The 2001–02 National Division Two was the second version (fifteenth overall) of the
third division of the
English domestic
rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
competition using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division included
Orrell and
Waterloo who were relegated from the
2000–01 National Division One while
Stourbridge
Stourbridge () is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Situated on the River Stour, Worcestershire, River Stour, the town lies around west of Birmingham,
at the southwester ...
(champions) and
Sedgley Park
Prestwich ( ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England, north of Manchester, north of Salford and south of Bury.
Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, Prestwich was the seat of the ...
(playoffs) came up from the
2000–01 National Division Three North and
Plymouth Albion as champions of the
2000-01 National Division Three South. The league points system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
The title race was extremely tight and went to the last game with Orrell winning their rescheduled game away to
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...
to draw dead level with Plymouth Albion at the top of the table and take the title by virtue of a better points difference – the fact Orrell had won both of their games against Plymouth was largely responsible for their victory. Both sides would be promoted to the
2002–03 National Division One with Orrell making an instant return following their relegation at the start of the season while Plymouth would make it a second promotion in a row. As well as gaining promotion the Devon-based side would also be easily the most popular side in the division with over 19,000 fans in total attending throughout the season. At the opposite end of the table
Preston Grasshoppers
Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club is an England, English rugby union team from Preston, Lancashire. The men's senior team play in the RFU National League 2 North, a level 4 league in the RFU league pyramid.
History
The club was founde ...
and Waterloo would be the first sides to be relegated, followed by
Rosslyn Park who battled to the end but never had quite enough to overtake relegation rivals Stourbridge and
Kendal
Kendal, once Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness, England. It lies within the River Kent's dale, from which its name is derived, just outside the boundary of t ...
. Preston and Waterloo would drop down to the
2002–03 National Division Three North while Rosslyn Park went down to the
2002–03 National Division Three South, with Waterloo suffering their second consecutive relegation. It was quite a turn around for Rosslyn Park who went within a whisker to being promoted the previous season only to be relegated this season.
Participating teams and locations
Final league table
Results
Round 1
----
Round 2
----
Round 3
----
Round 4
----
Round 5
----
Round 6
----
Round 7
----
Round 8
----
Round 9
----
Round 10
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 December 2001.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 December 2001.
----
Round 11
----
Round 12
----
Round 13
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
----
Round 14
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
----
Round 10 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 24 November 2001.
*Game rescheduled from 24 November 2001.
----
Round 15
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
----
Round 16
----
Round 17
----
Round 18
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
----
Round 19
----
Round 20
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
----
Rounds 13 & 15 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 15 December 2001.
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
----
Round 21
----
Rounds 14, 18 & 20 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 22 December 2001.
*Game rescheduled from 9 February 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 26 January 2002.
----
Round 22
----
Round 23
----
Round 24
----
Round 25
----
Round 26
----
Round 15 (rescheduled game)
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
Total season attendances
Individual statistics
* Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
Top try scorers
Season records
Team
;Largest home win — 57 pts
92 - 0 Plymouth Albion at home to Esher on 30 March 2002
;Largest away win — 59 pts
67 - 8 Orrell away to Preston Grasshoppers on 16 March 2002
;Most points scored — 67 pts
67 - 8 Orrell away to Preston Grasshoppers on 16 March 2002
;Most tries in a match — 11
Orrell away to Preston Grasshoppers on 16 March 2002
;Most conversions in a match — 8 (x2)
Plymouth Albion at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 23 February 2002
Orrell away to Nottingham on 20 April 2002
;Most penalties in a match — 8
Esher at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 1 December 2001
;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2)
Kendal away to Esher on 10 November 2001
Sedgley park away to Fylde on 1 December 2001
Player
;Most points in a match — 30 (x2)
Colin Stephens for Sedgley Park at home to Wharfedale on 15 December 2001
Ben Harvey for Stourbridge at home to Esher on 6 April 2002
;Most tries in a match — 4
Mark Farrar for Harrogate against Preston Grasshoppers on 6 April 2002
;Most conversions in a match — 8 (x2)
Chris Atkinson for Plymouth Albion at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 23 February 2002
Richard Welding for Orrell away to Nottingham on 20 April 2002
;Most penalties in a match — 8
Jonathon Gregory for Esher at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 1 December 2001
;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2)
Mike Scott for Kendal away to Esher on 10 November 2001
Colin Stephens for Sedgley park away to Fylde on 1 December 2001
Attendances
;Highest — 2,100
Plymouth Albion at home to Fylde on 5 January 2002
;Lowest — 85
Preston Grasshoppers at home to Newbury Blues on 2 March 2002
;Highest Average Attendance — 1,593
Plymouth Albion
;Lowest Average Attendance — 250
Waterloo
See also
*
English Rugby Union Leagues
*
English rugby union system
Men's Rugby union in England consists of 106 leagues, which includes professional leagues at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system.
Women's Rugby union in England consi ...
*
Rugby union in England
Rugby union in England is one of the leading professional and recreational team sports. In 1871 the Rugby Football Union, the governing body for rugby union in England, was formed by 21 rugby clubs, and the first international match, which invol ...
References
External links
NCA Rugby
{{DEFAULTSORT:2001-02 National League 1
National
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, c ...
National League 1 seasons