both teams would be promoted to the 2008–09 National Division One.[5] Relegated teams included Halifax, Henley Hawks and Nuneaton with Halifax picking up just two wins all season.[6] [7] [8] Halifax and Nuneaton would drop to the 2008–09 National Division Three North while Henley Hawks would go into the 2008–09 National Division Three South.

One of the more bizarre events to take place over the season was Redruth's game away at Cambridge. Trailing 30 – 0 at half time the Reds returned to their dressing room to find that it had been raided by thieves while they had been playing. Incensed at the missing valuables, including wedding rings, the Redruth team refused to come out for the second half. This led to the game finishing 30 – 0 to Cambridge (who also got a bonus point for scoring four tries) and the RFU would dock Redruth 10 points for failing to complete the game.

Participating teams and locations

width=29%Teamwidth=29%Stadiumwidth=12%Capacitywidth=30%City/Area
BlackheathRectory Field6,000Blackheath, London
BlaydonCrow Trees2,000 (400 seats)Swalwell, Tyne and Wear
CambridgeGrantchester Road2,200 (200 seats)Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
HalifaxOvenden ParkHalifax, West Yorkshire
Henley HawksDry Leas4,000Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
ManchesterGrove Park4,000Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
NuneatonLiberty Way4,314
(514 seats)
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
OtleyCross Green5,000Otley, West Yorkshire
RedruthThe Recreation Ground3,500 (580 seats)Redruth, Cornwall
SouthendWarners Bridge ParkSouthend, Essex
StourbridgeStourton Park3,500 (499 seats)Stourbridge, West Midlands
WaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,000
(200 seats)
Blundellsands, Merseyside
Westcombe ParkGoddington Dene3,200
(200 seats)
Orpington, London
WharfedaleThe Avenue2,000Threshfield, Craven, North Yorkshire

Results

Round 1

----

Round 2

----

Round 3

----

Round 4

----

Round 5

----

Round 6

----

Round 7

----

Round 8

----

Round 9

----

Round 10

----

Round 2 (rescheduled games)

----

Round 11

----

Round 12

----

Round 13

----

Round 14

----

Round 15

----

Round 16

----

Round 17

----

Round 16 (rescheduled game)

----

Round 18

----

Round 19

----

Round 20

----

Round 21

----

Round 16 (rescheduled games)

----

Round 22

----

Rounds 13 & 18 (rescheduled games)

----

Round 23

----

Round 24

----

Round 25

----

Round 26

Total season attendances

ClubHome
Games
TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Blackheath 13 9,582 737 1,453 460 12%
Blaydon 13 4,718 363 614 210 18%
Cambridge 13 7,862 605 1,370 402 27%
Halifax 13 4,660 358 585 220 N/A
Henley Hawks 13 4,741 365 527 190 9%
Manchester 13 4,455 343 563 243 9%
Nuneaton 13 2,690 207 400 100 5%
Otley 13 9,639 741 1,363 461 15%
Redruth 13 10,249 788 968 612 23%
Southend 13 5,985 460 720 250 N/A
Stourbridge 13 7,450 573 800 350 16%
Waterloo 12 4,552 379 620 286 4%
Westcombe Park 13 4,606 354 1,021 189 11%
Wharfedale 13 6,209 478 1,010 330 24%

Individual statistics

Top points scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Points
1 25 286
2 26 282
3 22 235
4 19 230
5 24 187
6 26 179
7 26 168
8 22 154
9 20 151
10 19 142
[9]

Top try scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Tries
1 25 21
2 20 18
3 23 17
4 19 15
25 15
5 17 13
23 13
6 25 12
7 23 11
26 11
[10]

Season records

Team

Largest home win — 65 pts67 - 3 Manchester at home to Halifax on 22 March 2008
  • Largest away win — 31 pts39 - 8 Westcombe Park away to Nuneaton on 16 February 2008
  • Most points scored — 67 pts (x2)67 - 15 Westcombe Park at home to Nuneaton on 20 October 2007
    67 - 3 Manchester at home to Halifax on 22 March 2008
  • Most tries in a match — 11Westcombe Park at home to Nuneaton on 20 October 2007
  • Most conversions in a match — 7 (x4)Westcombe Park at home to Halifax on 5 January 2008
    Manchester at home to Blaydon on 8 March 2008
    Southend at home to Henley Hawks on 15 March 2008
    Manchester at home to Halifax on 22 March 2008
  • Most penalties in a match — 4N/A - multiple teams
  • Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3)Nuneaton away to Blaydon on 13 October 2007
    Nuneaton away to Halifax on 27 October 2007
    Stourbridge at home to Otley on 15 March 2008
  • [11] [12] [13] [14]

    Player

    Most points in a match — 27 Robin Kitching for Otley at home to Blackheath on 19 April 2008
  • Most tries in a match — 4 Adam Slade for Westcombe Park at home to Nuneaton on 20 October 2007
  • Most conversions in a match — 7 (x3) Paul Trendell for Westcombe Park at home to Halifax on 5 January 2008
    Gareth Wynne for Manchester at home to Blaydon on 8 March 2008
    Gareth Wynne for Manchester at home to Halifax on 22 March 2008
  • Most penalties in a match — 4N/A - multiple players
  • Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3) Howard Graham for Nuneaton away to Blaydon on 13 October 2007
    Rob Cook for Nuneaton away to Halifax on 27 October 2007
    Rod Petty for Stourbridge at home to Otley on 15 March 2008
  • [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

    Attendances

    Highest — 1,453 Blackheath at home to Westcombe Park on 24 November 2007
  • Lowest — 100 Nuneaton at home to Manchester on 10 November 2007
  • Highest Average Attendance — 788Redruth
  • Lowest Average Attendance — 207 Nuneaton
  • [20]

    See also

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Relegation ooooh relegation . therugbyforum.com . 18 April 2007 .
    2. Web site: Blaydon batter their way to title success . Chronicle Live . 24 April 2007 .
    3. Web site: Just champion!. Echo News . 24 April 2007 .
    4. Web site: Tyne's play-off blues . Chronicle Live . 1 May 2007 .
    5. Web site: Waterloo 15 Otley 37 Champions Otley head back up in fine style . Yorkshire Post . 28 May 2008 .
    6. Web site: Halifax 20 Waterloo 7: Relegated Halifax celebrate at long last . Yorkshire Post . 21 April 2008 .
    7. Web site: Henley 5 Redruth 22 Edward Bawden reports . Redruth Rugby . 20 April 2008 .
    8. Web site: Redruth 39 Nuneaton 16 Roger Watson reports . Redruth Rugby . 27 April 2008 . 2 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703002007/http://www.redruthrugby.com/1583/uncategorized/redruth-39-nuneaton-16-roger-watson-reports/ . 3 July 2015 . dead .
    9. Web site: National Two 07/08 Leading top scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2008.
    10. Web site: National Two 07/08 Leading try scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2008.
    11. Web site: National Two 07/08 Most tries in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2008 .
    12. Web site: National Two 07/08 Most conversions in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2008 .
    13. Web site: National Two 07/08 Most penalties in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2008 .
    14. Web site: National Two 07/08 Most drop goals in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2008 .
    15. Web site: National Two 07/08 Most points in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2008 .
    16. Web site: National Two 07/08 Most tries in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2008 .
    17. Web site: National Two 07/08 Most conversions in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2008 .
    18. Web site: National Two 07/08 Most penalties in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2008 .
    19. Web site: National Two 07/08 Most drop goals in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2008 .
    20. Web site: National Two 07/08 Home attendance . Rugby Statbunker . 26 April 2008 .