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The 2003–04 National Division Three North was the fourth season (sixteenth overall) of the fourth division (north) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three North. New teams to the division included Fylde and Kendal who were relegated from the 2002–03 National Division Two while promoted teams included Longton who came up as champions of Midlands Division 1 while Darlington (champions) and Macclesfield (playoffs) came up from North Division 1 .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] National Division Three South would automatically go up but the runners up of these two divisions would meet each other in a one off match (at the home ground of the side with the superior league record) to see who would claim the third and final promotion place to National Division Two for the following season.
After two seasons spent in the division Waterloo would pip Halifax to the title by the narrowest of margins finishing dead level on points but going up to the 2004–05 National Division Two by virtue of a massively better for and against record.[ 4] 2003–04 National Division Three South runners up Launceston in the promotion playoff.[ 5] [ 6] Liverpool St Helens and Preston Grasshoppers .[ 4] [ 7] [ 8]
Participating teams and locations
Locations of the 2003-04 National Division Three North teams
Team
Stadium
Capacity
City/Area
Blaydon
Crow Trees
2,000 (400 seats)
Swalwell , Tyne and Wear
Darlington
Blackwell Meadows
3,000
Darlington , County Durham
Darlington Mowden Park
Yiewsley Drive
Darlington , County Durham
Dudley Kingswinford
Heathbrook
Kingswinford , Dudley , West Midlands
Fylde
Woodlands Memorial Ground
9,000
Lytham St. Annes , Lancashire
Halifax
Ovenden Park
Halifax , West Yorkshire
Kendal
Mint Bridge
3,000 (300 stand)
Kendal , Cumbria
Liverpool St Helens
Moss Lane
St Helens , Merseyside
Longton
Trentham Fields
Trentham , Stoke-on-Trent , Staffordshire
Macclesfield
Priory Park
1,250 (250 seats)
Macclesfield , Cheshire
New Brighton
Hartsfield
2,000
Wirral , Merseyside
Preston Grasshoppers
Lightfoot Green
5,000
Preston , Lancashire
Tynedale
Tynedale Park
2,000 (400 seats)
Corbridge , Northumberland
Waterloo
St Anthony's Road
9,000 (200 seats)
Blundellsands , Merseyside
Final league table
^ Tynedale's game away to Longton would be cancelled due to fixture congestion.
^ Longton's home game against Tynedale would be cancelled due to fixture congestion.
Results
Round 1
Darlington 26 - 43 Waterloo Report
Blackwell Meadows Steve Harland
Darlington Mowden Park 8 - 34 Blaydon Report
Yiewsley Drive Andrew Gardner
Woodlands Memorial Ground Brendan Fitzmaurice
Halifax 36 - 17 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Ovenden Park S Makinson
Liverpool St Helens 35 - 15 Kendal Report
Moss Lane Rob Sawyer
Longton 6 - 28 Macclesfield Report
Trentham Fields Alan Hughes
New Brighton 33 - 31 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Hartsfield Andrew Vertigan
Round 2
Crow Trees Ged Stone
Darlington Mowden Park 28 - 17 Darlington Report
Yiewsley Drive Alan Hughes
Dudley Kingswinford 22 - 38 Waterloo Report
Heathbrook Dale Newitt
Kendal 30 - 26 New Brighton Report
Mint Bridge Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
Macclesfield 21 - 32 Halifax Report
Priory Park Richard Draper
Preston Grasshoppers 26 - 8 Longton Report
Lightfoot Green Brendan Fitzmaurice
Tynedale 47 - 12 Liverpool St Helens Report
Tynedale Park Andrew Vertigan
Round 3
Darlington 24 - 45 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Blackwell Meadows Mike Hamlin
Fylde 24 - 20 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Woodlands Memorial Ground S Makinson
Halifax 29 - 25 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Ovenden Park Andrew Vertigan
Liverpool St Helens 18 - 18 Blaydon Report
Moss Lane Rob Sawyer
Trentham Fields David Drury
New Brighton 28 - 20 Tynedale Report
Hartsfield Mick Reid
Waterloo 68 - 13 Macclesfield Report
St Anthony's Road Andrew Vertigan
Round 4
Blaydon 17 - 16 New Brighton Report
Crow Trees Brendan Fitzmaurice
Darlington Mowden Park 18 - 13 Liverpool St Helens Report
Yiewsley Drive Guy Steel Bodger
Mint Bridge Dale Newitt
Macclesfield 37 - 20 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Priory Park Rhys Davies
Tynedale Park Ged Stone
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004. Preston Grasshoppers P - P Waterloo
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
Round 5
Darlington 22 - 6 Macclesfield Report
Blackwell Meadows Mike Hamlin
Dudley Kingswinford 22 - 20 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Heathbrook Brendan Fitzmaurice
Ovenden Park Richard Draper
Liverpool St Helens 19 - 24 Fylde Report
Trentham Fields Mick Reid
New Brighton 17 - 12 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Hartsfield G O'Hara
St Anthony's Road Alan Hughes
Round 6
Crow Trees S Makinson
Darlington Mowden Park 28 - 10 Longton Report
Yiewsley Drive Brendan Fitzmaurice
Fylde 16 - 23 New Brighton Report
Woodlands Memorial Ground Mike Hamlin
Kendal 32 - 7 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Mint Bridge Andrew Gardner
Liverpool St Helens 34 - 10 Darlington Report
Moss Lane Paul Dickens
Preston Grasshoppers 24 - 22 Macclesfield Report
Lightfoot Green Guy Steel Bodger
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 March 2004.
Round 7
Darlington 23 - 17 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Blackwell Meadows Andrew Vertigan
Dudley Kingswinford 19 - 32 Tynedale Report
Heathbrook Paul Dickens
Halifax 25 - 14 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Ovenden Park Ged Stone
Trentham Fields Richard Phillips
Macclesfield 15 - 13 Kendal Report
Priory Park Eric Darriere
New Brighton 14 - 12 Liverpool St Helens Report
Hartsfield D Edmunds
St Anthony's Road Dale Newitt
Round 8
Blaydon 53 - 7 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Crow Trees David Drury
Darlington Mowden Park 14 - 19 Waterloo Report
Yiewsley Drive Paul Dickens
Woodlands Memorial Ground Terry Hall
Kendal 34 - 31 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Mint Bridge Mick Reid
Liverpool St Helens 20 - 16 Longton Report
New Brighton 46 - 33 Darlington Report
Hartsfield Andrew Gardner
Tynedale 21 - 25 Macclesfield Report
Tynedale Park Ged Stone
Round 9
Blackwell Meadows S Makinson
Dudley Kingswinford 16 - 25 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Heathbrook Mick Reid
Halifax 40 - 30 Liverpool St Helens Report
Ovenden Park Richard Phillips
Longton 8 - 19 New Brighton Report
Trentham Fields Rhys Davies
Macclesfield 25 - 11 Blaydon Report
Priory Park Terry Hall
Preston Grasshoppers 14 - 16 Tynedale Report
Lightfoot Green Andrew Gardner
St Anthony's Road Guy Steel Bodger
Round 10
Blaydon 48 - 7 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Crow Trees David Pearson
Darlington Mowden Park 30 - 0 Macclesfield Report
Yiewsley Drive Rhys Davies
Fylde 36 - 10 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Woodlands Memorial Ground Andrew Vertigan
Liverpool St Helens 23 - 31 Waterloo Report
Longton 10 - 10 Darlington Report
Trentham Fields JP Doyle
New Brighton 7 - 15 Halifax Report
Hartsfield Alan Hughes
Tynedale Park Brendan Fitzmaurice
Round 11
Darlington 19 - 12 Tynedale Report
Blackwell Meadows Andrew Vertigan
Dudley Kingswinford 18 - 17 Liverpool St Helens Report
Heathbrook Mark Varnon
Ovenden Park S Makinson
Macclesfield 26 - 23 Fylde Report
Priory Park S Makinson
Preston Grasshoppers 28 - 35 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Lightfoot Green Ged Stone
Waterloo 39 - 17 New Brighton Report
St Anthony's Road Dean Richards
Round 12
Crow Trees Alan Hughes
Darlington Mowden Park 60 - 8 Kendal Report
Yiewsley Drive Mick Reid
Fylde 24 - 15 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Woodlands Memorial Ground Brendan Fitzmaurice
Halifax 47 - 14 Darlington Report
Ovenden Park Ged Stone
Liverpool St Helens 34 - 23 Macclesfield Report
New Brighton 39 - 18 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Hartsfield S Makinson
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 April 2004.
Round 13
Blackwell Meadows Rob Sawyer
Dudley Kingswinford 33 - 15 Longton Report
Heathbrook Mike Hamlin
Mint Bridge Alan Hughes
Macclesfield 16 - 16 New Brighton Report
Priory Park Ged Stone
Preston Grasshoppers 14 - 5 Liverpool St Helens Report
Lightfoot Green Mick Reid
Tynedale 13 - 14 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Tynedale Park David Drury
St Anthony's Road Andrew Vertigan
Round 14
Crow Trees Andrew Gardner
Darlington Mowden Park 44 - 0 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Yiewsley Drive D Edmunds
Fylde 38 - 20 Macclesfield Report
Woodlands Memorial Ground Andrew Vertigan
Liverpool St Helens 6 - 6 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Trentham Fields David Drury
New Brighton 23 - 34 Waterloo Report
Hartsfield Gareth Copsey
Tynedale 19 - 3 Darlington Report
Tynedale Park Brendan Fitzmaurice
Round 15
Blackwell Meadows Mick Reid
Dudley Kingswinford 17 - 15 Fylde Report
Heathbrook Andrew Gardner
Halifax 29 - 15 New Brighton Report
Ovenden Park Paul Dix
Mint Bridge S Makinson
Macclesfield 5 - 11 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Priory Park Richard Draper
Preston Grasshoppers 13 - 41 Blaydon Report
Lightfoot Green Alan Hughes
Waterloo 24 - 0 Liverpool St Helens Report
St Anthony's Road Dale Newitt
Round 16
Blaydon 25 - 12 Macclesfield Report
Crow Trees Andrew Gardner
Darlington Mowden Park 23 - 3 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Yiewsley Drive Mick Reid
Woodlands Memorial Ground Richard Parker-Sedgmore
Mint Bridge David Drury
Liverpool St Helens 29 - 33 Halifax Report
New Brighton 10 - 8 Longton Report
Hartsfield Ged Stone
Tynedale 24 - 0 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Tynedale Park Paul Dickens
Round 17
Darlington 23 - 17 New Brighton Report
Dudley Kingswinford 18 - 3 Blaydon Report
Heathbrook S Makinson
Ovenden Park Mick Reid
Macclesfield 26 - 17 Tynedale Report
Priory Park Rhys Davies
Preston Grasshoppers 15 - 22 Kendal Report
Lightfoot Green Ged Stone
Waterloo 35 - 12 Darlington Mowden Park Report
St Anthony's Road Alan Hughes
Longton P - P Liverpool St Helens
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
Round 18
Woodlands Memorial Ground Rhys Davies
Liverpool St Helens 3 - 20 New Brighton Report
Preston Grasshoppers 22 - 20 Darlington Report
Lightfoot Green Andrew Vertigan
Tynedale 22 - 10 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Tynedale Park David Drury
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 1 May 2004. Darlington Mowden Park P - P Halifax
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004. Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
Round 19
Darlington 30 - 10 Liverpool St Helens Report
Blackwell Meadows S Makinson
Dudley Kingswinford 35 - 14 Kendal Report
Heathbrook Dale Newitt
Ovenden Park Bruce Robertson
Longton 10 - 32 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Trentham Fields Ged Stone
Macclesfield 40 - 24 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Priory Park Andrew Gardner
New Brighton 15 - 18 Fylde Report
Hartsfield Brendan Fitzmaurice
St Anthony's Road Chris Sharp
Round 20
Crow Trees Ged Stone
Darlington Mowden Park 23 - 25 New Brighton Report
Yiewsley Drive Mick Reid
Fylde 21 - 10 Liverpool St Helens Report
Woodlands Memorial Ground David Drury
Mint Bridge Alan Hughes
Macclesfield 10 - 20 Darlington Report
Priory Park Chris Seeley
Preston Grasshoppers 18 - 10 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Lightfoot Green Rob Sawyer
Tynedale Park Brendan Fitzmaurice
Darlington Mowden Park 10 - 25 Halifax Report
Yiewsley Drive Guy Steel Bodger
Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004. Woodlands Memorial Ground Chris Sharp
Game rescheduled from 18 October 2003. Kendal 30 - 30 Macclesfield Report
Mint Bridge Mick Reid
Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004. Longton 34 - 34 Liverpool St Helens Report
Trentham Fields Richard Parker-Sedgmore
Game rescheduled from 24 January 2004. Preston Grasshoppers 7 - 49 Waterloo Report
Lightfoot Green Brendan Fitzmaurice
Game rescheduled from 18 October 2003.
Round 21
Blackwell Meadows Ged Stone
Dudley Kingswinford 34 - 17 Macclesfield Report
Heathbrook Dean Richards
New Brighton 13 - 17 Blaydon Report
Hartsfield Dale Newitt
Waterloo 91 - 5 Preston Grasshoppers Report
St Anthony's Road Greg Garner
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 March 2004. Liverpool St Helens P - P Darlington Mowden Park
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 27 March 2004. Game would initially be postponed but due to fixture congestion it would ultimately be cancelled.
Ovenden Park Richard Parker-Sedgmore
Game rescheduled from 28 February 2004. Tynedale Park Alan Hughes
Game rescheduled from 1 November 2003.
Round 22
Blaydon 18 - 19 Liverpool St Helens Report
Crow Trees Mike Hamlin
Darlington Mowden Park 20 - 15 Fylde Report
Yiewsley Drive Brendan Fitzmaurice
Dudley Kingswinford 20 - 35 Darlington Report
Heathbrook Marcus Anderson
Mint Bridge Ian Robinson
Macclesfield 20 - 27 Waterloo Report
Priory Park Matthew Daubney
Preston Grasshoppers 10 - 29 Halifax Report
Lightfoot Green David Drury
Tynedale 20 - 16 New Brighton Report
Tynedale Park Andrew Gardner
Round 23
Darlington 17 - 10 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Blackwell Meadows Andrew Vertigan
Woodlands Memorial Ground Marcus Anderson
Halifax 28 - 0 Macclesfield Report
Ovenden Park Alan Hughes
Liverpool St Helens 10 - 24 Tynedale Report
Longton 10 - 27 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Trentham Fields Brendan Fitzmaurice
New Brighton 35 - 5 Kendal Report
Hartsfield David Drury
Waterloo 43 - 12 Dudley Kingswinford Report
St Anthony's Road Des Headington
Liverpool St Helens 19 - 24 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Moss Lane Matthew Daubney
Game rescheduled from 28 February 2004.
Round 24
Blaydon 26 - 14 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Crow Trees Andrew Gardner
Dudley Kingswinford 17 - 25 Halifax Report
Heathbrook Darryl Chapman
Kendal 23 - 22 Liverpool St Helens Report
Mint Bridge Rhys Davies
Macclesfield 22 - 17 Longton Report
Priory Park David Drury
Preston Grasshoppers 19 - 24 New Brighton Report
Lightfoot Green Fred Copstake
Tynedale Park Ged Stone
Waterloo 26 - 15 Darlington Report
St Anthony's Road Mick Reid
Round 25
Blaydon 16 - 12 Darlington Report
Crow Trees Alan Hughes
Darlington Mowden Park 34 - 20 Tynedale Report
Yiewsley Drive S Makinson
Woodlands Memorial Ground Rob Sawyer
Ovenden Park Tim Wigglesworth
Liverpool St Helens 13 - 9 Preston Grasshoppers Report
Longton 8 - 13 Dudley Kingswinford Report
Trentham Fields Paul Dickens
New Brighton 37 - 0 Macclesfield Report
Hartsfield Ed Turnill
Round 26
Darlington 12 - 29 Halifax Report
Blackwell Meadows Brendan Fitzmaurice
Dudley Kingswinford 33 - 22 New Brighton Report
Heathbrook Stuart Parker
Kendal 15 - 39 Darlington Mowden Park Report
Mint Bridge D Edmunds
Macclesfield 48 - 14 Liverpool St Helens Report
Priory Park Paul Dickens
Preston Grasshoppers 12 - 28 Fylde Report
Lightfoot Green Rhys Davies
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 May 2004. Tynedale Park Guy Steel Bodger
Trentham Fields S Makinson
Game rescheduled from 13 December 2003.
Crow Trees Chris Sharp
Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004.
St Anthony's Road Paul Dickens
Game rescheduled from 17 April 2004.
The league runners up of National Division Three South and North would meet in a playoff game for promotion to National Division Two. Halifax were the northern divisions runners up and as they had a superior league record than southern runners-up, Launceston , they hosted the play-off match.
Halifax 16 - 18 Launceston Report
Ovenden Park Alan Biggs
[ 5]
Total season attendances
Club
Home
Total
Average
Highest
Lowest
% Capacity
Blaydon
3
420
140
150
120
7%
Darlington
1
450
450
450
450
15%
Darlington Mowden Park
0
0
0
0
0
Dudley Kingswinford
0
0
0
0
0
Fylde
1
400
400
400
400
4%
Halifax
1
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
Kendal
2
630
315
350
280
11%
Liverpool St Helens
0
0
0
0
0
Longton
0
0
0
0
0
Macclesfield
0
0
0
0
0
New Brighton
1
450
450
450
450
23%
Preston Grasshoppers
0
0
0
0
0
0%
Tynedale
1
150
150
150
150
8%
Waterloo
0
0
0
0
0
0%
^ Due to extremely poor coverage and reporting by the media for this season there is not enough attendance data for the league to give an accurate figure.
Individual statistics
Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
[ 9]
Top try scorers
[ 10]
Season records
Team
Largest home win — 91 pts 91 - 5 Waterloo at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 28 February 2004
Largest away win — 50 pts 53 - 3 Waterloo away to Fylde on 17 January 2004
Most points scored — 91 pts 91 - 5 Waterloo at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 28 February 2004
Most tries in a match — 14 Waterloo at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 28 February 2004
Most conversions in a match — 9 Waterloo at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 28 February 2004
Most penalties in a match — 7 New Brighton at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 13 September 2003
Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2) Longton at home to Fylde on 8 November 2003
[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14]
Player
Most points in a match — 29 Alistair J Murray for Tynedale at home to Longton on 18 October 2003
Most tries in a match — 4 Jamie Bloem for Halifax at home to Darlington on 13 December 2003
Most conversions in a match — 9
Most penalties in a match — 7 Anthony Birley for New Brighton at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 13 September 2003
Most drop goals in a match — 2 Mike Scott for Fylde away to Halifax on 24 January 2004
[ 15] [ 16] [ 17] [ 18] [ 19]
Attendances
Highest — 1,500[ b 1] Halifax at home to Waterloo on 10 April 2004
Lowest — 120[ b 2] Blaydon at home to Darlington on 10 April 2004
Highest Average Attendance — N/A[ b 3]
Lowest Average Attendance — N/A[ b 4]
^ Note that attendance tracking was very poor this season and there may have been higher attendances that were not recorded.
^ Note that attendance tracking was very poor this season and it is likely that there were lower attendances that were not recorded.
^ Note that attendance tracking was very poor this season and is impossible to give even a slightly accurate figure for the team with the highest average attendance.
^ Note that attendance tracking was very poor this season and is impossible to give even a slightly accurate figure for the team with the lowest average attendance.
[ 20]
See also
References
External links
2024–25 teams Former clubs Seasons
Area League North National 4 North National Division 4 National Division 4 North National Division 2 North National Division 3 North National League 2 North
Governing body National teams
International competitions
Competition divisions
European competitions National competitions London and South East Midland competitions Northern competitions South West competitions County competitions Discontinued competitions Related articles Other
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