The 2012–13 National League 2 South was the fourth season (26th overall) of the fourth tier (south) of the English domestic

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

competitions since the professionalised format of the

second division In sport, the Second Division, also called Division 2 or Division II is usually the second highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below. Following the rise of Premier League style compet ...

was introduced. The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into

National League 1 National One (last season known as National League 1 and previously known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third of three national leagues in the domestic rugby union competition of England. It was known as Courage Leagu ...

while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from

National League 2 North National League 2 North is one of three, level four leagues in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in the northern half of England, the North. The remainder of England is covered by the two counte ...

(at the home ground of the club with the superior league record) for the final promotion place.

Henley Hawks Henley Hawks is a rugby union club based in Henley-on-Thames and is one of the leading rugby clubs in the Thames Valley. The first team play in the fourth tier of the English league system; National League 2 East. History Henley RFC was fo ...

, as champions, were promoted to the third tier ( 2013–14 National League 1) for next season, along with Worthing Raiders who finished second. Worthing beat the 2012–13 National League 2 North runners up

Stourbridge Stourbridge is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the West Midlands, England, situated on the River Stour. Historically in Worcestershire, it was the centre of British glass making during the Industrial Revolution. The 20 ...

28–26 to win the annual promotion playoff.

Barking Barking may refer to: Places * Barking, London, a town in East London, England ** London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, a local government district covering the town of Barking ** Municipal Borough of Barking, a historical local government dist ...

and

Lydney Lydney is a town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is on the west bank of the River Severn in the Forest of Dean District, and is 16 miles (25 km) southwest of Gloucester. The town has been bypassed by the A48 road since 1995 ...

were both relegated to

National League 3 South West Regional 1 South West (formerly South West Premier and National League 3 South West) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as South West D ...

and

National League 3 London & SE Regional 1 South East (up until 2022-23 known as London & South East Premier and up until 2016-17 known as National League 3 London & South East) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. ...

respectively with Barking winning just one game in what was a very poor season. As well as winning the league Henley Hawks also saw a divisional record attendance at Dry Leas with 3,270 fans turning up to the last game of the season - the championship decider against Worthing Raiders which Henley won 55 - 27 to seal the title for the Oxfordshire club.

Participating teams

Twelve of the teams listed below participated in the 2011–12 National League 2 South season. Barking were relegated from National League 1 after just one season and both Bournemouth and Chinnor were promoted from National League 3 South West.

Rugby Lions The Rugby Lions, nicknamed The Lions, is an English rugby union club based in Rugby, Warwickshire. The club plays its home matches at Webb Ellis Road. Its developmental squad is known as the Crusaders. The club also has a ladies team known as ...

were on the original fixture list after winning promotion from

National League 3 Midlands 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, ce ...

but during July 2012 they went into liquidation and were unable to participate in the division, leaving fifteen teams instead of the usual sixteen.

League table

Results

Round 1

Bye: Worthing Raiders ----

Round 2

Bye: Chinnor ----

Round 3

Bye: Redruth ----

Round 4

Bye: Hartpury College ----

Round 5

Bye: Dings Crusaders ----

Round 6

Bye: Shelford ----

Round 7

Bye: Henley Hawks ----

Round 8

Bye: Southend Saxons ----

Round 9

Bye: Clifton ----

Round 10

Bye: Taunton Titans ----

Round 11

Bye: Launceston ----

Round 12

Bye: Lydney ----

Round 13

*Postponed. Game to be rescheduled to 1 December 2012. Bye: Bournemouth ----

Round 13 (Rescheduled Game)

*Game rescheduled from 24 November 2012. ----

Round 14

Bye: Barking ----

Round 15

Bye: Canterbury ----

Round 16

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. Bye: Chinnor ----

Round 17

Bye: Redruth ----

Round 18

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2013. Bye: Hartpury College ----

Round 19

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 March 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 March 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2013. Bye: Dings Crusaders ----

Round 20

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 March 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. Bye: Shelford ----

Round 21

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. Bye: Henley Hawks ----

Rounds 16, 19 & 21 (Rescheduled Games)

*Rescheduled from 22 December 2012. *Rescheduled from 22 December 2012. *Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 2 February 2013. *Rescheduled from 22 December 2012. *Rescheduled from 22 December 2012. *Rescheduled from 22 December 2012. ----

Round 22

Bye: Southend Saxons ----

Rounds 18 & 19 (Rescheduled Games)

*Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 12 January 2013. ----

Round 23

Bye: Clifton ----

Round 24

Bye: Taunton Titans ----

Rounds 19 & 20 (Rescheduled Games)

*Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 26 February 2013. *Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. ----

Round 25

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 May 2013. Bye: Launceston ----

Round 26

Bye: Lydney ----

Round 27

Bye: Bournemouth ----

Round 28

Bye: Barking ----

Round 29

Bye: Canterbury ----

Round 30

Bye: Worthing Raiders ----

Rounds 20 & 25 (Rescheduled Games)

*Rescheduled from 26 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 23 March 2013. *Rescheduled from 23 March 2013. *Rescheduled from 23 March 2013. *Rescheduled from 23 March 2013. *Rescheduled from 26 January 2013. ----

Round 25 (Rescheduled Game)

*Rescheduled from 23 March 2013.

Promotion play–off

Each season, the runners–up in the National League 2 South and

participate in a play–off for promotion into

. The team with the best playing record, in this case northern runners up

, would gain the home advantage with southern runners up Worthing Raiders having to travel up to the Midlands for the game.

Total Season Attendances

Individual statistics

* Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Does not include North - South playoff game.

Top Points Scorers

Top Try Scorers

Season records

Team

;Largest home win — 78 pts 74 - 0 Taunton Titans at home to Barking on 17 November 2012 ;Largest away win — 83 pts 85 - 3 Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 ;Most points scored — 85 pts 85 - 3 Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 ;Most tries in a match — 13 Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 ;Most conversions in a match — 10 Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 ;Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2) Hartpury College away to Dings Crusaders on 17 November 2012
Dings Crusaders away to Lydney on 1 December 2012 ;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2) Launceston away to Hartpury College on 5 January 2013
Southend Saxons away to Worthing Raiders on 30 March 2013

Player

;Most points in a match — 29 Kieron Lewitt for Launceston at home to Barking on 6 April 2013 ;Most tries in a match — 5 Gareth Evans for Hartpury College at home to Clifton on 27 April 2013 ;Most conversions in a match — 10 James Combden for Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 ;Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2) Luke Cozens for Hartpury College away to Dings Crusaders on 17 November 2012
Danial Trigg for Dings Crusaders away to Lydney on 1 December 2012 ;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2) Jake Murphy for Launceston away to Hartpury College on 5 January 2013

Robert Kirby Robert Kirby (16 April 1948 – 3 October 2009) was a British-born arranger of string sections for rock and folk music. He was best known for his work on the Nick Drake albums, ''Five Leaves Left'' and ''Bryter Layter'', but also worked wi ...

for Southend Saxons away to Worthing Raiders on 30 March 2013

Attendances

;Highest — 3,270 Henley Hawks at home against Worthing Raiders on 4 May 2013 ;Lowest — 67 Barking at home against Taunton Titans on 30 March 20131 ;Highest Average Attendance — 724 Redruth ;Lowest Average Attendance — 102 Barking

References

External links

NCA Rugby
{{DEFAULTSORT:National2 2012-13 2012–13 in English rugby union leagues