The 2003–04 National Division Three South was the fourth season (17th overall) of the
fourth division (south) 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 South. New teams to the division included
Launceston who were relegated from 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 ...
while promoted clubs included
Southend
Southend-on-Sea (), commonly referred to as Southend (), is a coastal city and unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in south-eastern Essex, England. It lies on the nor ...
(champions) and
Haywards Heath
Haywards Heath ( ) is a town in West Sussex, England, south of London, north of Brighton, south of Gatwick Airport and northeast of the county town, Chichester. Nearby towns include Burgess Hill to the southwest, Horsham to the northwest, ...
(playoffs) coming up from
London Division 1 and
Dings Crusaders as champions of
South West Division 1. The league system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw with the league champions going straight up into
National Division Two and the runners up playing a playoff against the runners up from
National Division Three North for the final promotion place.
The season saw an incredibly tight title race between
Blackheath and Launceston. Both sides would finish dead level on 44 points each but Blackheath finished as champions thanks to a better for and against record.
Launceston would join the London side in the
2004–05 National Division Two
The 2004–05 National Division Two was the fifth version (eighteenth overall) of the National League 1, third division of the England, English rugby union league system using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division included Man ...
, making an instant return by defeating
2003–04 National Division Three North runners up
Halifax in their promotion playoff in what was a very tight game played at the Yorkshire-based club.
At the other end of the table the relegation battle was much less close with
Old Colfeians and Basingstoke being the two sides to be relegated.
[ Both Old Colfeians and Basingstoke would be demoted to London Division 1 for the next season.
]
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
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
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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
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 March 2004.
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Round 19
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Round 20
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Rounds 4 & 18 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 18 October 2003.
*Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004.
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Round 21
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 March 2004.
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Rounds 18 & 21 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 28 February 2004.
*Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004.
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Round 22
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Round 23
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 27 March 2004.
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Round 23 (rescheduled game)
*Game rescheduled from 20 March 2004.
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Round 24
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Round 25
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Round 26
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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. Halifax were the northern divisions runners up and as they had a superior league record than southern runners-up, Launceston, 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 — 66 pts
76 - 10 Westcombe Park at home to Dings Crusaders on 20 March 2004
;Largest away win — 54 pts
60 - 6 Westcombe Park away to Basingstoke on 20 December 2003
;Most points scored — 80 pts
80 - 25 Launceston at home to Old Colfeians on 7 February 2004
;Most tries in a match — 14
Rosslyn Park at home to Basingstoke on 11 January 2003
;Most conversions in a match — 10
Launceston at home to Old Colfeians on 7 February 2004
;Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2)
Blackheath away to Launceston on 22 November 2003
Blackheath away to Old Colfeians on 17 April 2004
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple teams
Player
;Most points in a match — 35
James O'Brien for Old Patesians at home to Old Colfeians on 27 March 2004
;Most tries in a match — 7
James O'Brien for Old Patesians at home to Old Colfeians on 27 March 2004
;Most conversions in a match — 10
Simon Porter for Launceston at home to Old Colfeians on 7 February 2004
;Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2)
Derek Coates for Blackheath away to Launceston on 22 November 2003
Derek Coates for Blackheath away to Old Colfeians on 17 April 2004
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple players
Attendances
;Highest — N/A
N/A
;Lowest — N/A
N/A
;Highest Average Attendance — N/A
N/A
;Lowest Average Attendance — N/A
N/A
''As only two attendances were listed due to poor media and club tracking it is therefore impossible to give any insight into attendances for this season.''
See also
* 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
2003-04
2003–04 in English rugby union leagues