The 2007–08 National Division Three South was the eighth season (21st 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
Barking who were relegated from the
2006–07 National Division Two while promoted sides included
London Scottish (champions) and
Ealing
Ealing () is a district in west London (sub-region), west London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Pl ...
(playoffs) who came up from
London Division 1,
Mounts Bay who came up as champions of
South West Division 1 and
Luton
Luton () is a town and borough in Bedfordshire, England. The borough had a population of 225,262 at the 2021 census.
Luton is on the River Lea, about north-west of London. The town's foundation dates to the sixth century as a Saxon settleme ...
who were
Midlands Division 1 champions. In the case of Luton, Midlands league champions usually moved up to
National Division Three North but due to number imbalances in that division, for this season, they would go into National Division Three South instead. 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.
In what was a very competitive league there were a number of teams tipped to go up but in the end it was Mounts Bay who came out on top as champions 12 points clear and sealing promotion to the
2008–09 National Division Two – part of an incredible sequence of six successive promotions stretching back to
Cornwall 1 in 2003–04.
The battle for the runner up spot was keenly contested between
Cinderford
Cinderford is a town and civil parish on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. The population was 8,777 at the 2021 Census.
The town came into existence in the 19th century, following the rapid expansion of the ...
and newly promoted Ealing Trailfinders but in the end the Gloucestershire side took second spot despite losing their final game to the west Londoners. Cinderford would join Mounts Bay in National Division Two after defeating
2007–08 National Division Three North runners up
Darlington Mowden Park in a very close playoff game viewed by over 2,000 spectators at Dockham Road.
At the other end of the table newly promoted Luton went straight back down as the worst side in the division followed by
North Walsham
North Walsham is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the North Norfolk district of the county of Norfolk, England. The town is located south of Cromer and Norwich is south.
Demography
The civil parish has an area of ...
. The third and final relegation spot was very closely contested but eventually
Clifton went down just 1 point behind relegation rivals Barking and
Havant
Havant ( ) is a town in the south-east corner of Hampshire, England. Nearby places include Portsmouth to the south-west, Southampton to the west, Waterlooville to north, Chichester to the east and Hayling Island to the south. The wider borough ...
– a last gasp away victory against relegation rivals Havant not being enough as Barking had a shock win against champions Mount Bays to keep them up instead.
[ Luton and North Walsham would drop to London Division 1 while Clifton would go into South West Division 1.
]
Participating teams and locations
Final league table
Results
Round 1
----
Round 2
----
Round 3
----
Round 4
----
Round 5
----
Round 6
----
Round 7
----
Round 8
----
Round 9
----
Round 10
----
Round 11
----
Round 12
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 February 2008.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 12 January 2008.
----
Round 13
----
Round 14
----
Round 15
----
Round 12 (rescheduled game)
*Game rescheduled from 1 December 2007.
----
Round 16
----
Round 17
----
Round 12 (rescheduled game)
*Game rescheduled from 1 December 2007.
----
Round 18
----
Round 19
----
Round 20
----
Round 21
----
Round 22
----
Round 23
----
Round 24
----
Round 25
----
Round 26
----
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. Cinderford
Cinderford is a town and civil parish on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. The population was 8,777 at the 2021 Census.
The town came into existence in the 19th century, following the rapid expansion of the ...
were the southern division runners up and as they had a superior league record than northern runners-up, Darlington Mowden Park, 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 – 61 pts
61 – 0 Cinderford at home to North Walsham on 22 September 2007
;Largest away win – 39 pts
39 – 0 Cinderford away to Havant on 27 October 2007
;Most points scored – 71 pts
71 – 17 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
;Most tries in a match – 10 (x4)
Cinderford at home to North Walsham on 22 September 2007
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
London Scottish at home to Luton on 19 January 2008
Mounts Bay v Luton on 15 March 2008
;Most conversions in a match – 9 (x2)
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
Mounts Bay v Luton on 15 March 2008
;Most penalties in a match – 6 (x2)
Mounts Bay away to Ealing Trailfinders on 3 November 2007
Luton at home to North Walsham on 22 December 2007
;Most drop goals in a match – 1
N/A – multiple teams
Player
;Most points in a match – 27
Lee Jarvis for Mounts Bay away to Bridgwater & Albion on 8 September 2007
;Most tries in a match – 4 (x2)
Stuart Peel for London Scottish at home to Barking on 20 October 2007
Gert De Kock
Gert De Kock (born 1980) is a retired South African rugby union player who played at Fly-half or Full-back. A highly skilled player that could both kick points and score tries, he became one of the top try scorers in National League 2 South ...
for Canterbury at home to Barking on 12 April 2008
;Most conversions in a match – 9 (x2)
Lee Jarvis for Mounts Bay at home to Barking on 1 September 2007
Ben Ward for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
;Most penalties in a match – 6 (x3)
Tim Mosey for Mounts Bay away to Ealing Trailfinders on 3 November 2007
Lee Jarvis for Mounts Bay at home to Lydney on 10 November 2007
Andy Davey for Luton at home to North Walsham on 22 December 2007
;Most drop goals in a match – 1
N/A – multiple players
Attendances
;Highest – 2,100
Cinderford at home to Lydney on 8 September 2007
;Lowest – 66
Clifton at home to Barking on 2 February 2008
;Highest Average Attendance – 624
Bridgwater & Albion
;Lowest Average Attendance – 136
Clifton
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
2007-08
N3