2001–02 National Division Two
The 2001–02 National Division Two was the second version (fifteenth overall) of the third division of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division included Orrell and Waterloo who were relegated from the 2000–01 National Division One while Stourbridge (champions) and Sedgley Park (playoffs) came up from the 2000–01 National Division Three North and Plymouth Albion as champions of the 2000-01 National Division Three South.[1][2][3][4] The league points system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
| 2001–02 National Division Two | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  England |
| Champions | Orrell |
| Runners-up | Plymouth Albion (also promoted) |
| Relegated | Preston Grasshoppers, Waterloo, Rosslyn Park |
| Attendance | 85,620 (average 504 per match)[a 1] |
| Highest attendance | 2,100 Plymouth Albion at home to Fylde on 5 January 2002 |
| Lowest attendance | 85 Preston Grasshoppers at home to Newbury Blues on 2 March 2002 |
| Top point scorer | Phil Jones Orrell 343 points |
| Top try scorer | Dan Ward-Smith Plymouth Albion 23 tries |
The title race was extremely tight and went to the last game with Orrell winning their rescheduled game away to Nottingham to draw dead level with Plymouth Albion at the top of the table and take the title by virtue of a better points difference – the fact Orrell had won both of their games against Plymouth was largely responsible for their victory.[5] Both sides would be promoted to the 2002–03 National Division One with Orrell making an instant return following their relegation at the start of the season while Plymouth would make it a second promotion in a row. As well as gaining promotion the Devon-based side would also be easily the most popular side in the division with over 19,000 fans in total attending throughout the season. At the opposite end of the table Preston Grasshoppers and Waterloo would be the first sides to be relegated, followed by Rosslyn Park who battled to the end but never had quite enough to overtake relegation rivals Stourbridge and Kendal.[6] Preston and Waterloo would drop down to the 2002–03 National Division Three North while Rosslyn Park went down to the 2002–03 National Division Three South, with Waterloo suffering their second consecutive relegation.[7][8] It was quite a turn around for Rosslyn Park who went within a whisker to being promoted the previous season only to be relegated this season.
Participating teams and locations
Locations of the 2001-02 National Division Two teams
| Team | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esher | Molesey Road | 3,000 | Hersham, Surrey |
| Fylde | Woodlands Memorial Ground | 9,000 | Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire |
| Harrogate | Claro Road | Harrogate, North Yorkshire | |
| Kendal | Mint Bridge | 3,000 (300 stand) | Kendal, Cumbria |
| Newbury Blues | Monk's Lane | 8,000 | Newbury, Berkshire |
| Nottingham | Ireland Avenue | 4,950 | Beeston, Nottinghamshire |
| Orrell | Edge Hall Road | 3,000 | Orrell, Greater Manchester |
| Plymouth Albion | Beacon Park | 3,500 | Plymouth, Devon |
| Preston Grasshoppers | Lightfoot Green | 5,000 | Preston, Lancashire |
| Rosslyn Park | The Rock | 2,000 | Roehampton, London |
| Sedgley Park | Park Lane | 3,000 | Whitefield, Greater Manchester |
| Stourbridge | Stourton Park | 3,500 (499 seats) | Stourbridge, West Midlands |
| Waterloo | St Anthony's Road | 9,000 (200 seats) |
Blundellsands, Merseyside |
| Wharfedale | The Avenue | 2,000 | Threshfield, Craven, North Yorkshire |
Final league table
| |||||||||||||
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points Diff | Points | ||||
| 1 | Orrell (C) | 26 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 962 | 369 | 593 | 46 | ||||
| 2 | Plymouth Albion (P) | 26 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 895 | 314 | 581 | 46 | ||||
| 3 | Sedgley Park | 26 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 684 | 468 | 216 | 41 | ||||
| 4 | Harrogate | 26 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 744 | 556 | 188 | 33 | ||||
| 5 | Fylde | 26 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 462 | 549 | -87 | 28 | ||||
| 6 | Esher | 26 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 547 | 587 | -40 | 24 | ||||
| 7 | Nottingham | 26 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 539 | 658 | -119 | 24 | ||||
| 8 | Newbury Blues | 26 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 548 | 723 | -175 | 24 | ||||
| 9 | Wharfedale | 26 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 603 | 638 | -35 | 24 | ||||
| 10 | Kendal | 26 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 576 | 607 | -31 | 20 | ||||
| 11 | Stourbridge | 26 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 600 | 702 | -102 | 19 | ||||
| 12 | Rosslyn Park (R) | 26 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 490 | 605 | -115 | 17 | ||||
| 13 | Waterloo (R) | 26 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 476 | 792 | -316 | 10 | ||||
| 14 | Preston Grasshoppers (R) | 26 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 401 | 959 | -558 | 8 | ||||
| Reference Rugby Statbunker: Updated 20-04-2002 | |||||||||||||
Results
Round 1
1 September 2001 |
| Plymouth Albion | 34 - 13 | Sedgley Park |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,600 Referee: Paul Dix |
1 September 2001 |
| Preston Grasshoppers | 22 - 21 | Esher |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Lightfoot Green Attendance: 260 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
1 September 2001 |
| Stourbridge | 21 - 18 | Orrell |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Stourton Park Attendance: 700 Referee: Andrew Pearce |
Round 2
8 September 2001 |
| Stourbridge | 10 - 34 | Plymouth Albion |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Stourton Park Attendance: 650 Referee: David Matthews |
Round 3
15 September 2001 |
| Preston Grasshoppers | 13 - 16 | Stourbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Lightfoot Green Attendance: 280 Referee: Mark Wilson |
Round 4
22 September 2001 |
| Preston Grasshoppers | 22 - 36 | Plymouth Albion |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Lightfoot Green Attendance: 330 Referee: Mike Hamlin |
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
27 October 2001 |
| Fylde | 10 - 21 | Preston Grasshoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Woodlands Memorial Ground Referee: D Edmunds |
Round 8
10 November 2001 |
| Preston Grasshoppers | 23 - 25 | Wharfedale |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Lightfoot Green Attendance: 275 Referee: Chris Seeley |
10 November 2001 |
| Stourbridge | 17 - 29 | Sedgley Park |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Stourton Park Attendance: 300 Referee: Mike Hamlin |
Round 9
17 November 2001 |
| Plymouth Albion | 57 - 3 | Harrogate |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Steve Savage |
17 November 2001 |
| Sedgley Park | 17 - 12 | Preston Grasshoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Park Lane Attendance: 350 Referee: David Matthews |
Round 10
24 November 2001 |
| Preston Grasshoppers | 16 - 14 | Rosslyn Park |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Lightfoot Green Attendance: 175 Referee: Mike Hamlin |
24 November 2001 |
| Stourbridge | 23 - 26 | Kendal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Stourton Park Attendance: 300 Referee: Graham Hughes |
24 November 2001 |
| Newbury Blues | P - P | Sedgley Park |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 December 2001.
24 November 2001 |
| Orrell | P - P | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 December 2001.
Round 11
1 December 2001 |
| Nottingham | 35 - 5 | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Ireland Avenue Attendance: 288 Referee: Steve Savage |
1 December 2001 |
| Sedgley Park | 13 - 32 | Plymouth Albion |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Park Lane Attendance: 500 Referee: David Rose |
Round 12
8 December 2001 |
| Fylde | 19 - 22 | Sedgley Park |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Woodlands Memorial Ground Attendance: 450 Referee: D Edmunds |
8 December 2001 |
| Stourbridge | 21 - 39 | Harrogate |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Stourton Park Attendance: 200 Referee: Nigel Higginson |
Round 13
15 December 2001 |
| Harrogate | 53 - 3 | Preston Grasshoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Claro Road Attendance: 402 Referee: Rob Debney |
15 December 2001 |
| Nottingham | 23 - 15 | Newbury Blues |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Ireland Avenue Attendance: 322 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
15 December 2001 |
| Sedgley Park | 50 - 24 | Wharfedale |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Park Lane Attendance: 450 Referee: Richard Parker-Sedgmore |
15 December 2001 |
| Plymouth Albion | P - P | Orrell |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
Round 14
22 December 2001 |
| Preston Grasshoppers | 17 - 46 | Kendal |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Lightfoot Green Attendance: 680 Referee: Eric Woodmason |
22 December 2001 |
| Orrell | P - P | Harrogate |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
Round 10 (rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 24 November 2001.
- Game rescheduled from 24 November 2001.
Round 15
5 January 2002 |
| Harrogate | P - P | Esher |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
5 January 2002 |
| Kendal | P - P | Stourbridge |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
5 January 2002 |
| Nottingham | P - P | Orrell |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 2002.
5 January 2002 |
| Rosslyn Park | P - P | Preston Grasshoppers |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
5 January 2002 |
| Sedgley Park | P - P | Newbury Blues |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
5 January 2002 |
| Wharfedale | P - P | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
Round 16
12 January 2002 |
| Harrogate | 15 - 21 | Plymouth Albion |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Claro Road Attendance: 570 Referee: Stuart Piercy |
12 January 2002 |
| Preston Grasshoppers | 18 - 37 | Sedgley Park |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Lightfoot Green Attendance: 460 Referee: Alan Biggs |
Round 17
19 January 2002 |
| Plymouth Albion | 43 - 15 | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,205 Referee: Tim Miller |
19 January 2002 |
| Sedgley Park | 34 - 24 | Stourbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Park Lane Attendance: 350 Referee: Steve Savage |
Round 18
26 January 2002 |
| Nottingham | 13 - 26 | Plymouth Albion |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Ireland Avenue Attendance: 342 Referee: Steve Savage |
26 January 2002 |
| Preston Grasshoppers | 5 - 17 | Fylde |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Lightfoot Green Attendance: 495 Referee: Chris Seeley |
26 January 2002 |
| Stourbridge | P - P | Wharfedale |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
Round 19
2 February 2002 |
| Plymouth Albion | 57 - 10 | Newbury Blues |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,080 Referee: S Terheege |
Round 20
9 February 2002 |
| Preston Grasshoppers | P - P | Newbury Blues |
|---|---|---|
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
Rounds 13 & 15 (rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
16 February 2002 |
| Plymouth Albion | 14 - 20 | Orrell |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 2,042 Referee: David Pearson |
- Game rescheduled from 15 December 2001.
16 February 2002 |
| Rosslyn Park | 43 - 17 | Preston Grasshoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
The Rock Attendance: 175 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
16 February 2002 |
| Sedgley Park | 32 - 24 | Newbury Blues |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Park Lane Attendance: 250 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
Round 21
23 February 2002 |
| Plymouth Albion | 66 - 12 | Preston Grasshoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Richard Parker-Sedgmore |
Rounds 14, 18 & 20 (rescheduled games)
- Game rescheduled from 22 December 2001.
- Game rescheduled from 9 February 2002.
2 March 2002 |
| Stourbridge | 41 - 42 | Wharfedale |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Stourton Park Attendance: 100 Referee: Nick Williams |
- Game rescheduled from 26 January 2002.
Round 22
9 March 2002 |
| Nottingham | 21 - 9 | Wharfedale |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Ireland Avenue Attendance: 406 Referee: Stuart Piercy |
9 March 2002 |
| Orrell | 57 - 7 | Newbury Blues |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Edge Hall Road Attendance: 700 Referee: David Grashoff |
9 March 2002 |
| Stourbridge | 32 - 7 | Preston Grasshoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Stourton Park Attendance: 280 Referee: Paul Dix |
Round 23
16 March 2002 |
| Fylde | 13 - 30 | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Woodlands Memorial Ground Attendance: 500 Referee: Alan Hughes |
16 March 2002 |
| Plymouth Albion | 23 - 16 | Stourbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,550 Referee: Eric Woodmason |
16 March 2002 |
| Sedgley Park | 26 - 19 | Rosslyn Park |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Park Lane Attendance: 250 Referee: Graham Hughes |
Round 24
30 March 2002 |
| Nottingham | 29 - 12 | Stourbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Ireland Avenue Attendance: 521 Referee: Richard Parker-Sedgmore |
Round 25
6 April 2002 |
| Fylde | 26 - 22 | Rosslyn Park |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Woodlands Memorial Ground Attendance: 300 Referee: Eric Woodmason |
6 April 2002 |
| Orrell | 37 - 13 | Plymouth Albion |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Edge Hall Road Attendance: 1,300 Referee: Robin Goodliffe |
6 April 2002 |
| Preston Grasshoppers | 24 - 62 | Harrogate |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Lightfoot Green Attendance: 95 Referee: Graham Hughes |
Round 26
13 April 2002 |
| Nottingham | 63 - 10 | Preston Grasshoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Ireland Avenue Attendance: 346 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
13 April 2002 |
| Plymouth Albion | 45 - 3 | Wharfedale |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,800 Referee: Sean Davey |
Round 15 (rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
Total season attendances
| Club | Home Games |
Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esher | 11[a 2] | 3,600 | 327 | 500 | 150 | 11% |
| Fylde | 11[a 3] | 4,850 | 441 | 500 | 300 | 5% |
| Harrogate | 13 | 5,829 | 448 | 784 | 263 | |
| Kendal | 12[a 4] | 5,121 | 427 | 728 | 232 | 14% |
| Newbury Blues | 12[a 5] | 4,765 | 397 | 720 | 220 | 5% |
| Nottingham | 12[a 6] | 4,185 | 349 | 546 | 211 | 7% |
| Orrell | 13 | 9,300 | 715 | 1,300 | 300 | 24% |
| Plymouth Albion | 12[a 7] | 19,117 | 1,593 | 2,100 | 1,080 | 46% |
| Preston Grasshoppers | 12[a 8] | 3,995 | 333 | 680 | 85 | 7% |
| Rosslyn Park | 12[a 9] | 6,175 | 515 | 750 | 175 | 26% |
| Sedgley Park | 13 | 5,415 | 417 | 800 | 240 | 14% |
| Stourbridge | 13 | 4,520 | 348 | 700 | 100 | 10% |
| Waterloo | 12[a 10] | 2,998 | 250 | 464 | 100 | 3% |
| Wharfedale | 12[a 11] | 5,750 | 479 | 650 | 400 | 24% |
- Note that 12 home attendances are missing (see below) - so the total attendance will not be 100% accurate. The average attendance has also been taken into account with the missing games not included.
- Missing home attendances v Wharfedale on 9 February 2002 & Waterloo on 9 March 2002.
- Missing home attendances v Preston on 27 October 2001 & Newbury on 19 January 2002.
- Missing home attendance v Plymouth on 27 October 2001.
- Missing home attendance v Kendal on 8 December 2001.
- Missing home attendance v Rosslyn Park on 9 February 2002.
- Missing home attendance v Kendal on 6 October 2001.
- Missing home attendance v Nottingham on 8 December 2001.
- Missing home attendance v Plymouth on 9 March 2002.
- Missing home attendance v Rosslyn Park on 8 December 2001.
- Missing home attendance v Plymouth on December 2001.
Individual statistics
- Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
|
Top try scorers
|
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Season records
Team
92 - 0 Plymouth Albion at home to Esher on 30 March 2002
67 - 8 Orrell away to Preston Grasshoppers on 16 March 2002
67 - 8 Orrell away to Preston Grasshoppers on 16 March 2002
Orrell away to Preston Grasshoppers on 16 March 2002
Plymouth Albion at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 23 February 2002
Esher at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 1 December 2001
Kendal away to Esher on 10 November 2001 |
Player
Attendances
Plymouth Albion at home to Fylde on 5 January 2002
Preston Grasshoppers at home to Newbury Blues on 2 March 2002
Plymouth Albion
Waterloo |
References
- "2000-01 league tables". Moseley Rugby. 28 April 2001.
- "National League 3 North 2000-01". englandrugby.com. 26 May 2001.
- "National League 3 South 2000-01". englandrugby.com. 28 April 2001.
- "National League Playoffs 2000-01". englandrugby.com. 26 May 2001.
- "Rugby Union round-up". Liverpool Echo. 22 April 2002.
- "2001/02 League Tables". Moseley Rugby. 20 April 2002.
- "National League Three North". englandrugby.com. 31 August 2001.
- "National League Three South". englandrugby.com. 31 August 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 1 September 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 8 September 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 15 September 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 22 September 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 6 October 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 20 October 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 27 October 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 10 November 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 17 November 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 24 November 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 1 December 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 15 December 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 22 December 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 29 December 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 12 January 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 19 January 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 26 January 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 2 February 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 16 February 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 22 February 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 2 March 2002.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 16 March 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 30 March 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 6 April 2001.
- "Rugby Union results and details - Telegraph". Telegraph. 13 April 2001.
- "National Two 01/02 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- "National Two 01/02 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- "National Two 01/02 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- "National Two 01/02 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- "National Two 01/02 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- "National Two 01/02 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- "National Two 01/02 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- "National Two 01/02 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- "National Two 01/02 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- "National Two 01/02 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- "National Two 01/02 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
- "National Two 01/02 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2002.
External links
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