The 2004–05 National Division One was the 18th full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams to the division included Rotherham Titans who were demoted from the 2003–04 Zurich Premiership while Sedgley Park and Nottingham were promoted from the 2003–04 National Division Two. Rotherham almost went into liquidation and dropped out of the leagues following their relegation from the Premiership but were saved by a local consortium which enabled them to continue playing in National One. As well as new teams Coventry had a new ground, moving from Coundon Road to the smaller but more modern Butts Park Arena.
By the end of the season, after two seasons spent in the division, Bristol Shoguns became champions and were promoted back to the Guinness Premiership for season 2005–06. Exeter Chiefs were runners–up, and Orrell (last seasons runners–up) along with Henley were relegated to the 2005–06 National Division Two.
Participating teams
TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaBedford BluesGoldington Road5,000Bedford, BedfordshireBristol ShogunsMemorial Stadium8,500 (1,200 seats)BristolCoventryButts Park Arena4,000Coventry, West MidlandsExeter ChiefsCounty Ground5,750 (750 seats)Exeter, DevonHenley HawksDry Leas4,000Henley-on-Thames, OxfordshireLondon WelshOld Deer Park4,500 (1,500 seats)Richmond, LondonNottinghamIreland Avenue4,990 (590 seats) Beeston, NottinghamshireOrrellEdge Hall Road5,300 (300 seats) Orrell, Greater ManchesterOtleyCross Green7,000 (852 seats)Otley, West YorkshirePenzance & NewlynMennaye Field3,500+Penzance, CornwallPertemps BeesSharmans Cross4,000Solihull, West MidlandsPlymouth AlbionThe Brickfields6,500Plymouth, DevonRotherham TitansClifton Lane2,500Rotherham, South YorkshireSedgley ParkPark Lane3,000Whitefield, Greater Manchester
Table
Results
Round 1
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 12 February 2005.
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Despite earlier winning the game 22-15 Coventry were in breach of RFU principal regulation 11.4 and the Titans were awarded the win.
Round 8
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 March 2005.
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 February 2005.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 February 2005.
Round 14
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 12 February 2005.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 12 February 2005.
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 19 March 2005.
Round 18
Round 13 (rescheduled games)
Round 1 & 14 (rescheduled games)
Round 19
Round 20
Round 8 (rescheduled game)
Round 21
Round 17 (rescheduled game)
Round 22
Round 23
Round 24
Round 25
Round 26
Total Season Attendances
ClubHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% CapacityBedford Blues 13 26,733 2,056 3,949 1,224 41%Bristol Shoguns 13 68,040 5,234 10,349 3,853 43%Coventry 7 12,400 1,771 2,700 950 44%Exeter Chiefs 13 25,462 1,959 4,380 1,032 34%Henley Hawks 11 7,822 711 1,358 410 18%London Welsh 13 14,020 1,078 1,900 350 24%Nottingham 12 11,232 936 2,122 560 19%Orrell 12 4,321 360 650 237 7%Otley 5 3,641 728 811 620 10%Penzance & Newlyn 12 24,018 2,002 5,000 1,436 54%Pertemps Bees 9 4,345 483 650 300 12%Plymouth Albion 13 41,754 3,212 5,354 1,949 49%Rotherham Titans 12 16,051 1,338 2,000 950 54%Sedgley Park 13 6,749 519 743 320 17%
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 Bedford Blues 25 347 2 Jason Strange Bristol Shoguns 22 287 3 Tony Yapp Exeter Chiefs 24 285 4 James Pritchard Plymouth Albion 24 256 5 Blair Feeney Sedgley Park 26 253 6 Simon Binns Otley 26 241 7 Lee Jarvis Penzance & Newlyn 24 235 8 Tim Walsh Pertemps Bees 25 192 9 Neil Stenhouse Nottingham 25 147 10 Dylan Pugh London Welsh 20 139
Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 Sean Marsden Bristol Shoguns 24 21 2 David Strettle Rotherham Titans 22 18 3 Bernardo Stortoni Rotherham Titans / Bristol Shoguns 21 15 Nick Baxter Pertemps Bees 22 15 4 James Pritchard Plymouth Albion 24 13 Richard Baxter Exeter Chiefs 26 13 Jon Feeley Sedgley Park 26 13 5 Dan Ward-Smith Plymouth Albion 24 12 Richard Lloyd Nottingham 25 12 Wes Davies Penzance & Newlyn 26 12
Season records
Team Largest home win — 53 pts (x2) 62 - 9 Bristol Shoguns at home to Sedgley Park on 16 January 2005 68 - 15 Bristol Shoguns at home to Exeter Chiefs on 27 March 2005 Largest away win — 48 pts 53 - 5 Bristol Shoguns away to Orrell on 9 April 2005 Most points scored — 68 pts 68 - 15 Bristol Shoguns at home to Exeter Chiefs on 27 March 2005 Most tries in a match — 10 Bristol Shoguns away to Nottingham on 2 October 2005 Most conversions in a match — 8 (x2) Rotherham Titans at home to Orrell on 18 September 2004 Bristol Shoguns at home to Sedgley Park on 16 January 2005 Most penalties in a match — 9 Coventry at home to Otley on 13 November 2004 Most drop goals in a match — 2 Bristol Shoguns at home to London Welsh on 12 September 2004
Player Most points in a match — 27 (x2) Ramiro Pez for Rotherham Titans at home to Orrell on 18 September 2004 Matthew Leek for Coventry at home to Otley on 13 November 2004 Most tries in a match — 4 (x2) Dan Ward-Smith for Plymouth Albion at home to Coventry on 9 October 2004 Sean Marsden for Bristol Shoguns away to Orrell on 9 April 2005 Most conversions in a match — 8 Ramiro Pez for Rotherham Titans at home to Orrell on 18 September 2004 Most penalties in a match — 9 Matthew Leek for Coventry at home to Otley on 13 November 2004 Most drop goals in a match — 1 N/A - multiple players
Attendances
Highest — 10,349 Bristol Shoguns at home to Exeter Chiefs on 27 March 2005 Lowest — 237 Orrell at home to Plymouth Albion on 12 March 2005 Highest Average Attendance — 5,234 Bristol Shoguns Lowest Average Attendance — 360 Orrell
See also English rugby union system
References