2018–19 National League 1 Explained

2018–19 National League 1
Date:	1 September 2018 – 27 April 2019
Champions:	Ampthill
Count:	1
Runnersup:	Old Elthamians
Relegated:	Loughborough Students, Esher, Caldy
Matches:	240
Highest Attendance:	3,556 Plymouth Albion v Moseley 30 March 2019
Lowest Attendance:	133 Old Elthamians v Caldy 1 December 2018
Top Point Scorer:	Tom White (Old Elthamians) 270 points
Top Try Scorer:	Craig Holland (Chinnor) 25 tries
Prevseason:	2017–18
Nextseason:	2019–20

The 2018–19 National League 1, known for sponsorship reasons as the SSE National League 1, is the tenth season of the third tier of the English rugby union system, since the professionalised format of the second tier RFU Championship was introduced; and is the 32nd season since league rugby began in 1987.

The league was one of the most competitive for years, with promotion and relegation not decided until the last round. In terms of the championship, at one point it looked like four teams could go on to win it, but in the end it was a two horse race between Ampthill and Old Elthamians. The real decider was when Ampthill won 36-6 at home over Old Elthamians on 3 March 2019, but they still had to keep their head for the remaining five games as Old Elthamians pushed them all the way, eventually claiming the title on 27 April 2019 when they won 52-20 away to Loughborough Students.^[1] Ampthill would be promoted to the 2019–20 RFU Championship - the highest level the club had reached - where they could enjoy derby games at Bedford Blues.

The relegation battle was also hotly contested, with all three sides going down on the last day of the season. Loughborough Students had barely escaped relegation the previous year but after a poor first half of the season, they started to rally and gain some victories, helped by their try bonus record which was one of the best in the league, and looked at one point that they might do it yet again. However, defeats in their last two games against Plymouth Albion and champions, Ampthill, condemned them to the drop as the bottom ranked side in the division.^[1] They were joined by Esher (15th), who went down despite a valiant win away to Blackheath, and Caldy (14th), who were relegated after losing to Birmingham Moseley, finishing just 2 points shy of 13th place Cambridge, who had an excellent away win to Sale FC to thank for keeping them up.^{[2] [3]} Loughborough and Caldy would drop to the 2019–20 National League 2 North while Esher would fall to the 2019–20 National League 2 South. For Esher demotion to level 4 will make it the lowest level they have played at since the 1999-00 season.

Structure

The league consists of sixteen teams with all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of thirty matches each. There is one promotion place with the champions promoted to the Greene King IPA Championship. There are usually three relegation places with the bottom three teams relegated to either National League 2 North or National League 2 South depending on the geographical location of the team.

The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:

• 4 points are awarded for a win
• 2 points are awarded for a draw
• 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
• 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
• 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.

Participating teams and locations

Twelve of the sixteen teams participated in the preceding season's competition. The 2017–18 champions, Coventry, were promoted to the 2018–19 RFU Championship, swapping places with bottom club, Rotherham Titans, who were relegated from the 2017–18 RFU Championship.^{[4] [5]} Sides relegated from the 2017–18 National League 1 included Fylde and Hull Ionians (both National League 2 North) and Old Albanian (National League 2 South).^{[6] [7] [4]}

Teams promoted into the division include Cinderford and Sale FC, champions of 2017–18 National League 2 South and 2017–18 National League 2 North respectively, along with south runners up Chinnor who defeated the north's Sedgley Park in the promotion play-off.^{[8] [9] [10]} Cinderford are returning to National League 1 after an absence of two seasons, while Sale FC and Chinnor are both playing at the highest league level in their history.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Dillingham Park	3,000		4th
		5,000 (1,300 seated)		7th
	Silver Leys	1,600		8th
	Well Hall	1,650 (550 seats)		5th
		4,000		11th
		2,200 (200 seats)		10th
	Kingsey Road	2,000		Promoted from National 2 South (play-off)
	Dockham Road	2,500		Promoted from National 2 South (champions)
		25,500		2nd
		3,500		9th
	Loughborough University Stadium	3,000		13th
	College Meadow	1,800		6th
		8,500		3rd
	The Rock	2,000		12th
		2,500		Relegated from Championship (12th)
		3,387		Promoted from National 2 North (champions)

Fixtures & 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 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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Round 21

• Postponed due to poor weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 23 February 2019.^[31]

• Postponed due to poor weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 23 February 2019.^[32]

• Postponed due to poor weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 23 February 2019.^[33]

• Postponed due to poor weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 23 February 2019.^[34]

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Round 22

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Round 23

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Round 21 (rescheduled games)

• Game rescheduled from 2 February 2019.

• Game rescheduled from 2 February 2019

• Game rescheduled from 2 February 2019.

• Game rescheduled from 2 February 2019.

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Round 24

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Round 25

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Round 26

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Round 27

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Round 28

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Round 29

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Round 30

• Caldy are relegated.^[3]

• Esher are relegated.^[2]

• Ampthill are champions. Loughborough Students are relegated.^[1]

^[45]

Attendances

Club	Home games	Total	Average	Highest	Lowest	% Capacity
Ampthill	15	7,267	484	982	265	16%
Birmingham Moseley	15	10,137	676	1,053	442	14%
Bishop's Stortford	15	8,376	558	860	302	35%
Blackheath	15	8,501	567	1,113	237	34%
Caldy	15	4,778	319	567	156	8%
Cambridge	15	7,335	489	703	381	22%
Chinnor	15	5,699	380	539	270	19%
Cinderford	15	4,411	294	539	158	12%
Darlington Mowden Park	15	13,305	887	1,372	717	3%
Esher	15	6,744	450	809	299	13%
Loughborough Students	15	5,180	345	712	153	12%
Old Elthamians	15	6,610	441	1,770	133	24%
Plymouth Albion	15	16,739	1,116	3,556	558	13%
Rosslyn Park	15	9,739	649	902	553	32%
Rotherham Titans	15	8,976	598	696	504	24%
Sale FC	15	7,347	490	687	314	14%

Individual statistics

• Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Appearance figures also include coming on as substitutes (unused substitutes not included).

Top points scorers

Rank	Player	Team	Appearances	Points
1			30	270
2			26	266
3			26	203
4			24	192
5			30	187
6			23	180
7			28	179
			30	179
8			24	156
9			22	155

^{[45] [46]}

Top try scorers

Rank	Player	Team	Appearances	Tries
1			30	25
2			30	21
3				29	20
			30	20
4			29	19
5			18	15
			25	15
			26	15
6			23	14
7			18	13

^{[45] [47]}

Season records

Team

Largest home win — 52 points59 – 7 Ampthill at home to Caldy on 23 February 2019

Largest away win — 40 points69 – 29 Old Elthamians away to Loughborough Students on 2 February 2019

Most points scored — 69 points69 – 29 Old Elthamians away to Loughborough Students on 2 February 2019

Most tries in a match — 10Old Elthamians away to Loughborough Students on 2 February 2019

Most conversions in a match — 8Old Elthamians away to Loughborough Students on 2 February 2019

Most penalties in a match — 8Rotherham Titans at home to Rosslyn Park on 15 September 2018

Most drop goals in a match — 1 (5)Esher away to Bishop's Stortford on 13 October 2018
Sale FC at home to Rosslyn Park on 20 October 2018
Birmingham Moseley at home to Cambridge on 15 December 2018
Darlington Mowden Park at home to Cinderford on 15 December 2018
Sale FC away to Esher on 30 March 2019

^{[48] [49] [50] [51]}

Attendances

Highest — 3,556Plymouth Albion at home to Birmingham Moseley on 30 March 2019

Lowest — 133Old Elthamians at home to Caldy on 1 December 2018

Highest average attendance — 1,116Plymouth Albion

Lowest average attendance — 294Cinderford

Player

Most points in a match — 26 James Williams for Birmingham Moseley at home to Sale FC on 27 October 2018

Most tries in a match — 4 Adam Caves for Birmingham Moseley at home to Rotherham Titans on 22 September 2018

Most conversions in a match — 8 Tom White for Old Elthamians away to Loughborough Students on 2 February 2019

Most penalties in a match — 8 Alex Dolly for Rotherham Titans at home to Rosslyn Park on 15 September 2018

Most drop goals in a match — 1 (5) Owen Waters for Esher away to Bishop's Stortford on 13 October 2018
Chris Johnson for Sale FC at home to Rosslyn Park on 20 October 2018
Sam Hollingsworth for Birmingham Moseley at home to Cambridge on 15 December 2018
Warren Seals for Darlington Mowden Park at home to Cinderford on 15 December 2018
Emiliano Calle Rivas for Sale FC away to Esher on 30 March 2019

^{[52] [53] [54] [55] [56]}

See also

• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

External links

• NCA Rugby

Notes and References

1. News: Gr-eight win at Students sees Amps as champs. The RugbyPaper. 554. 28 April 2019. 26–27.
2. News: Esher denied their great escape despite triumph. The RugbyPaper. 554. 28 April 2019. 26–27.
3. News: Jacque's last-gasp attack relegates Caldy. The RugbyPaper. 554. 28 April 2019. 26.
4. Web site: Coventry 38 Hull Ionians 21. Coventry RFC. 28 April 2018.
5. Web site: Titans officially relegated after defeat. Rotherham Advertiser. 24 March 2018.
6. Web site: Fylde relegated whilst Coventry take a step closer to glory. NCA Rugby. 12 March 2018.
7. Web site: Brave Old Albanian lose battle with National One drop after Plymouth Albion loss. Herts Advertiser. 26 April 2018.
8. Web site: Brave Bury push champions Cinderford all the way in a thriller. East Anglian Daily Times. 22 April 2018.
9. Web site: Sale FC crowned champions, Blaydon suffer back to back relegations. NCA Rugby. 30 April 2018.
10. News: National Leagues. The RUGBYPaper. 503. Rugby Paper Ltd. 6 May 2018. 26 & 30.
11. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 520. 2 September 2018. 30–31 & 41.
12. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 521. 9 September 2018. 30–31 & 39.
13. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 522. 16 September 2018. 30–31 & 38.
14. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 523. 23 September 2018. 30–31 & 39.
15. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 524. 30 September 2018. 28–29 & 39.
16. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 525. 7 October 2018. 30–31 & 39.
17. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 526. 14 October 2018. 32–33 & 40.
18. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 527. 21 October 2018. 30–31 & 39.
19. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 528. 28 October 2018. 30–31 & 39.
20. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 529. 4 November 2018. 30–31 & 39.
21. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 531. 18 November 2018. 30–31 & 39.
22. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 532. 25 November 2018. 32–33 & 41.
23. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 533. 2 December 2018. 30–31 & 39.
24. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 534. 9 December 2018. 30–31 & 39.
25. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 535. 16 December 2018. 30–31 & 39.
26. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 536. 23 December 2018. 26–27 & 34.
27. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 538. 6 January 2019. 30–31 & 39.
28. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 539. 13 January 2019. 30–31 & 39.
29. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 540. 20 January 2019. 30–31 & 39.
30. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 541. 27 January 2019. 16, 33 & 41.
31. Web site: BREAKING NEWS 1st XV match v Rotherham postponed. Chinnor RFC (Pitchero). 2 February 2019.
32. Web site: BSat 2nd Feb – 1st XV v Caldy POSTPONED. Ampthill RUFC. 2 February 2019.
33. Web site: 1st XV Team Fixtures for 2018 - 2019. Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club. 2 February 2019.
34. Web site: GAME OFF v DMP. Sale FC Rugby. 1 February 2019.
35. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 542. 3 February 2019. 30–31 & 35.
36. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 543. 10 February 2019. 28–29 & 39.
37. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 544. 17 February 2019. 30–31 & 39.
38. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 545. 24 February 2019. 35 & 41.
39. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 546. 3 March 2019. 30–31 & 39.
40. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 547. 10 March 2019. 30–31 & 39.
41. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 549. 24 March 2019. 30–31 & 47.
42. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 550. 31 March 2019. 22–23 & 31.
43. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 551. 7 April 2019. 30–31 & 39.
44. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 552. 14 April 2019. 30–31 & 39.
45. News: National League 1. The RugbyPaper. 553. 28 April 2019. 22–23 & 31.
46. Web site: National One 18/19 Leading top scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 27 April 2019 .
47. Web site: National One 18/19 Leading try scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 27 April 2019 .
48. Web site: National One 18/19 Most tries in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 27 April 2019 .
49. Web site: National One 18/19 Most conversions in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 27 April 2019 .
50. Web site: National One 18/19 Most penalties in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 27 April 2019 .
51. Web site: National One 18/19 Most drop goals in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 27 April 2019 .
52. Web site: National One 18/19 Most points in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 27 April 2019 .
53. Web site: National One 18/19 Most tries in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 27 April 2019 .
54. Web site: National One 18/19 Most conversions in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 27 April 2019 .
55. Web site: National One 18/19 Most penalties in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 27 April 2019 .
56. Web site: National One 18/19 Most drop goals in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 27 April 2019 .