National League 2 North

National League 2 North
Current season or competition:
2018–19 National League 2 North
Sport Rugby union
Instituted 1987 (1987)
Number of teams 16
Country  England
Holders Sale FC (1st title) (2017-18
(promoted to National League 1)
Most titles Macclesfield (3 titles)
Website clubs.rfu.com

National League 2 North, (which before September 2009 was known as National Division Three North) is a level four league in the English rugby union system and provides mostly amateur competition for teams in the northern half of England. From 2009–10 the RFU restructured the league system in England, and this league was expanded from fourteen to sixteen teams. Participating clubs are from the English Midlands and Northern England. Each team plays thirty league games on a home and away basis. The champion club is promoted to National League 1 and the runner-up participates in a one-off play-off with the runner-up of National League 2 South for promotion. Relegation is to either the Midlands Premier or North Premier leagues depending on where the teams are based.

Current season

Participating teams and locations

Twelve of the teams listed below participated in the 2017–18 National League 2 North season. The 2017–18 champions Sale FC were promoted into the 2018–19 National League 1, replacing Fylde and Hull Ionians who were relegated from the 2017–18 National League 1.[1][2][3] The three teams relegated from National League 2 North the previous season were Sheffield and Luctonians (both Midlands Premier) and Blaydon (North Premier).[4][1][5]

The promoted teams include Preston Grasshoppers from North Premier (champions) who return to the division after an absence of just one season, while Peterborough Lions came up from Midlands Premier (playoffs). Midlands Premier champions Birmingham & Solihull were level transferred to the 2018–19 National League 2 South due to an imbalance of teams, being considered the most southerly team in the division.[6][7]

Current standings

2018–19 National League 2 North Table
Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Losing bonus Points
1Hull Ionians8701246169777035
2Hinckley8701252165875033
3Huddersfield8602207149585231
4Sedgley Park8503251191605227
5Chester7502173119543225
6Stourbridge8503257219385025
7Fylde8404217178395223
8Wharfedale8404203184195122
9Otley8404154191-373019
10South Leicester8314234269-354018
11Sheffield Tigers8305197217-203318
12Preston Grasshoppers8206203231-286418
13Leicester Lions8305191201-103217
14Tynedale7214210215-55217
15Macclesfield8107141277-136206
16Peterborough Lions8107117278-161116
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 20 October 2018
Source: "National League 2 North". NCA Rugby.

National Two North honours

List of National Two North Honours
Season No of teams Champions Runner–up Relegated teams League name
1987–8811RugbyDurham CitySolihull, Derby, Birkenhead ParkArea League North
1988–8911Roundhay Broughton ParkBirminghamArea League North
1989–9011Broughton ParkMorleyNo relegation[a 1]Area League North
1990–9113OtleyLichfieldBirmingham & Solihull, Stoke-on-TrentNational 4 North
1991–9213AspatriaHerefordVale of Lune and NorthernNational 4 North
1992–9313HarrogateRotherhamTowcestriansNational 4 North
1993–9410CliftonHarrogateSheffield (to 5 North) and Sudbury (to 5 South)Courage National League 4[a 2]
1994–9510RotherhamReadingAskeans (to 5 South) and Broughton Park (to 5 North)Courage National League 4
1995–9610ExeterLondon Welsh[a 3]Aspatria (to 4 North) and Plymouth Albion (to 4 South)Courage National League 4
1996–9714WorcesterBirmingham & SolihullStoke-on-Trent, HerefordNational 4 North
1997–9814Birmingham & SolihullManchesterNo relegationNational 2 North
1998–9914Preston GrasshoppersStourbridgeWinnington Park, Lichfield, HinckleyNational 2 North
1999–0014KendalStourbridgeSheffieldNational 2 North
2000–0114StourbridgeSedgley ParkWalsall and AspatriaNational 3 North
2001–0214DoncasterDudley KingswinfordWhitchurch, Morley, Sandal and West HartlepoolNational 3 North
2002–0314NuneatonNew BrightonBedford Athletic, Broadstreet, Hull Ionians and ScunthorpeNational 3 North
2003–0414WaterlooHalifaxPreston Grasshoppers, Liverpool St Helens and LongtonNational 3 North
2004–0514HalifaxMacclesfieldRugby Lions, Dudley Kingswinford and Bedford AthleticNational 3 North
2005–0614Bradford & BingleyNuneatonNew Brighton and KendalNational 3 North
2006–0714BlaydonTynedaleDarlington, Cleckheaton, OrrellNational 3 North
2007–0814TynedaleDarlington Mowden ParkMorley, West Park St Helens, BeverleyNational 3 North
2008–0914NuneatonCaldyDarlington Mowden Park, HalifaxNational 3 North
2009–1016MacclesfieldLoughborough StudentsWaterloo and Bradford & BingleyNational League 2 North
2010–1116FyldeLoughborough StudentsMorley, Rugby Lions and ManchesterNational League 2 North
2011–1216Loughborough Students CaldyHarrogate, Nuneaton and KendalNational League 2 North
2012–1316Hull IoniansStourbridgeWestoe, Stockport and HuddersfieldNational League 2 North
2013–1416MacclesfieldDarlington Mowden ParkSheffield Tigers, Bromsgrove and Dudley KingswinfordNational League 2 North
2014–1516Hull IoniansAmpthillBirmingham & Solihull, Hull and StockportNational League 2 North
2015–1616MacclesfieldSedgley ParkHuddersfield, Broadstreet, SandalNational League 2 North
2016–1716CaldySalePreston Grasshoppers, Scunthorpe, HarrogateNational League 2 North
2017–1816Sale FCSedgley ParkSheffield, Blaydon, LuctoniansNational League 2 North
2018–1916
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the league runners-up of National League 2 North and National League 2 South for the third and final promotion place to National League 1. The team with the superior league record having home advantage in the tie. As of the end of the 2017–18 season the southern teams have been more successful with thirteen wins to the northern teams four.

National Two promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[8]Sedgley Park (N)40–23Launceston (S)Park Lane, Whitefield, Greater Manchester1,500
2001–02[9]Launceston (S)26–0Dudley Kingswinford (N)Polson Bridge, Launceston, Cornwall2,500
2002–03[10]Lydney (S)21–7New Brighton (N)Regentsholme, Lydney, Gloucestershire
2003–04[11][12]Halifax (N)16–18Launceston (S)Ovenden Park, Halifax, West Yorkshire
2004-05[13]Redruth (S)33–14Macclesfield (N)The Recreation Ground, Redruth, Cornwall4,000
2005–06[14][15]North Walsham (S)5–15Nuneaton (N)Norwich Road, Scottow, Norfolk1,302
2006–07[16][17]Westcombe Park (S)36–20Tynedale (N)Goddington Dene, Orpington, Greater London1,700[18]
2007–08[19][20]Cinderford (S)15–14Darlington Mowden Park (N)Dockham Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire2,800
2008–09No promotion play-offs this season due to widespread restructuring to the English rugby union league system which meant that only the champions of the two divisions would go up.[21]
2009–10[22][23]Loughborough Students (N)21–43Rosslyn Park (S)Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough, Leicestershire1,000
2010–11[24][25]Jersey (S)30–5Loughborough Students (N)St. Peter, Saint Peter, Jersey3,100
2011–12[26][27]Richmond (S)20–13 (aet)Caldy (N)Athletic Ground, Richmond, Greater London1,600
2012–13[28]Stourbridge (N)26–28Worthing Raiders (S)Stourton Park, Stourbridge, West Midlands925
2013–14[29]Darlington Mowden Park (N)30–28 (aet)Ampthill (S)The Northern Echo Arena, Darlington, County Durham975
2014–15[30][31]Ampthill (N)19–10Bishop's Stortford (S)Dillingham Park, Ampthill, Bedfordshire1,253
2015–16[32][33]Old Albanian (S)24–0Sedgley Park (N)Woollam Playing Fields, St Albans, Hertfordshire473
2016–17Sale (N2N)14–19Old Elthamians (N2S)Heywood Road, Sale, Greater Manchester
2017-18Chinnor (N2S)40-31Sedgley Park (N2N)Kingsey Road, Thame, Oxfordshire
2018-19
Green background represent the promoted teams. (N) stands for the northern teams and (S) stands for the southern teams.

Number of league titles

Original teams

When club rugby began in 1987 this division was called Area 4 North and contained the following teams:

League format since 1987

Format of fourth tier rugby union leagues in England
Year Name No of teams No of matches
1987–93Area League North and
Area League South		1110
1993–96National Division Four1018
1996–97National Four North and
National Four South		1426
1997–00National Division 2 North and
National Division 2 South		1426
2000–09National Division Three North and
National Division Three South		1426
2009–National League 2 North and
National League 2 South		1630

Records

Note that all records are from 1996-97 season onwards as this is widely held as the dawn of professionalism across the English club game. It also offers a better comparison between seasons as the division team numbers are roughly equal (for example when league rugby union first started in 1987-88 the northern league had only 11 teams playing 10 games each, compared to 14 teams in 1996-97 playing 26 games (home & away), going up to 16 teams in 2009-10 playing 30 games each). Attendance records are from 2000 onwards unless otherwise specified. All records are up to date up till the end of the 2017-18 season.

League records

  • Most titles: 3
Macclesfield (2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16)
  • Most times promoted from division: 3
Nuneaton (2002–03, 2005–06, 2008–09)
Macclesfield (2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16)
  • Most times relegated from division: 3
Morley (2001–02, 2007–08, 2010–11)
Sheffield (1993–94), (1999–00), (2017–18)
  • Most league points in a season: 134
Hull Ionians (2014–15)
  • Least league points in a season: 0
Manchester (2010–11)
  • Most points scored in a season: 1,259
Fylde (2010–11)
  • Least points scored in a season: 205
Manchester (2010–11)
  • Most points conceded in a season: 1,985
Manchester (2010–11)
  • Least points conceded in a season: 305
Kendal (1999-00)[34]
  • Best points difference (For/Against): 736
Fylde (2010-11)
  • Worst points difference (For/Against): -1,780
Manchester (2010-11)
  • Most games won in a season: 28
Hull Ionians (2012–13)
  • Most games lost in a season: 30
Manchester (2010-11)
Dudley Kingswinford (2013-14)
  • Most games drawn in a season: 3
Worcester (1996–97),[35]
Dudley Kingswinford (2001-02, 2004-05)
Liverpool St Helens (2003-04)
New Brighton (2004-05)
Preston Grasshoppers (2005-06, 2015-16)
Leicester Lions (2007-08, 2011-12)
Morley (2007-08)
Huddersfield (2011-12)
South Leicester (2015-16), (2017-18)
Sedgley Park (2016-17)
  • Most bonus points in a season: 30
Sedgley Park (2017-18)

Match records

  • Largest home win: 124 - 0
Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006-07)[36]
  • Largest away win: 106 - 0
Fylde away to Orrell on 31 March 2007 (2006-07)[37]
  • Most points scored in a match: 124
Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006-07)[36]
  • Most tries scored in a match: 18
Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006-07)
Fylde at home to Manchester on 16 April 2011 (2010-11)
  • Most conversions scored in a match: 17
Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006-07)
  • Most penalties scored in a match: 9
Luctonians at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 15 November 2014 (2014-15)
  • Most drop kicks scored in a match: 3
Fylde at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 7 January 2006 (2005-06)
Nuneaton at home to Macclesfield on 11 October 2008 and away to Bradford & Bingley on 29 November 2008 (both 2008-09)
Wharfedale at home to Scunthorpe on 19 November 2016 and Wharfedale at home to Luctonians on 28 January 2017 (both 2016-17)

Player records

  • Most times top points scorer: 2
England Tom Rhodes for Bradford & Bingley (2004-05, 2005-06)
England Chris Johnson for Huddersfield (2010-11, 2011-12)
  • Most times top try scorer: 3
England Nick Royle for Fylde (2006-07) and Caldy (2015-16, 2016-17)
  • Most points in a season: 422
England Ross Winney for Macclesfield (2009-10)
  • Most tries in a season: 32
England Gareth Collins for Leicester Lions (2010-11)
England Ryan Parkinson for Macclesfield (2013-14)
England Nick Royle for Caldy (2016-17)
  • Most points in a match: 49
England Ross Winney for Macclesfield away to Waterloo on 30 January 2010 (2009-10)
  • Most conversions in a match: 17
Wales Anthony Mellalieu for Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006-07)
  • Most tries in a match: 7
England Matt Donkin for Doncaster at home to Whitchurch on 10 November 2001 (2001-02)
England Nick Royle for Fylde away to Orrell on 31 March 2007 (2006-07)
England Dominic Moon for Preston Grasshoppers at home to Otley on 14 April 2012 (2011-12)
  • Most penalties in a match: 9
England Louis Silver for Luctonians at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 15 November 2015 (2014-15)
  • Most drop kicks in a match: 3
England Mike Scott for Fylde at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 7 January 2006 (2005-06)
England Rickie Aley for Nuneaton at home to Macclesfield on 11 October 2008 and away to Bradford & Bingley on 29 November 2008 (both 2008-09)
England Tom Barrett for Wharfedale at home to Scunthorpe on 19 November 2016 and at home to Luctonians on 28 January 2017 (both 2016-17)

Attendance records

[a 5]

  • Highest attendance (league game): 3,750
Darlington Mowden Park at home to Macclesfield on 26 April 2014 (2013-14)
  • Lowest attendance (league game): 39
West Park St Helens at home to Leicester Lions on 15 December 2007 (2007-08)
  • Highest attendance (promotion playoff): 1,500
Sedgley Park at home to Launceston (2000-01)[a 6]
Fylde (2010-11)
  • Lowest average attendance (club): 89
West Park St Helens (2007-08)
  • Highest average attendance (season): 331 (2013-14)
  • Lowest average attendance (season): 239 (2007-08)

National League 2 North top 10 point scorers, all time

As of the end of the games of 12 May 2018. Stats taken from 1998-99 season onwards and include regular league games only in National League 2 North (no promotion playoff games). Points scored includes tries, drop kicks, penalties and conversions.[38]
Rank Nat Name Years Club(s) Points Apps Ratio
1 England Jon Boden 2006-Leicester Lions2,0592777.4
2 England Chris Johnson 2008-12
2016-		Huddersfield
Sale		1,71716710.3
3 England Richard Vasey 2009-17Caldy1,4491589.2
4 England Mark Ireland 2009-12
2013-14
2017-		Kendal
Otley
Sheffield Tigers		1,3051379.5
5 England Ross Winney 2005-10Macclesfield1,29012610
6 Wales Gavin Roberts 2007-17Caldy1,2842325.5
7 England Phillip Belgian 2001-08Tynedale1,0701169
8 England Stephen Collins 2010-11
2013-		Fylde
Sedgley Park		1,2661379.2
9 England Mark Bedworth 2001-05
2010-12		Darlington Mowden Park
Westoe		1,0521209
10 England Rickie Aley 2008-09
2015-		Nuneaton
South Leicester		9919510.4

(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 North.)

National League 2 North top 10 try scorers, all time

As of the end of the games of 28 April 2018. Stats taken from 1998-99 season onwards and include regular league games only in National League 2 North (no promotion playoff games).[39]
Rank Nat Name Years Club(s) Tries Apps Ratio
1 England Nick Royle 2003-04
2005-11
2014-17		Liverpool St Helens
Fylde
Caldy		1932120.9
2 England Gareth Collins 2004-05
2005-14		Rugby Lions
Leicester Lions		1522290.7
3 England Jamie Broadley 2009-11
2011-12, 2016-
2014-15		Harrogate
Sheffield Tigers
Hull		1351610.8
4 Wales Gavin Roberts 2007-17Caldy1142320.5
5 England Andrew Riley 2013-Sedgley Park1031420.7
6 England Oliver Brennand 2004-11Fylde961020.9
7 England Andrew Soutar 2006-08
2008-17		West Park St Helens
Caldy		832810.3
8 England Oliver Viney 2002-04, 2005–08, 2015-17Preston Grasshoppers811530.6
9 England Nicholas Sharpe 2006-07
2008-13, 2014-16		Rugby Lions
Huddersfield		692090.3
10 England Sam Bottomley 2007-16Harrogate681680.4

(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 North.)

Notes

  1. ↑ As no northern teams from National 3 were relegated into the division at the end of the season, there was no relegation.
  2. ↑ This year there was a league restructure with a new league (Courage National League 4) becoming the new tier 4. Courage National 4 would contain the previous season's top teams from National 4 North and National 4 South with the remaining teams joining lower tier teams as part of Courage League Division 5 (which retained the North/South divisions). This structure would continue for several years before being abolished at the end of 1996 where the league would revert to the old system.
  3. ↑ The top eight teams were all promoted to the re-organised, sixteen team, Courage League Division 3 for season 1996–97
  4. ↑ Rotherham's league title was won during the period when tier 4 was a single national league (1993-96).
  5. ↑ Note that due to poor attendance keeping by press and online sources means that only seasons from 2004-05 onwards are included (apart from playoff games).
  6. ↑ Note that promotion playoff games include stats for northern clubs only. Southern club attendances will be covered at the National League 2 South page.
  7. ↑ This attendance is the lowest recorded but may not actually be the lowest as a couple of playoff games involving northern clubs have no attendance figures due to poor coverage. It is also worth noting than many Stourbridge fans felt the crowd was twice this large but this is the figure given in The Rugby Paper.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Sale FC crowned champions, Blaydon suffer back to back relegations". NCA Rugby. 30 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Fylde relegated whilst Coventry take a step closer to glory". NCA Rugby. 12 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "Coventry 38 Hull Ionians 21". Coventry RFC. 28 April 2018.
  4. ↑ "National League 2 North: Sheffield down as Park shine in the sun". The RUGBYPaper (501). Rugby Paper Ltd. 22 April 2018. pp. 28–29.
  5. ↑ "Luctonians relegated following Sale defeat". Sunshine Radio. 13 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "North Premier 2017–2018". England Rugby. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "MATCH REPORT: Lions roar to promotion play-off victory". Peterborough Today. 28 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "National League 3 Playoffs 2000-01". englandrugby.com. 26 May 2001.
  9. ↑ "Rugby Union: National Three Play-off - DK's dream shattered by Launceston power show; Launceston 26 Dudley Kingswinf'rd 0". Birmingham Post & Mail. 29 April 2002.
  10. ↑ "National League Playoffs 2002-03". englandrugby.com. 26 April 2003.
  11. ↑ "National League Playoffs 2003-04". englandrugby.com. 15 May 2004.
  12. ↑ "Play-off agony for Halifax". Yorkshire Post. 17 May 2004.
  13. ↑ "The 2004-2005 league season". trelawnysarmy.org. 1 May 2005.
  14. ↑ "North Walsham 6-15 Nuneaton". BBC. 17 May 2006.
  15. ↑ "National League Playoffs 2005-06". englandrugby.com. 13 May 2006.
  16. ↑ "NINE-MINUTE BLITZ ENDS TYNEDALE'S DREAMS". News and Star. 4 May 2007.
  17. ↑ "National League Playoffs 2006-07". englandrugby.com. 28 April 2006.
  18. ↑ "Level 6". Rolling Maul. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  19. ↑ "National League Play Offs 2007-08". englandrugby.com. 26 April 2008.
  20. ↑ "Foresters play-off win 'no fluke'". BBC News. 30 April 2008.
  21. ↑ "Championship plan gains support". BBC News. 14 November 2008.
  22. ↑ "Party time for Rosslyn Park". Richmond and Twickenham Times. 21 May 2010.
  23. ↑ "Students miss out on promotion in heartbreaker". Loughborough Echo. 21 May 2010.
  24. ↑ "SSE National League Playoffs". englandrugby.com. 5 May 2011.
  25. ↑ "Jersey beat Loughborough in play-off final". BBC. 28 May 2011.
  26. ↑ "Heartbreak for Caldy as they lose National League Two play-off final against Richmond". Liverpool Echo. 7 May 2012.
  27. ↑ "Richmond v Caldy play off". Rolling Maul. 5 May 2012.
  28. ↑ "Results - SSE National League 2S". The Rugby Paper. 12 May 2013. p. 32.
  29. ↑ Craggs, Andy (3 May 2014). "DMPRFC 30 - Ampthill RFC 28". DMP. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  30. ↑ "Ampthill in 'dreamland' after play-off final victory". Bedfordshire News. 2 May 2015.
  31. ↑ "National League 2 Playoffs". The RUGBYPaper (346). Rugby Paper Ltd. 3 May 2015. pp. 24 & 32.
  32. ↑ "Old Albanian back in National One after play-off win secures promotion". The Herts Advertiser. 16 May 2016.
  33. ↑ "National League 2 play-off". The RUGBYPaper (400). Rugby Paper Ltd. 15 May 2016. pp. 26 & 36.
  34. ↑ "Jewson National League 2 1999/00". rugbyarchive.net. 1 December 2015.
  35. ↑ "Courage League - Division 4 1996/97". rugbyarchive.net. 12 May 2016.
  36. 1 2 "Blaydon proving a point". Chronicle Live. 27 March 2007.
  37. ↑ "Orrell 0, Fylde RU 106". Blackpool Gazette. 2 April 2007.
  38. ↑ "National Two North All time leading scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 12 May 2018.
  39. ↑ "National Two North All time try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
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