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National League 2 North

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National League 2 North
Current season or competition:
2018–19 National League 2 North
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Number of teams16
Country England
HoldersSale FC (1st title) (2017-18
(promoted to National League 1)
Most titlesMacclesfield (3 titles)
Websiteclubs.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

Main article: 2018–19 National League 2 North

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

Template:2018–19 National League 2 North

National Two North honours

List of National Two North Honours
Season No of teams Champions Runner–up Relegated teams League name
1987–88 11 Rugby Durham City Solihull, Derby, Birkenhead Park Area League North
1988–89 11 Roundhay Broughton Park Birmingham Area League North
1989–90 11 Broughton Park Morley No relegation[a 1] Area League North
1990–91 13 Otley Lichfield Birmingham & Solihull, Stoke-on-Trent National 4 North
1991–92 13 Aspatria Hereford Vale of Lune and Northern National 4 North
1992–93 13 Harrogate Rotherham Towcestrians National 4 North
1993–94 10 Clifton Harrogate Sheffield (to 5 North) and Sudbury (to 5 South) Courage National League 4[a 2]
1994–95 10 Rotherham Reading Askeans (to 5 South) and Broughton Park (to 5 North) Courage National League 4
1995–96 10 Exeter London Welsh[a 3] Aspatria (to 4 North) and Plymouth Albion (to 4 South) Courage National League 4
1996–97 14 Worcester Birmingham & Solihull Stoke-on-Trent, Hereford National 4 North
1997–98 14 Birmingham & Solihull Manchester No relegation National 2 North
1998–99 14 Preston Grasshoppers Stourbridge Winnington Park, Lichfield, Hinckley National 2 North
1999–00 14 Kendal Stourbridge Sheffield National 2 North
2000–01 14 Stourbridge Sedgley Park Walsall and Aspatria National 3 North
2001–02 14 Doncaster Dudley Kingswinford Whitchurch, Morley, Sandal and West Hartlepool National 3 North
2002–03 14 Nuneaton New Brighton Bedford Athletic, Broadstreet, Hull Ionians and Scunthorpe National 3 North
2003–04 14 Waterloo Halifax Preston Grasshoppers, Liverpool St Helens and Longton National 3 North
2004–05 14 Halifax Macclesfield Rugby Lions, Dudley Kingswinford and Bedford Athletic National 3 North
2005–06 14 Bradford & Bingley Nuneaton New Brighton and Kendal National 3 North
2006–07 14 Blaydon Tynedale Darlington, Cleckheaton, Orrell National 3 North
2007–08 14 Tynedale Darlington Mowden Park Morley, West Park St Helens, Beverley National 3 North
2008–09 14 Nuneaton Caldy Darlington Mowden Park, Halifax National 3 North
2009–10 16 Macclesfield Loughborough Students Waterloo and Bradford & Bingley National League 2 North
2010–11 16 Fylde Loughborough Students Morley, Rugby Lions and Manchester National League 2 North
2011–12 16 Loughborough Students Caldy Harrogate, Nuneaton and Kendal National League 2 North
2012–13 16 Hull Ionians Stourbridge Westoe, Stockport and Huddersfield National League 2 North
2013–14 16 Macclesfield Darlington Mowden Park Sheffield Tigers, Bromsgrove and Dudley Kingswinford National League 2 North
2014–15 16 Hull Ionians Ampthill Birmingham & Solihull, Hull and Stockport National League 2 North
2015–16 16 Macclesfield Sedgley Park Huddersfield, Broadstreet, Sandal National League 2 North
2016–17 16 Caldy Sale Preston Grasshoppers, Scunthorpe, Harrogate National League 2 North
2017–18 16 Sale FC Sedgley Park Sheffield, Blaydon, Luctonians National League 2 North
2018–19 16
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) 40–23 Launceston (S) Park Lane, Whitefield, Greater Manchester 1,500
2001–02[9] Launceston (S) 26–0 Dudley Kingswinford (N) Polson Bridge, Launceston, Cornwall 2,500
2002–03[10] Lydney (S) 21–7 New Brighton (N) Regentsholme, Lydney, Gloucestershire
2003–04[11][12] Halifax (N) 16–18 Launceston (S) Ovenden Park, Halifax, West Yorkshire
2004-05[13] Redruth (S) 33–14 Macclesfield (N) The Recreation Ground, Redruth, Cornwall 4,000
2005–06[14][15] North Walsham (S) 5–15 Nuneaton (N) Norwich Road, Scottow, Norfolk 1,302
2006–07[16][17] Westcombe Park (S) 36–20 Tynedale (N) Goddington Dene, Orpington, Greater London 1,700[18]
2007–08[19][20] Cinderford (S) 15–14 Darlington Mowden Park (N) Dockham Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire 2,800
2008–09 No 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) 21–43 Rosslyn Park (S) Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough, Leicestershire 1,000
2010–11[24][25] Jersey (S) 30–5 Loughborough Students (N) St. Peter, Saint Peter, Jersey 3,100
2011–12[26][27] Richmond (S) 20–13 (aet) Caldy (N) Athletic Ground, Richmond, Greater London 1,600
2012–13[28] Stourbridge (N) 26–28 Worthing Raiders (S) Stourton Park, Stourbridge, West Midlands 925
2013–14[29] Darlington Mowden Park (N) 30–28 (aet) Ampthill (S) The Northern Echo Arena, Darlington, County Durham 975
2014–15[30][31] Ampthill (N) 19–10 Bishop's Stortford (S) Dillingham Park, Ampthill, Bedfordshire 1,253
2015–16[32][33] Old Albanian (S) 24–0 Sedgley Park (N) Woollam Playing Fields, St Albans, Hertfordshire 473
2016–17 Sale (N2N) 14–19 Old Elthamians (N2S) Heywood Road, Sale, Greater Manchester
2017-18 Chinnor (N2S) 40-31 Sedgley 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
1987–93 Area League North and
Area League South		 11 10
1993–96 National Division Four 10 18
1996–97 National Four North and
National Four South		 14 26
1997–00 National Division 2 North and
National Division 2 South		 14 26
2000–09 National Division Three North and
National Division Three South		 14 26
2009– National League 2 North and
National League 2 South		 16 30

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 Lions 2,059 277 7.4
2 England Chris Johnson 2008-12
2016-		 Huddersfield
Sale		 1,717 167 10.3
3 England Richard Vasey 2009-17 Caldy 1,449 158 9.2
4 England Mark Ireland 2009-12
2013-14
2017-		 Kendal
Otley
Sheffield Tigers		 1,305 137 9.5
5 England Ross Winney 2005-10 Macclesfield 1,290 126 10
6 Wales Gavin Roberts 2007-17 Caldy 1,284 232 5.5
7 England Phillip Belgian 2001-08 Tynedale 1,070 116 9
8 England Stephen Collins 2010-11
2013-		 Fylde
Sedgley Park		 1,266 137 9.2
9 England Mark Bedworth 2001-05
2010-12		 Darlington Mowden Park
Westoe		 1,052 120 9
10 England Rickie Aley 2008-09
2015-		 Nuneaton
South Leicester		 991 95 10.4

(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		 193 212 0.9
2 England Gareth Collins 2004-05
2005-14		 Rugby Lions
Leicester Lions		 152 229 0.7
3 England Jamie Broadley 2009-11
2011-12, 2016-
2014-15		 Harrogate
Sheffield Tigers
Hull		 135 161 0.8
4 Wales Gavin Roberts 2007-17 Caldy 114 232 0.5
5 England Andrew Riley 2013- Sedgley Park 103 142 0.7
6 England Oliver Brennand 2004-11 Fylde 96 102 0.9
7 England Andrew Soutar 2006-08
2008-17		 West Park St Helens
Caldy		 83 281 0.3
8 England Oliver Viney 2002-04, 2005–08, 2015-17 Preston Grasshoppers 81 153 0.6
9 England Nicholas Sharpe 2006-07
2008-13, 2014-16		 Rugby Lions
Huddersfield		 69 209 0.3
10 England Sam Bottomley 2007-16 Harrogate 68 168 0.4

(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. ^ a b "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. No. 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. No. 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. No. 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. ^ a b "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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