2008–09 National Division Two Explained
| 2008–09 National Division Two |
| Champions: | Birmingham & Solihull |
| Runnersup: | Cambridge |
| Relegated: | Waterloo, Mounts Bay, Southend, Westcombe Park |
| Matches: | 181 |
| Highest Attendance: | 2,218 Redruth at home to Mounts Bay on 20 December 2008 |
| Attendance: | 98968 |
| Lowest Attendance: | 131 Westcombe Park at home to Wharfedale on 29 November 2008 |
| Top Point Scorer: | Mark Woodrow
Birmingham & Solihull 373 points |
| Top Try Scorer: | Simon Hunt
Birmingham & Solihull 31 tries |
| Prevseason: | 2007-08 |
| Nextseason: | 2009-10 |
The 2008-09 National Division Two was the ninth and final version (twenty second overall) of the third division of the English rugby union league system using the name National Division Two. The RFU was planning to introduced a new professionalized format of the second division for the 2009-10 season which would lead to widespread league changes throughout the English league system including National Two being renamed National One and being increased from the 14 teams to 16 teams – a decision they made halfway through the season (more information on these changes is provided in the Divisional Changes section below).[1] New teams to the division included Birmingham & Solihull (known the following season as Pertemps Bees) and Launceston who were relegated from the 2007–08 National Division One while promoted teams included Tynedale coming up from the 2007–08 National Division Three North while Mounts Bay (champions) and Cinderford (playoffs) both from the 2007–08 National Division Three South.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
At the end of the season Birmingham & Solihull made an instant return to the (newly named) 2009-10 RFU Championship.[7] They edged out runners up Cambridge by just 3 points due to the virtue of a superior bonus points record after both sides finished with 22 wins and 4 defeats each. At the bottom of the table Waterloo, Mounts Bay, Southend and Westcombe Park were relegated with Westcombe Park and Southend dropping to the 2009–10 National League 2 South and Waterloo falling to the 2009–10 National League 2 North.[8] [9] [10] [11] The relegation of Mounts Bay was particularly potent as it led to the club going out of business in June 2009 due to spiraling debts and an inability to cope with the increase of professionalism in the game.[12] [13]
Divisional Changes
Halfway through the season the RFU proposed to have a total restructuring of the league system. Resulting in many changes to the division:
- The league will be increased to 16 teams
- The league will be renamed National Division One
- Only one team would be promoted instead of the usual two, to the new Guinness Championship
- Five teams would be relegated into the division instead of the usual two
- Fours teams would be promoted from National Division Three North and National Division Three South (two teams each) instead of the usual three
Participating teams and locations
| width=29% | Team | width=25% | Stadium | width=15% | Capacity | width=30% | City/Area |
|---|
| Birmingham & Solihull | Sharmans Cross Road | 2,500 | Solihull, West Midlands |
| Blackheath | Rectory Field | 6,000 | Blackheath, London |
| Blaydon | Crow Trees | 2,000 (400 seats) | Swalwell, Tyne and Wear |
| Cambridge | Grantchester Road | 2,200 (200 seats) | Cambridge, Cambridgeshire |
| Cinderford | Dockham Road | 2,500 | Cinderford, Gloucestershire |
| Launceston | Polson Bridge | 3,000 | Launceston, Cornwall |
| Mounts Bay | Mennaye Field | 3,500 | Penzance, Cornwall |
| Redruth | Recreation Ground | 3,500 (580 seats) | Redruth, Cornwall |
| Southend | Warners Bridge Park | | Southend, Essex |
| Stourbridge | Stourton Park | 3,500 (499 seats) | Stourbridge, West Midlands |
| Tynedale | Tynedale Park | 2,000 (400 seats) | Corbridge, Northumberland |
| Waterloo | St Anthony's Road | 9,000 (200 seats) | Blundellsands, Merseyside |
| Westcombe Park | Goddington Dene | 3,200 (200 seats) | Orpington, London |
| Wharfedale | The Avenue | 2,000 | Threshfield, Craven, North Yorkshire |
|
Results
[14]
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
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 14 April 2009.
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Round 13
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 February 2009.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 7 February 2009.
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Round 14
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 14 March 2009.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 January 2009.
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Round 15
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 April 2009.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 May 2009.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 February 2009.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 10 April 2009.
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Round 16
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 14 March 2009.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 14 March 2009.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 May 2009.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 May 2009.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 February 2009.
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Round 14 (Rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 20 December 2008.
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Round 17
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Round 18
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Round 13 (Rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 6 December 2008.
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Round 19
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 April 2009.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 May 2009.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 April 2009.
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Round 20
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Rounds 13, 15 & 16 (Rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 6 December 2008.
- Game rescheduled from 10 January 2009.
- Game rescheduled from 3 January 2009.
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Round 21
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Rounds 14 & 16 (Rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 10 January 2009.
- Game rescheduled from 10 January 2009.
- Game rescheduled from 20 December 2008.
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Round 22
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Round 23
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Round 24
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Rounds 15 & 19 (Rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 14 February 2009.
- Game rescheduled from 3 January 2009.
- Game rescheduled from 3 January 2009.
- Game rescheduled from 14 February 2009.
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Round 12 (Rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 29 November 2008.
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Round 25
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Round 26
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Rounds 15 & 16 (Rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 3 January 2009.
- Game rescheduled from 10 January 2009.
- Game rescheduled from 10 January 2009.
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Round 19 (Rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 14 February 2009.
Total season attendances
| Club | Home
Games | Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
|---|
| Birmingham & Solihull | 13 | 7,522 | 579 | 1,177 | 314 | 23% |
| Blackheath | 13 | 9,164 | 705 | 1,498 | 363 | 12% |
| Blaydon | 13 | 5,205 | 400 | 752 | 205 | 20% |
| Cambridge | 13 | 7,980 | 614 | 1,380 | 350 | 28% |
| Cinderford | 13 | 6,760 | 520 | 815 | 240 | 21% |
| Launceston | 13 | 11,746 | 904 | 1,911 | 582 | 30% |
| Mounts Bay | 13 | 6,178 | 475 | 1,500 | 136 | 14% |
| Redruth | 13 | 15,212 | 1,170 | 2,218 | 820 | 33% |
| Southend | 12 | 4,415 | 368 | 495 | 200 | |
| Stourbridge | 13 | 6,150 | 473 | 650 | 300 | 14% |
| Tynedale | 13 | 6,046 | 465 | 810 | 210 | 23% |
| Waterloo | 13 | 3,574 | 275 | 450 | 174 | 3% |
| Westcombe Park | 13 | 3,035 | 233 | 531 | 131 | 7% |
| Wharfedale | 13 | 5,981 | 460 | 598 | 368 | 23% |
|
Individual statistics
- Note if players are tied on tries or points the player with the lowest number of appearances will come first. Also note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
| Rank | Player | Team | Appearances | Points |
|---|
| 1 | | | 25 | 373 |
| 2 | | | 23 | 250 |
| 3 | | | 24 | 246 |
| 4 | | | 23 | 197 |
| 5 | | | 23 | 183 |
| 6 | | | 25 | 169 |
| 7 | | | 14 | 161 |
| | 19 | 161 |
| 8 | | | 26 | 155 |
| 9 | | | 24 | 152 |
|
[15] Top try scorers
| Rank | Player | Team | Appearances | Tries |
|---|
| 1 | | | 26 | 31 |
| 2 | | | 22 | 24 |
| 3 | | | 18 | 18 |
| | 25 | 18 |
| 4 | | | 26 | 17 |
| 5 | | | 26 | 15 |
| | 26 | 15 |
| 6 | | | 26 | 14 |
| 7 | | | 25 | 13 |
| 8 | | | 19 | 12 |
|
[16] Season records
Team
- Largest home win — 115 pts115 - 0 Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
Largest away win — 61 pts85 - 24 Blackheath away to Waterloo on 28 February 2009
Most points scored — 115 pts115 - 0 Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
Most tries in a match — 17115 - 0 Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
Most conversions in a match — 15115 - 0 Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
Most penalties in a match — 7Mounts Bay at home to Southend on 5 November 2008
Most drop goals in a match — 1N/A - multiple teams
[17] [18] [19] [20]
Player
- Most points in a match — 35 (x2) Alastair Bressington for Stourbridge away to Westcombe Park on 25 October 2008
Mark Woodrow for Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
Most tries in a match — 5 Emyr Lewis for Redruth at home to Waterloo on 21 March 2009
Most conversions in a match — 15 Mark Woodrow for Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
Most penalties in a match — 7 Daniel Hawkes for Mounts Bay at home to Southend on 5 November 2008
Most drop goals in a match — 1N/A - multiple players
[21] [22] [23] [24] [25]
Attendances
- Highest — 2,218 Redruth at home to Mounts Bay on 20 December 2008
Lowest — 131 Westcombe Park at home to Wharfedale on 29 November 2008
Highest Average Attendance — 1,170Redruth
Lowest Average Attendance — 233 Westcombe Park
[26]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Championship plan gains support . BBC News . 14 November 2008 .
- Web site: Hollow win as Pertemps Bees are relegated . Birmingham Post . 28 April 2008 .
- Web site: Launceston relegated by huge loss . BBC News . 27 April 2008 .
- Web site: Bubbly flows as title comes to Tynedale . News and Star . 6 March 2008 .
- Web site: MOUNT’S BAY CROWN FINE SEASON . Trelawny's Army . 14 April 2008 .
- Web site: Foresters play-off win 'no fluke' . BBC News . 30 April 2008 .
- Web site: Birmingham & Solihull win promotion on glorious day . Birmingham Post . 27 April 2009 .
- Web site: Redruth 96-5 Waterloo . BBC News . 21 March 2009 .
- Web site: Mounts Bay 26-40 Cinderford . BBC News . 5 April 2009 .
- Web site: Relegated Southend end term on low note . Daily Gazette . 28 April 2009 .
- Web site: Club relegate rivals Combe . Bexley Times . 29 April 2009 .
- Web site: Mounts Bay signal intent to fold . BBC News . 10 July 2009 .
- Web site: Mounts Bay fall off the rugby map . BBC News . 24 July 2009 .
- Web site: Redruth fixtures 2008-09 . Redruth Rugby . 20 May 2008 .
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Leading top scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 9 May 2009.
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Leading try scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 9 May 2009.
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Most tries in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 9 May 2009 .
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Most conversions in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 9 May 2009 .
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Most penalties in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 9 May 2009 .
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Most drop goals in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 9 May 2009 .
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Most points in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 9 May 2009 .
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Most tries in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 9 May 2009 .
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Most conversions in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 9 May 2009 .
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Most penalties in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 9 May 2009 .
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Most drop goals in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 9 May 2009 .
- Web site: National Two 08/09 Home attendance . Rugby Statbunker . 9 May 2009 .
