2003–04 National Division Two


The 2003–04 National Division Two was the fourth version of the third division of the English rugby union league system using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division included Moseley and Rugby Lions who were relegated from the 2002–03 National Division One while promoted teams included Nuneation who came up as champions of the 2002–03 National Division Three North with Rosslyn Park and Lydney coming up from the 2002–03 National Division Three South. This season would be the last using the league points system of 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
In what was a very tight title race, Sedgley Park Park pipped Nottingham to the league championship by just one point – with both sides winning promotion to the 2004–05 National Division One. It was quite a turn around in Nottingham's case as the club had gone from just escaping relegation the previous season to gaining promotion as the league's runner up. At the other end of the table, promoted Lydney finished bottom with easily the worst record of just two wins and a draw from their twenty-six games. Joining them in the second relegation spot were Rugby Lions who went down on the last day of the season by losing heavily to champions Sedgley Park whilst relegation rivals Rosslyn Park stayed up by virtue of their win against Newbury Blues. Lydney would go into the 2004–05 National Division Three South while Rugby Lions dropped to the 2004–05 National Division Three North in what would be the Lions second successive relegation.

Participating teams and locations

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/Area
BracknellLily Hill Park1,250 Bracknell, Berkshire
DoncasterCastle Park3,075Doncaster, South Yorkshire
EsherMolesey Road3,000Hersham, Surrey
HarrogateClaro RoadHarrogate, North Yorkshire
LydneyRegentsholme1,500Lydney, Gloucestershire
MoseleyBournbrook]Birmingham, West Midlands
Newbury BluesMonk's Lane8,000Newbury, Berkshire
NottinghamIreland Avenue4,950Beeston, Nottinghamshire
NuneatonLiberty Way4,314
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Rosslyn ParkThe Rock2,000Roehampton, London
Rugby LionsWebb Ellis Road1,000Rugby, Warwickshire
Sedgley ParkPark Lane3,000Whitefield, Greater Manchester
StourbridgeStourton Park3,500 Stourbridge, West Midlands
WharfedaleThe 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

----

Round 15

----

Round 16

----

Round 17

----

Round 18

----

Round 19

----

Round 20

----

Round 18 (rescheduled game)

----

Round 21

----

Round 21 (rescheduled games)

----

Round 22

----

Round 23

----

Round 23 (rescheduled game)

----

Round 24

----

Round 25

----

Round 26

Total season attendances

ClubHome
Games
TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Bracknell115015015015012%
Doncaster150050050050016%
Esher62,10035050015012%
Harrogate21,3006501,000300
Lydney00N/AN/AN/A
Moseley82,686336506263
Newbury Blues12752752752753%
Nottingham43,1927981,49543516%
Nuneaton1500500500500
Rosslyn Park150050050050025%
Rugby Lions286543356030543%
Sedgley Park41,79544964032015%
Stourbridge140040040040011%
Wharfedale31,40046755040023%

Individual statistics

Top try scorers

Season records

Team

;Largest home win — 91 pts
91 - 0 Nuneaton at home to Lydney on 24 January 2004
;Largest away win — 43 pts
58 - 15 Nottingham away to Lydney on 20 December 2003
;Most points scored — 91 pts
91 - 0 Nuneaton at home to Lydney on 24 January 2004
;Most tries in a match — 15
Nuneaton at home to Lydney on 24 January 2004
;Most conversions in a match — 8
Nuneaton at home to Lydney on 24 January 2004
;Most penalties in a match — 8
Stourbridge at home to Rosslyn Park on 25 October 2003
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Bracknell away to Sedgley Park on 29 November 2003

Player

;Most points in a match — 32
Sam Howard for Rosslyn Park at home to Bracknell on 3 January 2004
;Most tries in a match — 5
John Carter for Doncaster at home to Lydney on 7 February 2004
;Most conversions in a match — 8
Peter Glackin for Nuneaton at home to Lydney on 24 January 2004
;Most penalties in a match — 8
Ben Harvey for Stourbridge at home to Rosslyn Park on 25 October 2003
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Neil Hallett for Bracknell away to Sedgley Park on 29 November 2003

Attendances

;Highest — 1,495
Nottingham at home to Lydney on 10 April 2004
;Lowest — 150
Bracknell at home to Rugby Lions on 6 September 2003
;Highest Average Attendance — 798
Nottingham
;Lowest Average Attendance — 150
Bracknell