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2002–03 National Division One

FieldValue
name2002–03 National Division One
countriesEngland
championsRotherham
runnersupWorcester
relegatedMoseley and Rugby Lions
highest attendance5,700 Worcester at home to Rotherham on 12 April 2003
attendance190,949 (average 1,073 per match)
lowest attendance250 Wakefield at home to Rugby Lions on 2 November 2002
top point scorerCAN James Pritchard
(Bedford Blues) 374 points
top try scorerENG Duncan Roke
(Worcester) 26 tries
prevseason[2001–02](2001-02-national-division-one)
nextseason[2003–04](2003-04-national-division-one)

(Bedford Blues) 374 points (Worcester) 26 tries

The 2002–03 National Division One (for sponsorship reasons known as the Jewson National Division One) was the 16th 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 Orrell and Plymouth Albion who were promoted from 2001–02 National Division Two while no team was relegated from the 2001–02 Zurich Premiership as Rotherham's ground was not deemed suitable for top flight games.

For the second year in a row Rotherham, were champions, and this year they were promoted to the Zurich Premiership for season 2003–04 with Worcester finishing as runners–up for the third consecutive season. Moseley and Rugby were relegated to the 2003–04 National Division Two.

Participating teams

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/Area
Bedford BluesGoldington Road5,000Bedford, Bedfordshire
Birmingham & SolihullSharmans Cross4,000Solihull, West Midlands
CoventryCoundon Road10,000 (1,100 seats)Coventry, West Midlands
Exeter ChiefsCounty Ground5,750 (750 seats)Exeter, Devon
London WelshOld Deer Park4,500 (1,500 seats)Richmond, London
ManchesterGrove Park4,000Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
MoseleyBournbrookBirmingham, West Midlands
OrrellEdge Hall Road5,300 (300 seats)Orrell, Greater Manchester
OtleyCross Green7,000 (852 seats)Otley, West Yorkshire
Plymouth AlbionBeacon Park3,500 (450 seats)Plymouth, Devon
RotherhamMillmoor8,300Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Rugby LionsWebb Ellis Road3,200 (200 seats)Rugby, Warwickshire
WakefieldCollege Grove4,000 (500 seats)Wakefield, West Yorkshire
WorcesterSixways8,477Worcester, Worcestershire

Table

  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: (1) difference between points for and against; (2) total number of points for.

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

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 April 2003.

Round 15

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2003.

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2003.

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.

Round 16

Round 17

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.

Round 18

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 April 2003.

Round 19

Round 14 & 15 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003..
  • Game rescheduled from 4 January 2003.
  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
  • Game rescheduled from 4 January 2003.

Round 21 (rescheduled game)

  • Game brought forward from 1 March 2003.

Round 20

Round 21

  • Game brought forward to 19 February 2003.

  • Game postponed. Rescheduled to 8 March 2003.

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2003.

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 April 2003.

Round 15, 17 & 21 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 25 January 2003.
  • Game rescheduled from 1 March 2003.
  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.

Round 22

Rounds 15 & 21 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
  • Game rescheduled from 1 March 2003.

Round 23

Rounds 18, 21 & 26 (rescheduled games)

  • Game brought forward from 26 April 2003.

  • Game rescheduled from 1 March 2003.

  • Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.

Round 24

Round 25

Round 14 (rescheduled game)

Round 26

  • Game brought forward to 5 April 2003.

Total Season Attendances

ClubHome
GamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Bedford Blues1320,6961,5922,2271,15932%
Birmingham & Solihull136,5005001,20020013%
Coventry1116,7451,5222,50085015%
Exeter Chiefs1317,6631,3592,95878624%
London Welsh1312,1559351,47540021%
Manchester136,7125161,20012513%
Moseley136,214478750323N/A
Orrell139,1657051,41040013%
Otley129,0657552,00043511%
Plymouth Albion1324,5781,8913,4201,05654%
Rotherham1219,8231,6524,0001,00020%
Rugby Lions124,97041468227513%
Wakefield134,6793608502509%
Worcester1331,9842,4605,70080029%

Individual statistics

  • Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

Top points scorers

RankPlayerTeamAppearancesPoints
1CAN James PritchardBedford Blues26374
2ENG Tony YappExeter Chiefs23349
3ENG Phil JonesOrrell26346
4ENG Simon BinnsOtley23269
5ITA Ramiro PezRotherham17265
6RSA Luke SmithRotherham / Birmingham & Solihull24166
7ENG Brett McCormackPlymouth Albion22152
8ENG Simon VerbickasManchester20137
9ENG Jon BodenRugby Lions21134
10ENG Jon BensonRotherham21133

Top try scorers

RankPlayerTeamAppearancesTries
1ENG Duncan RokeWorcester2526
2ENG Michael WoodRotherham2222
3ENG Dan Ward-SmithPlymouth Albion2621
4ENG Nmandi EzulikeWorcester2319
5SCO David OfficerWorcester1516
ENG Wes DaviesOrrell2216
ENG Nick BaxterBirmingham & Solihull2616
6SCO Andy CraigOrrell1415
AUS Chris GarrardWorcester2115
ENG Phil JonesOrrell2615

Season records

Team

;Largest home win — 99 pts 102 - 3 Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002 ;Largest away win — 68 pts 75 - 7 Rotherham away to Moseley on 8 February 2003 ;Most points scored — 102 pts 102 - 3 Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002 ;Most tries in a match — 14 (x2) Exeter Chiefs at home to Rugby Lions on 14 September 2002

Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002 ;Most conversions in a match — 10 (x3) Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002

Rotherham away to Moseley on 8 February 2003

Worcester away to Moseley on 22 March 2003 ;Most penalties in a match — 8 (x2) Bedford Blues at home to Otley on 2 November 2002

Coventry at home to Exeter Chiefs on 9 April 2003 ;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3) Plymouth Albion at home to Wakefield on 8 February 2003

Bedford Blues at home to Plymouth Albion on 23 March 2003

Exeter Chiefs at home to Plymouth Albion on 19 April 2003

Player

;Most points in a match — 37 ITA Ramiro Pez for Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002 ;Most tries in a match — 4 (x4) AUS Drew Hickey for Orrell at home to Rugby Lions on 1 September 2002

ENG Dan Ward-Smith for Plymouth Albion away to Rugby Lions on 26 October 2002

ENG Dan Ward-Smith for Plymouth Albion at home to Manchester on 4 January 2003

ENG Duncan Roke for Worcester away to Rugby Lions on 26 April 2003 ;Most conversions in a match — 10 (x2) ITA Ramiro Pez for Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002

ENG Jon Benson for Rotherham away to Moseley on 8 February 2003 ;Most penalties in a match — 8 (x2) CAN James Pritchard for Bedford Blues at home to Otley on 2 November 2002

RSA Luke Smith for Coventry at home to Exeter Chiefs on 9 April 2003 ;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3) ENG Tom Barlow for Plymouth Albion at home to Wakefield on 8 February 2003

ENG Ed Barnes for Bedford Blues at home to Plymouth Albion on 23 March 2003

ENG Tony Yapp for Exeter Chiefs at home to Plymouth Albion on 19 April 2003

Attendances

;Highest — 5,700 Worcester at home to Rotherham on 12 April 2003 ;Lowest — 250 Wakefield at home to Rugby Lions on 2 November 2002 ;Highest Average Attendance — 2,460 Worcester ;Lowest Average Attendance — 360 Wakefield

Notes

References

References

  1. (9 May 2002). "Rotherham denied promotion". BBC News.
  2. (22 April 2002). "Rugby Union round-up". Liverpool Echo.
  3. (12 May 2003). "Rotherham promoted". The Telegraph.
  4. (18 April 2003). "Local rivals have plenty to play for". Coventry Telegraph.
  5. (14 April 2003). "RUGBY UNION: Struggling Moseley miss their last chance; OTLEY 65 MOSELEY 27". Birmingham Evening Mail.
  6. "Leagues 2002/03". Moseley Rugby club.
  7. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  8. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  9. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  10. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  11. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  12. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  13. "Beacon Park, Plymouth Albion, 1919-2003". Rugby Journal.
  14. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  15. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  16. "Gloucester v. Leicester (PDF, opens in a new window)". Gloucester Rugby Heritage.
  17. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  18. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Home attendances". Rugby Statbunker.
  19. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Leading point scorers". Rugby Statbunker.
  20. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker.
  21. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker.
  22. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker.
  23. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker.
  24. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker.
  25. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker.
  26. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker.
  27. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker.
  28. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker.
  29. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker.
  30. (26 April 2003). "National One 02/03 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker.
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