The 2001–02 National Division Three North was the second season (fifteenth overall) of the
fourth division (north) 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 Three North. New teams to the division included
West Hartlepool
West Hartlepool was a predecessor of Hartlepool, County Durham, England. It developed in the Victorian era and took the name from its western position in the parish of what is now known as the Headland.
The former town was originally formed ...
who were relegated from the
2000–01 National Division Two
The 2000–01 National Division Two was the fourteenth full season of rugby union within the third tier of the English league system currently known as National League 1. New teams to the division included West Hartlepool and Rugby Lions who were ...
while promoted teams included
Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe () is an industrial town in Lincolnshire, England, and the county's third most populous settlement after Lincoln, England, Lincoln and Grimsby, with a population of 81,286 in 2021. It is the administrative centre and largest settleme ...
who were champions of
Midlands Division 1 while
Darlington Mowden Park (champions) and
Blaydon
Blaydon is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England, and historically in County Durham. Blaydon, and neighbouring Winlaton, which Blaydon is now contiguous with, form the town of Blaydon-on-Tyne. The Blaydon/Winl ...
(playoffs) came up from
North Division 1. The league system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw with the promotion system changing for this season with a playoff system being introduced. The champions of both National Division Three North and
National Division Three South
National League 2 South (known before September 2009 as National Division Three South) was a level four league in the English rugby union system until the end of season 2021–22. It was one of two leagues at this level, with its counterpart, N ...
would automatically go up but the runners up of these two divisions would meet each other in a one off match (at the home ground of the side with the superior league record) to see who would claim the third and final promotion place to
National Division Two
National One, up until 2023 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 Lea ...
for the following season.
After the havoc caused by the previous seasons
foot-and-mouth crisis, this year's competition was much more straightforward with all fixtures being fulfilled.
Doncaster
Doncaster ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, Yorkshire, River Don, it is the administrative centre of the City of Doncaster metropolitan borough, and is the second largest se ...
were easily the top side in the competition, strolling to the league title with almost a perfect record (they lost just the one game) and gaining promotion to the
2002–03 National Division Two
The 2002–03 National Division Two was the third version (sixteenth overall) of the National League 1, third division of the England, English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division includ ...
.
As league runners up,
Dudley Kingswinford
Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union football club based in Kingswinford in the West Midlands. The club currently participate in the fifth tier of English club rugby, Regional 1 Midlands, following their relegatio ...
had a tough playoff game away against
2001–02 National Division Three South
The 2001–02 National Division Three South was the second season (fifteenth overall) of the National League 2 South, fourth division (south) of the England, English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three South. N ...
runners up
Launceston who were ultimately too strong for the Midlands side who lost 26 - 0 and had to spend another season in National Division Three North.
Unlike 2000-01 the relegation process was much more straightforward expect that four teams would go down instead of the usual two. West Hartlepool were the first team to be relegated, suffering their fourth relegation in a row (the north-west club were actually a
Premiership team at the start of this slide), followed swiftly by
Sandal
Sandals are an open type of shoe, consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by straps going over the instep and around the ankle. Sandals can also have a heel. While the distinction between sandals and other types of footwear can sometim ...
as easily the two worst sides in the league.
Morley and
Whitchurch were the other teams to be relegated, being much more competitive but not having quite enough to stay safe.
[ West Hartlepool, Sandal and Morley dropped to North Division 1 while Whitchurch went into Midlands Division 1.
]
Participating teams and locations
Final league table
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
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 December 2001.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 December 2001.
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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
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 December 2001.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 December 2001.
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Rounds 7 & 14 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 3 November 2001.
*Game initially rescheduled from 29 December 2001 but postponed again until 16 February 2002.
*Game initially rescheduled from 3 November 2001 but postponed again until 2 March 2002.
*Game initially rescheduled from 29 December 2001 but postponed again until 16 February 2002.
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Round 15
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
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Round 16
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2002.
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Round 17
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Round 18
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 2002.
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Round 19
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Round 20
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Rounds 7 & 14 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 22 December 2001.
*Game rescheduled firstly from 22 December 2001 and then from 29 December 2001.
*Game rescheduled from 22 December 2001.
*Game rescheduled from 22 December 2001.
*Game rescheduled from 22 December 2001.
*Game initially rescheduled from 3 November 2001 & then 29 December 2001.
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Round 21
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 27 April 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 27 April 2002.
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Rounds 14, 15 & 22 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 29 December 2002.
*Game brought forward from 9 March 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
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Round 22
*Game brought forward to 2 March 2002.
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Round 23
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Rounds 15 & 16 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 12 January 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
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Round 24
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Round 25
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Round 26
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Round 18 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 26 January 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 26 January 2002.
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Round 21 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 23 February 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 23 February 2002.
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Promotion play-off
The league runners up of National Division Three South and North would meet in a playoff game for promotion to National Division Two. Launceston were runners-up in the south and because they had a better league record than north runners-up, Dudley Kingswinford
Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union football club based in Kingswinford in the West Midlands. The club currently participate in the fifth tier of English club rugby, Regional 1 Midlands, following their relegatio ...
, they hosted the play-off match.
[
]
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 — 83 pts
86 - 3 Doncaster at home to Darlington Mowden Park on 13 April 2002
;Largest away win — 61 pts
71 - 0 Dudley Kingswinford away to Sandal on 24 November 2001
;Most points scored — 95 pts
95 - 13 Doncaster at home to West Hartlepool on 24 November 2001
;Most tries in a match — 15
Doncaster at home to West Hartlepool on 24 November 2001
;Most conversions in a match — 10
Doncaster at home to West Hartlepool on 24 November 2001
;Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2)
Blaydon at home to New Brighton on 6 October 2001
Scunthorpe at home to Blaydon on 3 November 2001
;Most drop goals in a match — 1 (x8)
N/A (multiple teams)
Player
;Most points in a match — 35
Matt Donkin for Doncaster at home to Whitchurch on 10 November 2001
;Most tries in a match — 7
Matt Donkin for Doncaster at home to Whitchurch on 10 November 2001
;Most conversions in a match — 10
John Liley for Doncaster at home to West Hartlepool on 24 November 2001
;Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2)
James Lofthouse for Blaydon at home to New Brighton on 6 October 2001
Tim Robinson for Scunthorpe at home to Blaydon on 3 November 2001
;Most drop goals in a match — 1 (x22)
N/A (multiple players)
Attendances
;Highest — 2,000
Doncaster at home to Dudley Kingswinford on 26 January 2002
;Lowest — 100 (x2)
Sandal at home to Dudley Kingswinford on 24 November 2001 and Whitchurch on 16 February 2002
;Highest Average Attendance — 1,500
Doncaster
;Lowest Average Attendance — 150
Nuneaton
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:National3
2001–02
2001–02 in English rugby union leagues