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.[1][2]
2002–03 National Division One | |
---|---|
Countries | ![]() |
Champions | Rotherham |
Runners-up | Worcester |
Relegated | Moseley and Rugby Lions |
Attendance | 190,949 (average 1,073 per match)[a 1] |
Highest attendance | 5,700 Worcester at home to Rotherham on 12 April 2003 |
Lowest attendance | 250 Wakefield at home to Rugby Lions on 2 November 2002 |
Top point scorer | ![]() (Bedford Blues) 374 points |
Top try scorer | ![]() (Worcester) 26 tries |
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.[3][4][5][6]
Participating teams
editTeam | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area |
---|---|---|---|
Bedford Blues | Goldington Road | 7,000 | Bedford, Bedfordshire |
Birmingham & Solihull | Sharmans Cross | 2,500 | Solihull, West Midlands |
Coventry | Coundon Road | 9,000+ | Coventry, West Midlands |
Exeter Chiefs | County Ground | 5,200 | Exeter, Devon |
London Welsh | Old Deer Park | 5,850 | Richmond, London |
Manchester | Grove Park | 4,000 | Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester |
Moseley | Bournbrook | Birmingham, West Midlands | |
Orrell | Edge Hall Road | 5,500 | Orrell, Greater Manchester |
Otley | Cross Green | 5,000 | Otley, West Yorkshire |
Plymouth Albion | Beacon Park | 3,500 | Plymouth, Devon |
Rotherham | Millmoor | 8,300 | Rotherham, South Yorkshire |
Rugby Lions | Webb Ellis Road | 1,000 | Rugby, Warwickshire |
Wakefield | College Grove | 3,000 | Wakefield, West Yorkshire |
Worcester | Sixways | 8,477 | Worcester, Worcestershire |
Table
editPos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | B | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rotherham (C) | 26 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 1077 | 336 | +741 | 20 | 116 | Promoted |
2 | Worcester | 26 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 1185 | 431 | +754 | 22 | 114 | |
3 | Exeter Chiefs | 26 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 940 | 459 | +481 | 20 | 104 | |
4 | Orrell | 26 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 854 | 595 | +259 | 15 | 91 | |
5 | London Welsh | 26 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 627 | 565 | +62 | 16 | 76 | |
6 | Coventry | 26 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 761 | 684 | +77 | 12 | 68 | |
7 | Bedford Blues | 26 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 675 | 760 | −85 | 10 | 64 | |
8 | Birmingham & Solihull | 26 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 630 | 569 | +61 | 11 | 63 | |
9 | Plymouth Albion | 26 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 679 | 697 | −18 | 18 | 60 | |
10 | Wakefield | 26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 451 | 710 | −259 | 11 | 47 | |
11 | Otley | 26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 597 | 839 | −242 | 11 | 47 | |
12 | Manchester | 26 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 484 | 791 | −307 | 11 | 39 | |
13 | Moseley | 26 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 399 | 1178 | −779 | 7 | 23 | Relegated |
14 | Rugby | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 422 | 1167 | −745 | 7 | 7 |
Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows: four points for a win; two points for a draw; no points for a loss; one bonus point for scoring four tries or more in a match; one bonus point for losing by seven points or less.
- 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.
(C) Champion
Results
editRound 1
edit31 August 2002 |
Bedford Blues | 21 - 15 | Moseley |
Report |
Goldington Road Attendance: 1,722 Referee: Eric Woodmason |
31 August 2002 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 35 - 10 | London Welsh |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 500 Referee: Nigel Higginson |
31 August 2002 |
Coventry | 23 - 29 | Worcester |
Report |
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,495 Referee: Geraint Ashton-Jones |
31 August 2002 |
Manchester | 15 - 24 | Plymouth Albion |
Report |
Grove Park Attendance: 750 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
Round 2
edit7 September 2002 |
Coventry | 50 - 0 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
Coundon Road Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Tim Miller |
7 September 2002 |
Plymouth Albion | 49 - 29 | Bedford Blues |
Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 2,000 Referee: David Rose |
7 September 2002 |
Wakefield | 18 - 13 | Manchester |
Report |
College Grove Attendance: 350 Referee: Malcom Changleng |
8 September 2002 |
Rugby Lions | 25 - 38 | Otley |
Report |
Webb Ellis Road Attendance: 454 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
Round 3
edit14 September 2002 |
Bedford Blues | 47 - 14 | Wakefield |
Report |
Goldington Road Attendance: 1,490 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
14 September 2002 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 68 - 14 | Moseley |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 750 Referee: Geraint Ashton-Jones |
14 September 2002 |
Exeter Chiefs | 89 - 17 | Rugby Lions |
Report |
County Ground Attendance: 786 Referee: Tim Miller |
14 September 2002 |
London Welsh | 29 - 19 | Plymouth Albion |
Report |
Old Deer Park Attendance: 1,100 Referee: Sean Davey |
Round 4
edit21 September 2002 |
Orrell | 18 - 27 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
Edge Hall Road Attendance: 742 Referee: Eric Woodmason |
21 September 2002 |
Plymouth Albion | 46 - 15 | Moseley |
Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,676 Referee: Trevor Fisher |
21 September 2002 |
Wakefield | 13 - 20 | London Welsh |
Report |
College Grove Attendance: 275 Referee: David Grashoff |
21 September 2002 |
Worcester | 28 - 25 | Exeter Chiefs |
Report |
Sixways Attendance: 3,026 Referee: Geraint Ashton-Jones |
22 September 2002 |
Rugby Lions | 14 - 27 | Manchester |
Report |
Webb Ellis Road Attendance: 400 Referee: Alan Biggs |
Round 5
edit28 September 2002 |
Bedford Blues | 37 - 13 | Rugby Lions |
Report |
Goldington Road Attendance: 1,675 Referee: Mark Wilson |
28 September 2002 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 31 - 8 | Plymouth Albion |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 500 Referee: Martin Fox |
28 September 2002 |
London Welsh | 22 - 49 | Rotherham |
Report |
Old Deer Park Attendance: 1,150 Referee: Tim Miller |
Round 6
edit5 October 2002 |
Otley | 23 - 30 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
Cross Green Attendance: 600 Referee: Geraint Ashton-Jones |
5 October 2002 |
Rugby Lions | 19 - 39 | London Welsh |
Report |
Webb Ellis Road Attendance: 348 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
Round 7
edit12 October 2002 |
Plymouth Albion | 13 - 23 | Rotherham |
Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,940 Referee: David Grashoff |
Round 8
edit26 October 2002 |
Coventry | 17 - 26 | London Welsh |
Report |
Coundon Road Attendance: 1,700 Referee: Nigel Higginson |
26 October 2002 |
Exeter Chiefs | 35 - 35 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
County Ground Attendance: 1,213 Referee: David Sainsbury |
26 October 2002 |
Rugby Lions | 36 - 39 | Plymouth Albion |
Report |
Webb Ellis Road Attendance: 390 Referee: Geraint Ashton-Jones |
Round 9
edit2 November 2002 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 10 - 20 | Rotherham |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 700 Referee: David Grashoff |
Round 10
edit15 November 2002 |
Exeter Chiefs | 28 - 12 | Bedford Blues |
Report |
County Ground Attendance: 1,450 Referee: Alan Biggs |
16 November 2002 |
Coventry | 28 - 27 | Plymouth Albion |
Report |
Counden Road Attendance: 900 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
16 November 2002 |
Manchester | 10 - 21 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
Grove Park Attendance: 350 Referee: David Rose |
Round 11
edit23 November 2002 |
Bedford Blues | 54 - 28 | Manchester |
Report |
Goldington Road Attendance: 1,159 Referee: Andrew Pearce |
23 November 2002 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 23 - 3 | Rugby Lions |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 300 Referee: Trevor Fisher |
23 November 2002 |
Plymouth Albion | 27 - 27 | Orrell |
Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,056 Referee: Eric Woodmason |
24 November 2002 |
London Welsh | 17 - 15 | Exeter Chiefs |
Report |
Old Deer Park Attendance: 500 Referee: Mark Wilson |
Round 12
edit7 December 2002 |
Bedford Blues | 19 - 7 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
Goldington Road Attendance: 1,510 Referee: Martin Fox |
7 December 2002 |
Exeter Chiefs | 73 - 0 | Moseley |
Report |
County Ground Attendance: 1,100 Referee: Nigel Higginson |
Round 13
edit14 December 2002 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 17 - 37 | Worcester |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Sean Davey |
14 December 2002 |
London Welsh | 24 - 26 | Bedford Blues |
Report |
Old Deer Park Attendance: 1,130 Referee: David Rose |
14 December 2002 |
Plymouth Albion | 5 - 12 | Exeter Chiefs |
Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 3,420 Referee: Martin Fox |
14 December 2002 |
Rugby Lions | 20 - 31 | Coventry |
Report |
Webb Ellis Road Attendance: 682 Referee: David Sainsbury |
Round 14
edit4 January 2003 |
London Welsh | 30 - 25 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
Old Deer Park Attendance: 600 Referee: Malcom Changleng |
4 January 2003 |
Moseley | P - P | Bedford Blues |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.
4 January 2003 |
Rotherham | P - P | Otley |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.
4 January 2003 |
Wakefield | P - P | Exeter Chiefs |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 April 2003.
Round 15
edit11 January 2003 |
Bedford Blues | P - P | Plymouth Albion |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2003.
11 January 2003 |
Birmingham & Solihull | P - P | Coventry |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.
11 January 2003 |
Exeter Chiefs | P - P | Rotherham |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2003.
11 January 2003 |
London Welsh | P - P | Moseley |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
11 January 2003 |
Manchester | P - P | Wakefield |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
11 January 2003 |
Orrell | P - P | Worcester |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.
Round 16
edit17 January 2003 |
Rugby Lions | 10 - 27 | Exeter Chiefs |
Report |
Webb Ellis Road Attendance: 280 Referee: Rob Debney |
18 January 2003 |
Moseley | 0 - 55 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
Bournbrook Attendance: 514 Referee: Mark Wilson |
18 January 2003 |
Plymouth Albion | 0 - 15 | London Welsh |
Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,590 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
Round 17
edit25 January 2003 |
Bedford Blues | P - P | Rotherham |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
25 January 2003 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 10 - 38 | Orrell |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 350 Referee: Rob Debney |
25 January 2003 |
Exeter Chiefs | 16 - 20 | Worcester |
Report |
County Ground Attendance: 2,288 Referee: Ashley Rowden |
25 January 2003 |
London Welsh | 29 - 8 | Wakefield |
Report |
Old Deer Park Attendance: 750 Referee: Nigel Higginson |
25 January 2003 |
Manchester | 39 - 17 | Rugby Lions |
Report |
Grove Park Attendance: 350 Referee: Geraint Ashton-Jones |
Round 18
edit1 February 2003 |
Coventry | P - P | Exeter Chiefs |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 April 2003.
1 February 2003 |
Plymouth Albion | 27 - 24 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
Beacon Park Attendance: 1,625 Referee: S Leyshon |
1 February 2003 |
Rugby Lions | 23 - 35 | Bedford Blues |
Report |
Webb Ellis Road Attendance: 580 Referee: Nigel Higginson |
Round 19
edit8 February 2003 |
Bedford Blues | 9 - 45 | Worcester |
Report |
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,227 Referee: Geraint Ashton-Jones |
8 February 2003 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 7 - 21 | Otley |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 200 Referee: Tim Beddow |
8 February 2003 |
London Welsh | 67 - 17 | Rugby Lions |
Report |
Old Deer Park Attendance: 890 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
Round 14 & 15 (rescheduled games)
edit16 February 2003 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 36 - 25 | Coventry |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 300 Referee: Geraint Ashton-Jones |
- 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)
edit19 February 2003 |
Bedford Blues | 26 - 37 | Orrell |
Report |
Goldington Road Attendance: 1,420 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
- Game brought forward from 1 March 2003.
Round 20
edit22 February 2003 |
Rugby Lions | 18 - 21 | Moseley |
Report |
Webb Ellis Road Attendance: 401 Referee: Eric Woodmason |
22 February 2003 |
Wakefield | 6 - 16 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
College Grove Attendance: 300 Referee: Mark Wilson |
23 February 2003 |
Rotherham | 55 - 6 | Plymouth Albion |
Report |
Millmoor Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Robin Goodliffe |
Round 21
edit1 March 2003 |
Bedford Blues | P - P | Orrell |
- Game brought forward to 19 February 2003.
1 March 2003 |
Birmingham & Solihull | P - P | Exeter Chiefs |
- Game postponed. Rescheduled to 8 March 2003.
1 March 2003 |
Moseley | P - P | Worcester |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2003.
1 March 2003 |
Wakefield | P - P | Rotherham |
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 April 2003.
Round 15, 17 & 21 (rescheduled games)
edit8 March 2003 |
Bedford Blues | 13 - 40 | Rotherham |
Report |
Goldington Road Attendance: 1,744 Referee: Trevor Fisher |
- Game rescheduled from 25 January 2003.
8 March 2003 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 22 - 24 | Exeter Chiefs |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 350 Referee: Malcom Changleng |
- Game rescheduled from 1 March 2003.
- Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
- Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
Round 22
edit15 March 2003 |
Exeter Chiefs | 49 - 5 | Manchester |
Report |
County Ground Attendance: 1,139 Referee: Nigel Higginson |
15 March 2003 |
Rotherham | 38 - 16 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
Millmoor Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Sean Davey |
Rounds 15 & 21 (rescheduled games)
edit22 March 2003 |
Exeter Chiefs | 30 - 19 | Rotherham |
Report |
County Ground Attendance: 1,165 Referee: Geraint Ashton-Jones |
- Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
23 March 2003 |
Bedford Blues | 31 - 16 | Plymouth Albion |
Report |
Goldington Road Attendance: Nick Williams Referee: 1,442 |
- Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.
- Game rescheduled from 1 March 2003.
Round 23
edit29 March 2003 |
Bedford Blues | 23 - 32 | Exeter Chiefs |
Report |
Goldington Road Attendance: 1,359 Referee: Eric Woodmason |
29 March 2003 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 27 - 29 | Manchester |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 250 Referee: S Leyshon |
Rounds 18, 21 & 26 (rescheduled games)
edit5 April 2003 |
London Welsh | 13 - 10 | Manchester |
Report |
Old Deer Park Attendance: 1,100 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
- Game brought forward from 26 April 2003.
- Game rescheduled from 1 March 2003.
- Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.
Round 24
edit12 April 2003 |
Exeter Chiefs | 32 - 11 | London Welsh |
Report |
County Ground Attendance: 1,224 Referee: Rob Debney |
12 April 2003 |
Rugby Lions | 23 - 35 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
Webb Ellis Road Attendance: 275 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
Round 25
edit19 April 2003 |
Bedford Blues | 19 - 18 | London Welsh |
Report |
Goldington Road Attendance: 1,835 Referee: Tim Beddow |
19 April 2003 |
Exeter Chiefs | 39 - 22 | Plymouth Albion |
Report |
County Ground Attendance: 2,958 Referee: David Sainsbury |
19 April 2003 |
Worcester | 17 - 6 | Birmingham & Solihull |
Report |
Sixways Attendance: 1,895 Referee: Eric Gauzins |
Round 14 (rescheduled game)
edit21 April 2003 |
Wakefield | 27 - 34 | Exeter Chiefs |
College Grove Attendance: 250 Referee: Nick Williams |
Round 26
edit26 April 2003 |
Birmingham & Solihull | 24 - 24 | Bedford Blues |
Report |
Sharmans Cross Attendance: 700 Referee: Bruce Robertson |
26 April 2003 |
London Welsh | P - P | Manchester |
- Game brought forward to 5 April 2003.
26 April 2003 |
Rugby Lions | 24 - 76 | Worcester |
Report |
Webb Ellis Road Attendance: 480 Referee: David Sainsbury |
Total Season Attendances
editClub | Home Games |
Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bedford Blues | 13 | 20,696 | 1,592 | 2,227 | 1,159 | 23% |
Birmingham & Solihull | 13 | 6,500 | 500 | 1,200 | 200 | 20% |
Coventry | 11[a 2] | 16,745 | 1,522 | 2,500 | 850 | 17% |
Exeter Chiefs | 13 | 17,663 | 1,359 | 2,958 | 786 | 26% |
London Welsh | 13 | 12,155 | 935 | 1,475 | 400 | 16% |
Manchester | 13 | 6,712 | 516 | 1,200 | 125 | 13% |
Moseley | 13 | 6,214 | 478 | 750 | 323 | N/A |
Orrell | 13 | 9,165 | 705 | 1,410 | 400 | 13% |
Otley | 12 | 9,065 | 755 | 2,000 | 435 | 15% |
Plymouth Albion | 13 | 24,578 | 1,891 | 3,420 | 1,056 | 54% |
Rotherham | 12[a 3] | 19,823 | 1,652 | 4,000 | 1,000 | 20% |
Rugby Lions | 12[a 4] | 4,970 | 414 | 682 | 275 | 41% |
Wakefield | 13 | 4,679 | 360 | 850 | 250 | 12% |
Worcester | 13 | 31,984 | 2,460 | 5,700 | 800 | 29% |
- ^ Note that 4 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 Orrell on 18 January 2003 and Bedford Blues on 22 February 2003.
- ^ Missing home attendance v Wakefield on 27 October 2002.
- ^ Missing home attendance v Rotherham on 15 January 2003.
Individual statistics
edit- Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorersedit
|
Top try scorersedit
|
Season records
edit
Teamedit
102 - 3 Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002
75 - 7 Rotherham away to Moseley on 8 February 2003
102 - 3 Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002
Exeter Chiefs at home to Rugby Lions on 14 September 2002
Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002
Bedford Blues at home to Otley on 2 November 2002
Plymouth Albion at home to Wakefield on 8 February 2003 |
Playeredit
Ramiro Pez for Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002
Drew Hickey for Orrell at home to Rugby Lions on 1 September 2002
Ramiro Pez for Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002
James Pritchard for Bedford Blues at home to Otley on 2 November 2002
Tom Barlow for Plymouth Albion at home to Wakefield on 8 February 2003 Attendancesedit
Worcester at home to Rotherham on 12 April 2003
Wakefield at home to Rugby Lions on 2 November 2002
Worcester
Wakefield
|
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Rotherham denied promotion". BBC News. 9 May 2002.
- ^ "Rugby Union round-up". Liverpool Echo. 22 April 2002.
- ^ "Rotherham promoted". The Telegraph. 12 May 2003.
- ^ "Local rivals have plenty to play for". Coventry Telegraph. 18 April 2003.
- ^ "RUGBY UNION: Struggling Moseley miss their last chance; OTLEY 65 MOSELEY 27". Birmingham Evening Mail. 14 April 2003. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018.
- ^ "Leagues 2002/03". Moseley Rugby club. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Home attendances". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Leading point scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "National One 02/03 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.