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
Team | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area |
Bracknell | Lily Hill Park | 1,250 | Bracknell, Berkshire |
Doncaster | Castle Park | 3,075 | Doncaster, South Yorkshire |
Esher | Molesey Road | 3,000 | Hersham, Surrey |
Harrogate | Claro Road | Harrogate, North Yorkshire | |
Lydney | Regentsholme | 1,500 | Lydney, Gloucestershire |
Moseley | Bournbrook] | Birmingham, West Midlands | |
Newbury Blues | Monk's Lane | 8,000 | Newbury, Berkshire |
Nottingham | Ireland Avenue | 4,950 | Beeston, Nottinghamshire |
Nuneaton | Liberty Way | 4,314 | Nuneaton, Warwickshire |
Rosslyn Park | The Rock | 2,000 | Roehampton, London |
Rugby Lions | Webb Ellis Road | 1,000 | Rugby, Warwickshire |
Sedgley Park | Park Lane | 3,000 | Whitefield, Greater Manchester |
Stourbridge | Stourton Park | 3,500 | Stourbridge, West Midlands |
Wharfedale | The Avenue | 2,000 | Threshfield, 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
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
Round 19
----Round 20
----Round 18 (rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004.
Round 21
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 March 2004.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 March 2004.
Round 21 (rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 28 February 2004.
- Game rescheduled from 28 February 2004.
Round 22
----Round 23
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 27 March 2004.
Round 23 (rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 20 March 2004.
Round 24
----Round 25
----Round 26
Total season attendances
Club | Home Games | Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
Bracknell | 1 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 12% |
Doncaster | 1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 16% |
Esher | 6 | 2,100 | 350 | 500 | 150 | 12% |
Harrogate | 2 | 1,300 | 650 | 1,000 | 300 | |
Lydney | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Moseley | 8 | 2,686 | 336 | 506 | 263 | |
Newbury Blues | 1 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 275 | 3% |
Nottingham | 4 | 3,192 | 798 | 1,495 | 435 | 16% |
Nuneaton | 1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | |
Rosslyn Park | 1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 25% |
Rugby Lions | 2 | 865 | 433 | 560 | 305 | 43% |
Sedgley Park | 4 | 1,795 | 449 | 640 | 320 | 15% |
Stourbridge | 1 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 11% |
Wharfedale | 3 | 1,400 | 467 | 550 | 400 | 23% |
Individual statistics
- Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
Top try scorers
Season records
Team
;Largest home win — 91 pts91 - 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 — 32Sam 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 — 1,495Nottingham 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