2009–10 National League 2 South


The 2009–10 National League 2 South was the first season of the fourth tier of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. Previously known as National Division 3 South, it had been renamed due to widespread changes to the league system by the RFU with National One becoming the Championship, National 2 becoming National 1 and so on. 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 League 1 while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from National League 2 North for the final promotion place. A further change to the league system would see the division increase from 14 to 15 teams.
Barking would finish as champions with only two league defeats all season, while runners up Rosslyn Park would join them in the 2010–11 National League 1 by defeating 2009–10 National League 2 North runners up Loughborough Students in the National 2 promotion playoff. At the bottom of the table Bridgwater & Albion and newly promoted Barnes would be condemned to National League 3 South West and National League 3 London & SE respectively.

Participating teams

Eleven of the teams listed below participated in the 2008-09 National League 3 South season; Westcombe Park were relegated from the 2008-09 National Division 2, while Clifton were promoted as champions of South West Division 1 with Shelford and Barnes coming up from London Division 1.
TeamStadiumCapacityCity/Area
BarkingGoresbrook1,000Barking, London
BarnesBarn ElmsBarnes, London
Bridgwater & AlbionBath Road5,000Bridgwater, Somerset
CanterburyMerton Lane1,075 Canterbury, Kent
CliftonStation Road2,500 Clifton, Bristol
Dings CrusadersLandseer Avenue1,500Lockleaze, Bristol
Ealing TrailfindersTrailfinders Sports Ground3,020Ealing, London
Henley HawksDry Leas4,000Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
LydneyRegentsholme1,500Lydney, Gloucestershire
RichmondAthletic Ground4,500Richmond, London
Rosslyn ParkThe Rock2,000Roehampton, London
ShelfordThe Davey Field2,000 Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire
SouthendWarners Bridge ParkSouthend, Essex
Westcombe ParkGoddington Dene3,200Orpington, London
Worthing RaidersRoundstone Lane1,500 Angmering, West Sussex

League table

Notes:

Results

Round 1

Bye: Ealing Trailfinders
----

Round 2

Bye: Bridgwater & Albion
----

Round 3

Bye: Rosslyn Park
----

Round 4

Bye: Henley Hawks
----

Round 5

Bye: Worthing Raiders
----

Round 6

Bye: Southend
----

Round 7

Bye: Westcombe Park
----

Round 8

Bye: Clifton
----

Round 9

Bye: Barnes
----

Round 10

Bye: Shelford
----

Round 11

Bye: Richmond
----

Round 12

Bye: Lydney
----

Round 13

Bye: Barking
----

Round 14

Bye: Canterbury
----

Round 15

Bye: Dings Crusaders
----

Round 16

Bye: Bridgwater & Albion
----

Round 17

Bye: Rosslyn Park
----

Round 18

Bye: Henley Hawks
----

Round 19

Bye: Worthing Raiders
----

Round 20

Bye: Southend
----

Round 15 (Rescheduled games)

----

Round 21

Bye: Westcombe Park
----

Round 22

Bye: Clifton
----

Round 23

Bye: Barnes
----

Round 24

Bye: Shelford
----

Round 25

Bye: Richmond
----

Round 17 (Rescheduled game)

----

Rounds 16, 17 & 18 (Rescheduled games)

----

Round 26

Bye: Lydney
----

Round 27

Bye: Barking
----

Round 28

Bye: Canterbury
----

Round 29

Bye: Dings Crusaders
----

Round 30

Bye: Ealing Trailfinders
----

Rounds 17 & 21 (Rescheduled games)

----

Rounds 20 & 24 (Rescheduled games)

----

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in the National League 2 South and National League 2 North participate in a play-off for promotion into National League 1. Loughborough Students were runners-up in the North and would host the game as they had a better record in the league in comparison to the South runners up Rosslyn Park.

Total season attendances

ClubHome
Games		TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Barking144,39831450018031%
Barnes121,1859920030
Bridgwater & Albion145,4683916272178%
Canterbury142,61718724712417%
Clifton142,663190287808%
Dings Crusaders141,7451252561018%
Ealing Trailfinders113,66333357420011%
Henley Hawks144,0102863752107%
Lydney145,90042165025028%
Richmond147,9225661,47311413%
Rosslyn Park146,31045178021023%
Shelford133,10723942613712%
Southend133,370259550150
Westcombe Park122,271189251666%
Worthing Raiders143,99028535020019%

Individual statistics

Top try scorers

Season records

Team

;Largest home win — 82 pts
96 - 14 Barking at home to Lydney on 17 April 2010
;Largest away win — 72 pts
75 - 3 Rosslyn Park away to Westcombe Park on 6 February 2010
;Most points scored — 96 pts
96 - 14 Barking at home to Lydney on 17 April 2010
;Most tries in a match — 14
Barking at home to Lydney on 17 April 2010
;Most conversions in a match — 13
Barking at home to Lydney on 17 April 2010
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Westcombe Park away to Henley Hawks on 5 September 2009
;Most drop goals in a match — 3
Westcombe Park at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 5 December 2009

Player

;Most points in a match — 31
Craig Ratford for Barking at home to Lydney on 17 April 2010
;Most tries in a match — 4
Rob Viol for Clifton at home to Richmond on 31 October 2009
Paul Unseld for Rosslyn Park away to Westcombe Park on 6 February 2010
James Strong for Rosslyn Park away to Henley Hawks on 27 March 2010
;Most conversions in a match — 13
Craig Ratford for Barking at home to Lydney on 17 April 2010
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Lee Audis for Westcombe Park away to Henley Hawks on 5 September 2009
;Most drop goals in a match — 3
Lee Audis for Westcombe Park at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 5 December 2009

Attendances

;Highest — 1,473
Richmond at home to Rosslyn Park on 26 September 2009
;Lowest — 30
Barnes at home to Shelford on 20 February 2010
;Highest Average Attendance — 566
Richmond
;Lowest Average Attendance — 99
Barnes