2007–08 National Division Two

The 2007–08 National Division Two was the eighth version (twenty first overall) of the third division of the English rugby union league system using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division included Waterloo and Otley who were relegated from the 2006–07 National Division One while promoted teams included Blaydon coming up from the 2006–07 National Division Three North while Southend (champions) and Westcombe Park (playoffs) came up from the 2006–07 National Division Three South.

At the end of the season Otley made an instant return to their former division by beating runners up Manchester to the title by just one point, with Manchester also gaining promotion by virtue of their second-place finish - both teams would be promoted to the 2008–09 National Division One. Relegated teams included Halifax, Henley Hawks and Nuneaton with Halifax picking up just two wins all season. Halifax and Nuneaton would drop to the 2008–09 National Division Three North while Henley Hawks would go into the 2008–09 National Division Three South.

One of the more bizarre events to take place over the season was Redruth's game away at Cambridge. Trailing 30 – 0 at half time the Reds returned to their dressing room to find that it had been raided by thieves while they had been playing. Incensed at the missing valuables, including wedding rings, the Redruth team refused to come out for the second half. This led to the game finishing 30 – 0 to Cambridge (who also got a bonus point for scoring four tries) and the RFU would dock Redruth 10 points for failing to complete the game.

Participating teams and locations

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaBlackheathRectory Field3,500 (500 seats)Blackheath, LondonBlaydonCrow Trees2,000 (400 seats)Swalwell, Tyne and WearCambridgeGrantchester Road2,200 (200 seats)Cambridge, CambridgeshireHalifaxOvenden ParkHalifax, West YorkshireHenley HawksDry Leas4,000Henley-on-Thames, OxfordshireManchesterGrove Park4,000Cheadle Hulme, Greater ManchesterNuneatonLiberty Way3,800 (500 seats)Nuneaton, WarwickshireOtleyCross Green7,000 (852 seats)Otley, West YorkshireRedruthThe Recreation Ground3,500 (580 seats)Redruth, CornwallSouthendWarners Park1,500 (150 seats) Southend, EssexStourbridgeStourton Park3,500 (499 seats)Stourbridge, West MidlandsWaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,950 (950 seats) Blundellsands, MerseysideWestcombe ParkGoddington Dene3,200 (200 seats)Orpington, LondonWharfedaleThe Avenue2,000Threshfield, Craven, North Yorkshire

Final league table

Results

Round 1

Round 2

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 November 2007.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 November 2007.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 November 2007.

Round 3

Round 4

Game abandoned after 40 minutes as Redruth players refused to play second half after thieves raided the players dressing room. Redruth deducted 10 points for failing to finish game.

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 2 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 15 September 2007.

Game rescheduled from 15 September 2007.

Game rescheduled from 15 September 2007.

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2008.

Round 14

Round 15

Round 16

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2008.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2008.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 February 2008.

Round 17

Round 16 (rescheduled game)

Game rescheduled from 19 January 2008.

Round 18

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2008.

Round 19

Round 20

Round 21

Round 16 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 19 January 2008.

Game rescheduled from 19 January 2008.

Round 22

Rounds 13 & 18 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 9 February 2008.

Game rescheduled from 15 December 2007.

Round 23

Round 24

Round 25

Round 26

Total season attendances

ClubHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity Blackheath 13 9,582 737 1,453 460 21% Blaydon 13 4,718 363 614 210 18% Cambridge 13 7,862 605 1,370 402 27% Halifax 13 4,660 358 585 220 N/A Henley Hawks 13 4,741 365 527 190 9% Manchester 13 4,455 343 563 243 9% Nuneaton 13 2,690 207 400 100 5% Otley 13 9,639 741 1,363 461 11% Redruth 13 10,249 788 968 612 23% Southend 13 5,985 460 720 250 31% Stourbridge 13 7,450 573 800 350 16% Waterloo 12 4,552 379 620 286 4% Westcombe Park 13 4,606 354 1,021 189 11% Wharfedale 13 6,209 478 1,010 330 24%

Individual statistics

Note if players are tied on tries or points the player with the lowest number of appearances will come first. Also note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

Top points scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Points 1 Gareth Wynne Manchester 25 286 2 Andy Frost Southend 26 282 3 Alastair Bressington Stourbridge 22 235 4 Robin Kitching Otley 19 230 5 James Whittingham Westcombe Park 24 187 6 Joseph Knowles Halifax 26 179 7 Andrew Baggett Wharfedale 26 168 8 Alex Davies Waterloo 22 154 9 Gareth Griffiths Redruth 20 151 10 Gareth Cull Cambridge 19 142

Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 Christoff Lombaard Cambridge 25 21 2 Andrew Fenby Blaydon 20 18 3 Faapulou Soolefai Southend 23 17 4 Robin Kitching Otley 19 15 Richard Wainwright Manchester 25 15 5 Lewis Vinnicombe Redruth 17 13 Andre Wilson Manchester 23 13 6 Paul Kendal Cambridge 25 12 7 Ben Coulbeck Manchester 23 11 Andy Frost Southend 26 11

Season records

Team Largest home win — 65 pts 67 - 3 Manchester at home to Halifax on 22 March 2008 Largest away win — 31 pts 39 - 8 Westcombe Park away to Nuneaton on 16 February 2008 Most points scored — 67 pts (x2) 67 - 15 Westcombe Park at home to Nuneaton on 20 October 2007 67 - 3 Manchester at home to Halifax on 22 March 2008 Most tries in a match — 11 Westcombe Park at home to Nuneaton on 20 October 2007 Most conversions in a match — 7 (x4) Westcombe Park at home to Halifax on 5 January 2008 Manchester at home to Blaydon on 8 March 2008 Southend at home to Henley Hawks on 15 March 2008 Manchester at home to Halifax on 22 March 2008 Most penalties in a match — 4 N/A - multiple teams Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3) Nuneaton away to Blaydon on 13 October 2007 Nuneaton away to Halifax on 27 October 2007 Stourbridge at home to Otley on 15 March 2008

Player Most points in a match — 27 Robin Kitching for Otley at home to Blackheath on 19 April 2008 Most tries in a match — 4 Adam Slade for Westcombe Park at home to Nuneaton on 20 October 2007 Most conversions in a match — 7 (x3) Paul Trendell for Westcombe Park at home to Halifax on 5 January 2008 Gareth Wynne for Manchester at home to Blaydon on 8 March 2008 Gareth Wynne for Manchester at home to Halifax on 22 March 2008 Most penalties in a match — 4 N/A - multiple players Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3) Howard Graham for Nuneaton away to Blaydon on 13 October 2007 Rob Cook for Nuneaton away to Halifax on 27 October 2007 Rod Petty for Stourbridge at home to Otley on 15 March 2008

Attendances Highest — 1,453 Blackheath at home to Westcombe Park on 24 November 2007 Lowest — 100 Nuneaton at home to Manchester on 10 November 2007 Highest Average Attendance — 788 Redruth Lowest Average Attendance — 207 Nuneaton

See also English Rugby Union Leagues English rugby union system Rugby union in England

References

External links NCA Rugby