2002–03 National Division Two

The 2002–03 National Division Two was the third version (sixteenth overall) of the third division of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division included Henley Hawks and Bracknell who were relegated from the 2001–02 National Division One while promoted teams included Doncaster who were champions of the 2001–02 National Division Three North as well as Cornish teams Penzance & Newlyn (champions) and Launceston (playoffs) who came up from the 2001–02 National Division Three South. The league points system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.

Penzance & Newlyn finished the season as champions with Henley Hawks six points behind as runners up, both sides being convincingly the best in the division and would be promoted to the 2003–04 National Division One for the next season. For Penzance & Newlyn it was their second successive promotion while Henley made an instant return having been relegated the following season. Fylde and Kendal were the first two sides to be relegated but the battle for the last relegation spot was very tight with just three points separating 12th from 8th in the division. Launceston went into their last game ahead of relegation rivals Nottingham and Wharfedale, but while those sides won their games, Launceston lost their home game against league champions and local rivals Penzance & Newlyn to condemn the Polson Bridge side to the drop – dead level with Nottingham but with a worse points difference. Fylde and Kendal would drop to the 2003–04 National Division Three North while Launceston returned to the 2003–04 National Division Three South.

Participating teams and locations

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaBracknellLily Hill Park1,250 (250 seats)Bracknell, BerkshireDoncasterCastle Park3,075Doncaster, South YorkshireEsherMolesey Road3,000Hersham, SurreyFyldeWoodlands Memorial Ground7,500 (500 seats)Lytham St. Annes, LancashireHarrogateClaro Road4,500 (500 seats)Harrogate, North YorkshireHenley HawksDry Leas4,000Henley-on-Thames, OxfordshireKendalMint Bridge4,600 (600 seats) Kendal, CumbriaLauncestonPolson Bridge3,000Launceston, CornwallNewbury BluesMonk's Lane8,000Newbury, BerkshireNottinghamIreland Avenue4,990 (590 seats) Beeston, NottinghamshirePenzance & NewlynMennaye Field3,500Penzance, CornwallSedgley ParkPark Lane3,000Whitefield, Greater ManchesterStourbridgeStourton Park3,500 (499 seats)Stourbridge, West MidlandsWharfedaleThe Avenue2,000Threshfield, Craven, North Yorkshire

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

Round 13

Round 14

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 December 2002.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 December 2002.

Round 14 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 21 December 2002.

Game rescheduled from 21 December 2002.

Round 15

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.

Round 16

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2003.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2003.

Round 17

Round 18

Round 19

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.

Round 20

Rounds 15 & 16 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 4 January 2003.

Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.

Game rescheduled from 15 January 2003.

Round 21

Round 22

Rounds 16 & 19 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.

Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.

Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.

Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.

Round 23

Round 16 (rescheduled game)

Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.

Round 24

Round 25

Round 26

Total season attendances

ClubHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity Bracknell 12 2,775 231 350 120 18% Doncaster 11 7,600 691 850 500 22% Esher 13 5,000 385 500 250 13% Fylde 12 3,800 317 450 200 4% Harrogate 13 7,103 546 1,500 276 12% Henley Hawks 13 6,655 512 1,025 250 13% Kendal 13 4,289 330 483 156 7% Launceston 13 5,950 458 2,000 200 15% Newbury Blues 13 6,575 506 1,055 300 6% Nottingham 13 4,622 356 575 230 7% Penzance & Newlyn 7 11,300 1,614 2,200 1,000 46% Sedgley Park 9 4,370 486 750 250 16% Stourbridge 13 4,100 315 400 200 9% Wharfedale 13 5,954 458 800 304 23%

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 Barry Reeves Henley Hawks 26 327 2 Ben Harvey Stourbridge 26 315 3 Rob Liley Doncaster 25 296 4 Nat Saumi Penzance & Newlyn 20 234 5 Russell Southam Nottingham 23 229 6 Arnoldus De Jager Sedgley Park 19 223 7 Jonathon Gregory Esher 19 214 8 Mike Scott Kendal 26 201 9 Jonathon Davies Wharfedale 25 191 10 Lee Cholewa Harrogate 24 187

Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 Nnamdi Obi Henley Hawks 21 20 2 Victor Olonga Penzance & Newlyn 23 19 Richard Lloyd Nottingham 24 19 3 Nash Shumba Esher 19 18 4 Russell Osman Henley Hawks 21 14 5 James Naylor Sedgley Park 24 13 6 Laka Waqanivere Penzance & Newlyn 17 12 7 Jimmy Tucker Launceston 13 11 Andrew Hodgson Wharfedale 19 11 Ed Smithies Harrogate 20 11

Season records

Team Largest home win — 50 pts 74 - 24 Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003 Largest away win — 42 pts 54 - 12 Penzance & Newlyn away to Kendal on 7 December 2002 Most points scored — 74 pts 74 - 24 Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003 Most tries in a match — 10 Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003 Most conversions in a match — 9 Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003 Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2) Sedgley Park away to Wharfedale on 31 August 2002 Stourbridge at home to Kendal on 16 November 2003 Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3) Esher at home to Kendal on 28 September 2002 Kendal at home to Henley Hawks on 2 November 2002 Kendal at home to Newbury Blues on 8 February 2003

Player Most points in a match — 28 (x2) Chris Glynn for Sedgley Park away to Wharfedale on 31 August 2002 Jonathon Davies for Wharfedale at home to Kendal on 12 April 2003 Most tries in a match — 4 (x2) Victor Olonga for Penzance & Newlyn away to Kendal on 7 December 2002 Nash Shumba for Esher away to Stourbridge on 8 February 2003 Most conversions in a match — 9 Barry Reeves for Henley Hawks at home to Stourbridge on 12 April 2003 Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2) Chris Glynn for Sedgley Park away to Wharfedale on 31 August 2002 Ben Harvey for Stourbridge at home to Kendal on 16 November 2003 Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3) Chris Finch for Esher at home to Kendal on 28 September 2002 Mike Scott for Kendal at home to Henley Hawks on 2 November 2002 Mike Scott for Kendal at home to Newbury Blues on 8 February 2003

Attendances Highest — 2,200 Penzance & Newlyn at home to Henley Hawks on 18 January 2003 Lowest — 120 (x2) Bracknell against Nottingham 8 March 2003 and Sedgley Park on 15 March 2003 Highest Average Attendance — 1,614 Penzance & Newlyn Lowest Average Attendance — 231 Bracknell

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

Notes

References

External links NCA Rugby