2005–06 National Division Three South

The 2005–06 National Division Three South was the sixth season (19th overall) of the fourth division (south) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three South. New teams to the division included Bracknell and Rosslyn Park who were relegated from 2004–05 National Division Two while Cambridge came up as champions of London Division 1 along with Cinderford (champions) and Bridgwater & Albion (playoffs) who were promoted from South West Division 1. 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.

At the end of the season Cambridge made it two successive promotions in a row, finishing league champions just 2 points ahead of runners up North Walsham (who actually beat them home and away) and gaining promotion to the 2006–07 National Division Two. North Walsham were unable to join Cambridge in National Division Two as they lost their promotion playoff at home to the 2005–06 National Division Three North runners up Nuneaton. At the other end of the table, Bracknell were the first side to be relegated, going down for the second year in a row with just two wins all season. They were followed by Reading who were more competitive but still two wins off the 12th placed team Old Patesians. Both Reading and Bracknell would drop down to South West Division 1.

Participating teams and locations

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaBracknellLily Hill Park1,250 (250 seats)Bracknell, BerkshireBridgwater & AlbionBath Road5,000Bridgwater, SomersetCambridgeGrantchester Road2,200 (200 seats)Cambridge, CambridgeshireCinderfordDockham Road2,500Cinderford, GloucestershireDings CrusadersLandseer Avenue1,500Lockleaze, BristolHavantHook's Lane2,000 (200 seats)Havant, HampshireHertfordHighfieldsWare, HertfordshireLydneyRegentsholme3,000 (340 seats)Lydney, GloucestershireNorth WalshamNorwich Road1,200Scottow, North Walsham, NorfolkOld PatesiansEverest RoadCheltenham, GloucestershireReadingHolme ParkSonning, Reading, BerkshireRosslyn ParkThe Rock2,000 (630 seats)Roehampton, LondonSouthendWarners Park1,500 (150 seats) Southend, EssexWestcombe ParkGoddington Dene3,200Orpington, London

Final league table

Results

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 February 2006.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 February 2006.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 February 2006.

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 18 March 2006.

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Round 16

Round 17

Round 7 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 5 November 2005.

Game rescheduled from 5 November 2005.

Game rescheduled from 5 November 2005.

Round 18

Round 19

Round 20

Round 21

Round 22

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 18 March 2006.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 18 March 2006.

Rounds 10 & 22 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 11 March 2006.

Game rescheduled from 11 March 2006.

Game rescheduled from 26 November 2005.

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. North Walsham were the southern division runners up and as they had a superior league record than northern runners-up, Nuneaton, they hosted the play-off match.

Total season attendances

Does not include promotion playoff game.

ClubHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity Bracknell 12 1,722 144 230 81 12% Bridgwater & Albion 11 7,500 682 950 500 14% Cambridge 12 6,180 515 1,150 275 23% Cinderford 1 200 200 200 200 8% Dings Crusaders 10 1,919 192 327 124 13% Havant 11 5,791 526 722 384 26% Hertford 12 4,190 349 540 220 Lydney 10 5,090 509 680 320 17% North Walsham 12 4,525 377 693 274 31% Old Patesians 12 1,426 119 250 40 Reading 10 1,185 119 190 80 Rosslyn Park 13 4,614 355 486 220 18% Southend 9 1,881 209 450 99 14% Westcombe Park 10 2,424 242 400 119 8%

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 Andy Frost Southend 25 258 2 James Cathcart Reading 25 227 3 Andrew Dickson North Walsham 22 224 4 Dafydd Lewis Cambridge 24 213 5 Daniel Trigg Cinderford 26 210 6 Richard Mahoney Rosslyn Park 20 180 7 Jervis Manupenu Bracknell 23 165 8 Neil Barrela Hertford 19 155 9 Adam Westall Lydney 9 133 10 Iestyn Williams Dings Crusaders 17 129

Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 Tom Hayman Westcombe Park 21 24 2 Christoff Lombaard Cambridge 25 22 3 Faapoloo Soolefai Bridgwater & Albion 22 19 4 Andy Thorpe North Walsham 24 18 5 Cam Avery Havant 26 16 6 James Shanahan Cambridge 26 15 7 Neil Barrela Hertford 19 14 Jaco du Toit Southend 24 14 8 Ryan O'Shaughnessy Southend 13 13 9 Marcus McCluggage Rosslyn Park 23 12 Andy Frost Southend 25 12

Season records

Team Largest home win — 71 pts 71 - 0 Bridgwater & Albion at home to Cinderford on 4 March 2006 Largest away win — 42 pts 47 - 5 North Walsham away to Bracknell on 28 January 2006 Most points scored — 75 pts 75 - 14 Bridgwater & Albion at home to Bracknell on 1 April 2006 Most tries in a match — 13 Bridgwater & Albion at home to Bracknell on 1 April 2006 Most conversions in a match — 8 (x3) North Walsham at home to Bracknell on 22 October 2005 Cambridge at home to Cinderford on 5 November 2005 Bridgwater & Albion at home to Cinderford on 4 March 2006 Most penalties in a match — 6 Lydney at home to Bridgwater & Albion on 24 September 2005 Most drop goals in a match — 2 Rosslyn Park at home to Westcombe Park on 11 February 2006

Player Most points in a match — 25 Andy Frost for Southend at home to Hertford on 1 April 2006 Most tries in a match — 4 (x3) Altus Laubscher for Cambridge at home to Hertford on 11 February 2006 Mike Griffiths for Bridgwater & Albion at home to Cinderford on 4 March 2006 Adam Roberts for Hertford at home to Cinderford on 8 April 2006 Most conversions in a match — 8 Andrew Dickson for North Walsham at home to Bracknell on 22 October 2005 Most penalties in a match — 6 Adam Westall for Lydney at home to Bridgwater & Albion on 24 September 2005 Most drop goals in a match — 2 Richard Mahony for Rosslyn Park at home to Westcombe Park on 11 February 2006

Attendances Highest — 1,150 Cambridge at home to North Walsham on 11 March 2006 Lowest — 40 Old Patesians at home to Southend on 7 January 2006 Highest Average Attendance — 682 Bridgwater & Albion Lowest Average Attendance — 119 (x2) Old Patesians and Reading

See also English rugby union system Rugby union in England

References

External links NCA Rugby