2004–05 National Division One Explained

2004–05 National Division One
Champions:Bristol Shoguns
Runnersup:Exeter
Relegated:Orrell and Henley
Highest Attendance:10,349 Bristol Shoguns at home to Exeter Chiefs on 27 March 2005
Attendance:266,588 (average 1,687 per match)
Lowest Attendance:237 Orrell at home to Plymouth Albion on 12 March 2005
Top Point Scorer: Leigh Hinton
(Bedford Blues) 347 points
Top Try Scorer: Sean Marsden
(Bristol Shoguns) 21 tries
Prevseason:2003–04
Nextseason:2005–06

The 2004–05 National Division One was the 18th full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams to the division included Rotherham Titans who were demoted from the 2003–04 Zurich Premiership while Sedgley Park and Nottingham were promoted from the 2003–04 National Division Two.[1] [2] [3] Rotherham almost went into liquidation and dropped out of the leagues following their relegation from the Premiership but were saved by a local consortium which enabled them to continue playing in National One.[4] As well as new teams Coventry had a new ground, moving from Coundon Road to the smaller but more modern Butts Park Arena.[5] [6]

By the end of the season, after two seasons spent in the division, Bristol Shoguns became champions and were promoted back to the Guinness Premiership for season 2005–06.[7] Exeter Chiefs were runners–up, and Orrell (last seasons runners–up) along with Henley were relegated to the 2005–06 National Division Two.[8] [9] [10]

Participating teams

width=25%Teamwidth=25%Stadiumwidth=25%Capacitywidth=25%City/Area
Bedford BluesGoldington Road7,000Bedford, Bedfordshire
Bristol ShogunsMemorial Stadium12,100Bristol
CoventryButts Park Arena4,000Coventry, West Midlands
Exeter ChiefsCounty Ground5,200Exeter, Devon
Henley HawksDry Leas4,000Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
London WelshOld Deer Park5,850Richmond, London
NottinghamIreland Avenue4,950Beeston, Nottinghamshire
OrrellEdge Hall Road5,500Orrell, Greater Manchester
OtleyCross Green5,000Otley, West Yorkshire
Penzance & NewlynMennaye Field3,500+Penzance, Cornwall
Pertemps BeesSharmans Cross2,500Solihull, West Midlands
Plymouth AlbionThe Brickfields6,500Plymouth, Devon
Rotherham TitansClifton Lane2,500Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Sedgley ParkPark Lane3,000Whitefield, Greater Manchester

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 13 (rescheduled games)

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Round 1 & 14 (rescheduled games)

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Round 19

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Round 20

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Round 8 (rescheduled game)

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Round 21

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Round 17 (rescheduled game)

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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

Total Season Attendances

ClubHome
Games		TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Bedford Blues 13 26,733 2,056 3,949 1,224 29%
Bristol Shoguns 13 68,040 5,234 10,349 3,853 43%
Coventry 7 12,400 1,771 2,700 950 44%
Exeter Chiefs 13 25,462 1,959 4,380 1,032 38%
Henley Hawks 11 7,822 711 1,358 410 18%
London Welsh 13 14,020 1,078 1,900 350 18%
Nottingham 12 11,232 936 2,122 560 19%
Orrell 12 4,321 360 650 237 7%
Otley 5 3,641 728 811 620 15%
Penzance & Newlyn 12 24,018 2,002 5,000 1,436 54%
Pertemps Bees 9 4,345 483 650 300 19%
Plymouth Albion 13 41,754 3,212 5,354 1,949 49%
Rotherham Titans 12 16,051 1,338 2,000 950 54%
Sedgley Park 13 6,749 519 743 320 17%
[11]

Individual statistics

Top points scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Points
1 25 347
2 22 287
3 24 285
4 24 256
5 26 253
6 26 241
7 24 235
8 25 192
9 25 147
10 20 139
[12]

Top try scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Tries
1 24 21
2 22 18
3 21 15
22 15
4 24 13
26 13
26 13
5 24 12
25 12
26 12
[13]

Season records

Team

Largest home win — 53 pts (x2)62 - 9 Bristol Shoguns at home to Sedgley Park on 16 January 2005
68 - 15 Bristol Shoguns at home to Exeter Chiefs on 27 March 2005
  • Largest away win — 48 pts53 - 5 Bristol Shoguns away to Orrell on 9 April 2005
  • Most points scored — 68 pts68 - 15 Bristol Shoguns at home to Exeter Chiefs on 27 March 2005
  • Most tries in a match — 10Bristol Shoguns away to Nottingham on 2 October 2005
  • Most conversions in a match — 8 (x2)Rotherham Titans at home to Orrell on 18 September 2004
    Bristol Shoguns at home to Sedgley Park on 16 January 2005
  • Most penalties in a match — 9Coventry at home to Otley on 13 November 2004
  • Most drop goals in a match — 2Bristol Shoguns at home to London Welsh on 12 September 2004

    • [14] [15] [16] [17]

    Player

    Most points in a match — 27 (x2) Ramiro Pez for Rotherham Titans at home to Orrell on 18 September 2004
    Matthew Leek for Coventry at home to Otley on 13 November 2004
  • Most tries in a match — 4 (x2) Dan Ward-Smith for Plymouth Albion at home to Coventry on 9 October 2004
    Sean Marsden for Bristol Shoguns away to Orrell on 9 April 2005
  • Most conversions in a match — 8 Ramiro Pez for Rotherham Titans at home to Orrell on 18 September 2004
  • Most penalties in a match — 9 Matthew Leek for Coventry at home to Otley on 13 November 2004
  • Most drop goals in a match — 1N/A - multiple players

    • [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

    Attendances

    Highest — 10,349Bristol Shoguns at home to Exeter Chiefs on 27 March 2005
  • Lowest — 237Orrell at home to Plymouth Albion on 12 March 2005
  • Highest Average Attendance — 5,234Bristol Shoguns
  • Lowest Average Attendance — 360Orrell

    • [23]

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Rotherham 21-35 Gloucester . BBC Sport . 22 February 2004 .
    2. Web site: Rugby union: Champs crush battling Lions; RUGBY LIONS 35 SEDGLEY PARK . Sunday Mercury . 17 April 2004 .
    3. Web site: Final League Tables – 2003/04 Season . Moseley Rugby . 24 April 2004 . 17 January 2016 . 22 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150722170625/http://moseleyrugby.co.uk/oldsite/%5E%20CLUB_HISTORY/League%20Tables/past%20leagues%20200304.htm . dead .
    4. Web site: Rotherham back from the brink . The Telegraph . 10 September 2004 .
    5. Web site: Coventry learn harsh lesson . The Telegraph . 15 March 2004 .
    6. Web site: Coventry Rugby Club History . Coventry RFC . 17 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140914025958/http://www.coventryrfc.co.uk/club-history . 14 September 2014 . dead . dmy-all .
    7. Web site: Bristol get promotion green light . BBC Sport . 29 April 2005 .
    8. Web site: Titans fans robbed of quality . rugbynetwork.net . 24 April 2005 .
    9. Web site: Rugby Union: New Owners Beckon as Orrell Are Relegated; Orrell . Daily Post . 6 April 2005 .
    10. Web site: Leagues 2004/05. Moseley Rugby club. 13 August 2012.
    11. Web site: National One 04/05 Home attendances . Rugby Statbunker. 30 April 2005.
    12. Web site: National One 04/05 Leading point scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 30 April 2005.
    13. Web site: National One 04/05 Leading try scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 30 April 2005.
    14. Web site: National One 04/05 Most tries in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 30 April 2005 .
    15. Web site: National One 04/05 Most conversions in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 30 April 2005 .
    16. Web site: National One 04/05 Most penalties in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 30 April 2005 .
    17. Web site: National One 04/05 Most drop goals in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 30 April 2005 .
    18. Web site: National One 04/05 Most points in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 30 April 2005 .
    19. Web site: National One 04/05 Most tries in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 30 April 2005 .
    20. Web site: National One 04/05 Most conversions in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 30 April 2005 .
    21. Web site: National One 04/05 Most penalties in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 30 April 2005 .
    22. Web site: National One 04/05 Most drop goals in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 30 April 2005 .
    23. Web site: National One 04/05 Home attendance . Rugby Statbunker . 30 April 2005 .

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