The 2006–07 National Division One was the 20th full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. This season saw the league increased from 14 to 16 teams with new teams including Leeds Tykes (relegated from the 2005–06 Guinness Premiership), as well as Moseley and Waterloo who were promoted from 2005–06 National Division Two. Other changes saw Exeter Chiefs move from the County Ground to Sandy Park, a modern stadium with room for further expansion, Nottingham moved from Ireland Avenue to groundshare with Notts County at the much larger Meadow Lane and finally Cornish Pirates moved from their temporary ground at Kenwyn in Truro to the larger (and more permanent) Recreation Ground owned by Camborne RFC.
Leeds Tykes bounced back by winning the National Division One title at the first attempt and returned to the Guinness Premiership for season 2007–08. Earth Titans finished in second place, and Otley and Waterloo were relegated to the 2007–08 National Division Two.
Participating teams
TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaBedford BluesGoldington Road5,000Bedford, BedfordshireCornish PiratesRecreation Ground9,000Camborne, CornwallCoventryButts Park Arena4,000Coventry, West MidlandsDoncaster KnightsCastle Park3,075Doncaster, South YorkshireEarth TitansClifton Lane2,500Rotherham, South YorkshireExeter ChiefsSandy Park6,000Exeter, DevonLeeds TykesHeadingley Stadium22,250Leeds, West YorkshireLondon WelshOld Deer Park4,500 (1,500 seats)Richmond, LondonMoseleyBillesley Common3,000+Birmingham, West MidlandsNewburyMonk's Lane8,000Newbury, BerkshireNottinghamMeadow Lane19,588Nottingham, NottinghamshireOtleyCross Green7,000 (852 seats)Otley, West YorkshirePertemps BeesSharmans Cross3,500 (1,000 seats)Solihull, West MidlandsPlymouth AlbionThe Brickfields6,500Plymouth, DevonSedgley ParkPark Lane3,000Whitefield, Greater ManchesterWaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,950 (950 seats) Blundellsands, Merseyside
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
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 March 2007.
Round 19
Round 20
Round 21
Round 22
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 March 2007.
Round 23
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 April 2007.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 14 April 2007.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 March 2007.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 14 April 2007.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 April 2007.
Round 24
Round 22 (rescheduled game)
Round 25
Round 26
Round 18 & 23 (rescheduled games)
Round 27
Round 23 (rescheduled game)
Round 28
Round 23 (rescheduled games)
Round 29
Round 30
Total season attendances
ClubHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% CapacityBedford Blues 15 32,588 2,173 3,202 1,743 43%Cornish Pirates 15 38,892 2,593 5,365 956 29%Coventry 15 22,801 1,520 1,915 1,241 38%Doncaster 15 18,771 1,251 2,978 723 41%Earth Titans 15 21,181 1,412 2,871 956 55%Exeter Chiefs 15 50,269 3,351 5,944 2,174 56%Leeds Tykes 15 40,814 2,721 7,105 1,760 12%London Welsh 15 14,198 947 1,650 450 21%Moseley 15 14,433 962 1,743 400 32%Newbury 15 8,653 557 915 385 7%Nottingham 15 21,176 1,412 2,304 1,003 7%Otley 14 16,255 1,161 4,178 481 17%Pertemps Bees 15 10,649 710 1,600 308 20%Plymouth Albion 15 45,362 3,024 5,981 1,971 47%Sedgley Park 15 8,612 574 648 467 19%Waterloo 15 7,124 509 897 355 5%
Notes
Individual statistics
Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Points 1 Leigh Hinton Leeds Tykes 24 302 2 Alberto Di Bernardo Cornish Pirates 26 293 3 Oliver Thomas Moseley 30 285 4 Tony Yapp Exeter Chiefs 28 280 5 James Pritchard Bedford Blues 25 276 6 Phil Jones Sedgley Park 30 274 7 Gareth Steenson Earth Titans 30 264 8 Tom Barlow Nottingham 29 230 9 Sam Ulph London Welsh 20 225 10 Tim Walsh Newbury 28 217 Ben Russell Coventry 29 217
Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 Nicolas Sestaret Plymouth Albion 30 28 2 Jason Forster Doncaster 28 25 3 Rhodri McAtee Cornish Pirates 23 16 Akapusi Qera Pertemps Bees 27 16 Jason Luff Exeter Chiefs 27 16 Brian Tuohy Earth Titans 29 16 4 Richard Welding Leeds Tykes 23 15 5 Matt Nutall Pertemps Bees 29 14 6 Mal Roberts Newbury 23 13 Martin Nutt Newbury 24 13 Tom Rock Leeds Tykes 27 13
Season records
Team Largest home win — 66 pts 66 - 0 Leeds Tykes at home to Waterloo on 11 March 2007 Largest away win — 62 pts 77 - 15 Leeds Tykes away to Waterloo on 4 November 2006 Most points scored — 77 pts 77 - 15 Leeds Tykes away to Waterloo on 4 November 2006 Most tries in a match — 12 Leeds Tykes away to Waterloo on 4 November 2006 Most conversions in a match — 9 Doncaster Knights at home to Waterloo on 21 April 2007 Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2) Sedgley Park away to Coventry on 26 November 2006 Moseley at home to Otley on 27 January 2007 Most drop goals in a match — 2 Newbury at home to Sedgley Park on 24 March 2007
Player Most points in a match — 32 Alberto Di Bernardo for Cornish Pirates at home to Moseley on 17 September 2006 Most tries in a match — 5 Nicolas Sestaret for Plymouth Albion at home to Moseley on 23 March 2007 Most conversions in a match — 9 Cerith Rees for Doncaster Knights at home to Waterloo on 21 April 2007 Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2) Phil Jones for Sedgley Park away to Coventry on 26 November 2006 Oliver Thomas for Moseley at home to Otley on 27 January 2007 Most drop goals in a match — 2 Nick Defty for Newbury at home to Sedgley Park on 24 March 2007
Attendances
Highest — 7,105 Leeds Tykes at home to Earth Titans on 22 April 2007 Lowest — 308 Pertemps Bees at home to Plymouth Albion on 3 February 2007 Highest Average Attendance — 3,351 Exeter Chiefs Lowest Average Attendance — 521 Waterloo
Notes
See also English rugby union system
References