The 2012–13 National League 2 South was the fourth season (26th overall) of the fourth tier (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 ...

competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. 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 League 1 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 ...

while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from

National League 2 North National League 2 North is one of three level four leagues in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in Northern England. The remainder of England is covered by the two counterpart leagues National L ...

(at the home ground of the club with the superior league record) for the final promotion place.

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 ...

, as champions, were promoted to the third tier (

2013–14 National League 1 The 2013–14 National League 1, known for sponsorship reasons as the SSE National League 1 is the fifth season of the National League 1, third tier of the English domestic rugby union competitions, since the professionalised format of the second ...

) for next season, along with Worthing Raiders who finished second. Worthing beat the 2012–13 National League 2 North runners up

Stourbridge Stourbridge () is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Situated on the River Stour, Worcestershire, River Stour, the town lies around west of Birmingham, at the southwester ...

28–26 to win the annual promotion playoff.

Barking Barking may refer to: Places * Barking, London, a town in East London, England ** London Borough of Barking, 1965–1980 ** Municipal Borough of Barking, 1931–1965 ** Barking (UK Parliament constituency) ** Barking (electoral division), Greater ...

and

Lydney Lydney is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is on the west bank of the River Severn in the Forest of Dean District, and is 16 miles (25 km) southwest of Gloucester. The town has been Bypass ( ...

were both relegated to

National League 3 London & SE Regional 1 South East (formerly known as London & South East Premier and National League 3 London & South East) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 ...

and

National League 3 South West Regional 1 South West (formerly South West Premier and National League 3 South West) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as South West D ...

respectively with Barking winning just one game in what was a very poor season. As well as winning the league Henley Hawks also saw a divisional record attendance at Dry Leas with 3,270 fans turning up to the last game of the season - the championship decider against Worthing Raiders which Henley won 55 - 27 to seal the title for the Oxfordshire club.

Participating teams

Twelve of the teams listed below participated in the 2011–12 National League 2 South season. Barking were relegated from National League 1 after just one season and both Bournemouth and Chinnor were promoted from National League 3 South West.

Rugby Lions The Rugby Lions RFC, nicknamed ''The Lions'', is an English rugby union club based in Rugby, Warwickshire. The club plays its home matches at Webb Ellis Road. Its developmental squad is known as the Crusaders. The club also has a ladies team ...

were on the original fixture list after winning promotion from

National League 3 Midlands Regional 1 Midlands (until 2021–22 known as Midlands Premier and up until 2016–17 known as National League 3 Midlands) is a level five semi-professional league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When ...

but during July 2012 they went into liquidation and were unable to participate in the division, leaving fifteen teams instead of the usual sixteen.

League table

Results

Round 1

Bye: Worthing Raiders ----

Round 2

Bye: Chinnor ----

Round 3

Bye: Redruth ----

Round 4

Bye: Hartpury College ----

Round 5

Bye: Dings Crusaders ----

Round 6

Bye: Shelford ----

Round 7

Bye: Henley Hawks ----

Round 8

Bye: Southend Saxons ----

Round 9

Bye: Clifton ----

Round 10

Bye: Taunton Titans ----

Round 11

Bye: Launceston ----

Round 12

Bye: Lydney ----

Round 13

*Postponed. Game to be rescheduled to 1 December 2012. Bye: Bournemouth ----

Round 13 (Rescheduled Game)

*Game rescheduled from 24 November 2012. ----

Round 14

Bye: Barking ----

Round 15

Bye: Canterbury ----

Round 16

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. Bye: Chinnor ----

Round 17

Bye: Redruth ----

Round 18

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2013. Bye: Hartpury College ----

Round 19

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 March 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 March 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2013. Bye: Dings Crusaders ----

Round 20

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 March 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. Bye: Shelford ----

Round 21

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 February 2013. Bye: Henley Hawks ----

Rounds 16, 19 & 21 (Rescheduled Games)

*Rescheduled from 22 December 2012. *Rescheduled from 22 December 2012. *Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 2 February 2013. *Rescheduled from 22 December 2012. *Rescheduled from 22 December 2012. *Rescheduled from 22 December 2012. ----

Round 22

Bye: Southend Saxons ----

Rounds 18 & 19 (Rescheduled Games)

*Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 12 January 2013. ----

Round 23

Bye: Clifton ----

Round 24

Bye: Taunton Titans ----

Rounds 19 & 20 (Rescheduled Games)

*Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 26 February 2013. *Rescheduled from 19 January 2013. ----

Round 25

*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 May 2013. *Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 May 2013. Bye: Launceston ----

Round 26

Bye: Lydney ----

Round 27

Bye: Bournemouth ----

Round 28

Bye: Barking ----

Round 29

Bye: Canterbury ----

Round 30

Bye: Worthing Raiders ----

Rounds 20 & 25 (Rescheduled Games)

*Rescheduled from 26 January 2013. *Rescheduled from 23 March 2013. *Rescheduled from 23 March 2013. *Rescheduled from 23 March 2013. *Rescheduled from 23 March 2013. *Rescheduled from 26 January 2013. ----

Round 25 (Rescheduled Game)

*Rescheduled from 23 March 2013.

Promotion play–off

Each season, the runners–up in the National League 2 South and

participate in a play–off for promotion into

. The team with the best playing record, in this case northern runners up

, would gain the home advantage with southern runners up Worthing Raiders having to travel up to the Midlands for the game.

Total Season Attendances

Individual statistics

* Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Does not include North - South playoff game.

Top Points Scorers

Top Try Scorers

Season records

Team

;Largest home win — 78 pts 74 - 0 Taunton Titans at home to Barking on 17 November 2012 ;Largest away win — 83 pts 85 - 3 Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 ;Most points scored — 85 pts 85 - 3 Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 ;Most tries in a match — 13 Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 ;Most conversions in a match — 10 Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 ;Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2) Hartpury College away to Dings Crusaders on 17 November 2012
Dings Crusaders away to Lydney on 1 December 2012 ;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2) Launceston away to Hartpury College on 5 January 2013
Southend Saxons away to Worthing Raiders on 30 March 2013

Player

;Most points in a match — 29 Kieron Lewitt for Launceston at home to Barking on 6 April 2013 ;Most tries in a match — 5 Gareth Evans for Hartpury College at home to Clifton on 27 April 2013 ;Most conversions in a match — 10 James Combden for Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 ;Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2) Luke Cozens for Hartpury College away to Dings Crusaders on 17 November 2012
Danial Trigg for Dings Crusaders away to Lydney on 1 December 2012 ;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2) Jake Murphy for Launceston away to Hartpury College on 5 January 2013
Robert Kirby for Southend Saxons away to Worthing Raiders on 30 March 2013

Attendances

;Highest — 3,270 Henley Hawks at home against Worthing Raiders on 4 May 2013 ;Lowest — 67 Barking at home against Taunton Titans on 30 March 20131 ;Highest Average Attendance — 724 Redruth ;Lowest Average Attendance — 102 Barking

References

External links

NCA Rugby
{{DEFAULTSORT:National2 2012-13 2012–13 in English rugby union leagues