The 2005–06 National Division Three South was the sixth season (19th 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
Bracknell and
Rosslyn Park who were relegated from
2004–05 National Division Two while
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...
came up as champions of
London Division 1 along with
Cinderford (champions) and
Bridgwater & Albion (playoffs) who were promoted from
South West Division 1. 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 Division Two while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from
National Division Three North (at the home ground of the club with the superior league record) for the final promotion place.
At the end of the season Cambridge made it two successive promotions in a row, finishing league champions just 2 points ahead of runners up
North Walsham (who actually beat them home and away) and gaining promotion to the
2006–07 National Division Two.
North Walsham were unable to join Cambridge in National Division Two as they lost their promotion playoff at home to the
2005–06 National Division Three North runners up
Nuneaton.
At the other end of the table, Bracknell were the first side to be relegated, going down for the second year in a row with just two wins all season. They were followed by
Reading who were more competitive but still two wins off the 12th placed team
Old Patesians.
[ Both Reading and Bracknell would drop down to South West 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 4 February 2006.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 February 2006.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 February 2006.
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Round 8
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Round 9
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Round 10
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 18 March 2006.
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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 7 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 5 November 2005.
*Game rescheduled from 5 November 2005.
*Game rescheduled from 5 November 2005.
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Round 18
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Round 19
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Round 20
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Round 21
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Round 22
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 18 March 2006.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 18 March 2006.
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Rounds 10 & 22 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 11 March 2006.
*Game rescheduled from 11 March 2006.
*Game rescheduled from 26 November 2005.
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Round 23
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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. North Walsham were the southern division runners up and as they had a superior league record than northern runners-up, Nuneaton, they hosted the play-off match.
[
]
Total season attendances
*Does not include promotion playoff game.
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 — 71 pts
71 - 0 Bridgwater & Albion at home to Cinderford on 4 March 2006
;Largest away win — 42 pts
47 - 5 North Walsham away to Bracknell on 28 January 2006
;Most points scored — 75 pts
75 - 14 Bridgwater & Albion at home to Bracknell on 1 April 2006
;Most tries in a match — 13
Bridgwater & Albion at home to Bracknell on 1 April 2006
;Most conversions in a match — 8 (x3)
North Walsham at home to Bracknell on 22 October 2005
Cambridge at home to Cinderford on 5 November 2005
Bridgwater & Albion at home to Cinderford on 4 March 2006
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Lydney at home to Bridgwater & Albion on 24 September 2005
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Rosslyn Park at home to Westcombe Park on 11 February 2006
Player
;Most points in a match — 25
Andy Frost for Southend at home to Hertford on 1 April 2006
;Most tries in a match — 4 (x3)
Altus Laubscher for Cambridge at home to Hertford on 11 February 2006
Mike Griffiths for Bridgwater & Albion at home to Cinderford on 4 March 2006
Adam Roberts for Hertford at home to Cinderford on 8 April 2006
;Most conversions in a match — 8
Andrew Dickson for North Walsham at home to Bracknell on 22 October 2005
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Adam Westall for Lydney at home to Bridgwater & Albion on 24 September 2005
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Richard Mahony for Rosslyn Park at home to Westcombe Park on 11 February 2006
Attendances
;Highest — 1,150
Cambridge at home to North Walsham on 11 March 2006
;Lowest — 40
Old Patesians at home to Southend on 7 January 2006
;Highest Average Attendance — 682
Bridgwater & Albion
;Lowest Average Attendance — 119 (x2)
Old Patesians and Reading
See also
* English rugby union system
* Rugby union in England
References
External links
NCA Rugby
{{DEFAULTSORT:National3
2005–06
2005–06 in English rugby union leagues