The 2002–03 National Division Two was the third version (sixteenth overall) of the
third division of the
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Culture, language and peoples
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
* ''English'', an Amish ter ...
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
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 foun ...
and
Bracknell
Bracknell () is a town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, the westernmost area within the Greater London Built-up Area, Greater London Urban Area and the administrative centre of the borough of Bracknell Forest. It lies to the east of Re ...
who were relegated from the
2001–02 National Division One while promoted teams included
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 ...
who were champions of the
2001–02 National Division Three North
The 2001–02 National Division Three North was the second season (fifteenth overall) of the fourth division (north) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three North. New teams to the division include ...
as well as
Cornish teams
Penzance & Newlyn (champions) and
Launceston (playoffs) who came up from the
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 ...
. The league points system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
Penzance & Newlyn finished the season as champions with Henley Hawks six points behind as runners up, both sides being convincingly the best in the division and would be promoted to the
2003–04 National Division One
The 2003–04 National Division One was the seventeenth 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 Bristol Shoguns who had been rel ...
for the next season.
For Penzance & Newlyn it was their second successive promotion while Henley made an instant return having been relegated the following season.
Fylde 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 ...
were the first two sides to be relegated but the battle for the last relegation spot was very tight with just three points separating 12th from 8th in the division. Launceston went into their last game ahead of relegation rivals
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 ...
and
Wharfedale
Wharfedale ( ) is one of the Yorkshire Dales. It is situated at source in North Yorkshire and then flows into West Yorkshire and forms the upper valley of the River Wharfe. Towns and villages in Wharfedale (downstream, from west to east) includ ...
, but while those sides won their games, Launceston lost their home game against league champions and local rivals Penzance & Newlyn to condemn the Polson Bridge side to the drop – dead level with Nottingham but with a worse points difference.
[ Fylde and Kendal would drop to the ]2003–04 National Division Three North
The 2003–04 National Division Three North was the fourth season (sixteenth overall) of the fourth division (north) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three North. New teams to the division include ...
while Launceston returned to the 2003–04 National Division Three South
The 2003–04 National Division Three South was the fourth season (17th overall) of the fourth division (south) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three South. New teams to the division included La ...
.
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
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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 28 December 2002.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 December 2002.
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Round 14 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 21 December 2002.
*Game rescheduled from 21 December 2002.
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Round 15
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.
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Round 16
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.
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Round 17
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Round 18
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Round 19
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
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Round 20
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Rounds 15 & 16 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 4 January 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 15 January 2003.
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Round 21
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Round 22
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Rounds 16 & 19 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.
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Round 23
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Round 16 (rescheduled game)
*Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
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Round 24
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Round 25
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Round 26
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 — 50 pts
74 - 24 Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
;Largest away win — 42 pts
54 - 12 Penzance & Newlyn away to Kendal on 7 December 2002
;Most points scored — 74 pts
74 - 24 Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
;Most tries in a match — 10
Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
;Most conversions in a match — 9
Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
;Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2)
Sedgley Park away to Wharfedale on 31 August 2002
Stourbridge at home to Kendal on 16 November 2003
;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3)
Esher at home to Kendal on 28 September 2002
Kendal at home to Henley Hawks on 2 November 2002
Kendal at home to Newbury Blues on 8 February 2003
Player
;Most points in a match — 28 (x2)
Chris Glynn for Sedgley Park away to Wharfedale on 31 August 2002
Jonathon Davies for Wharfedale at home to Kendal on 12 April 2003
;Most tries in a match — 4 (x2)
Victor Olonga for Penzance & Newlyn away to Kendal on 7 December 2002
Nash Shumba for Esher away to Stourbridge on 8 February 2003
;Most conversions in a match — 9
Barry Reeves
''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera created by Reg Watson. It was first broadcast on 18 March 1985. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the serial in 1999, by order of first appearance. All characters w ...
for Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003
;Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2)
Chris Glynn for Sedgley Park away to Wharfedale on 31 August 2002
Ben Harvey for Stourbridge at home to Kendal on 16 November 2003
;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3)
Chris Finch for Esher at home to Kendal on 28 September 2002
Mike Scott for Kendal at home to Henley Hawks on 2 November 2002
Mike Scott for Kendal at home to Newbury Blues on 8 February 2003
Attendances
;Highest — 2,200
Penzance & Newlyn at home to Henley Hawks on 18 January 2003
;Lowest — 120 (x2)
Bracknell against Nottingham 8 March 2003 and Sedgley Park on 15 March 2003
;Highest Average Attendance — 1,614
Penzance & Newlyn
;Lowest Average Attendance — 231
Bracknell
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:2002-03 National League 1
National
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Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, c ...
National League 1 seasons