2011–12 National League 1

The 2011–12 National League 1 is the third season of the third division of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. Birmingham & Solihull find themselves playing in this league following their relegation from the 2010–11 RFU Championship in the play-offs, whilst other newcomers to the league in this season are Ealing Trailfinders and Jersey, and Fylde, who won promotion to the league from the 2010–11 National League 2 South and 2010–11 National League 2 North respectively.

The league title was contested by two of the newly promoted sides with Jersey finishing the season ahead of rivals Ealing Trailfinders, despite a 5-point deduction. By winning the league Jersey secured their third promotion in as many seasons, moving up to the 2012–13 RFU Championship. They were also easily the most popular team in the division with over 33,000 fans attending the 15 home games held at St Peter - a National League 1 record. At the opposite end of the table, Birmingham & Solihull and Stourbridge were relegated to the 2012–13 National League 2 North while Barking dropped down to the 2012–13 National League 2 South having been league runners up the previous season.

Participating teams and locations

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaBarkingGoresbrook1,000Becontree, Dagenham, LondonBirmingham & SolihullDamson Park3,050Solihull, West MidlandsBlackheathRectory Field3,500 (500 seats)Blackheath, LondonBlaydonCrow Trees2,000 (400 seats)Swalwell, Tyne and WearCambridgeGrantchester Road2,200 (200 seats)Cambridge, CambridgeshireCinderfordDockham Road2,500Cinderford, GloucestershireCoventryButts Park Arena4,000 (3,000 seats)CoventryEaling TrailfindersTrailfinders Sports Ground3,020West Ealing, LondonFyldeWoodlands Memorial Ground7,500 (500 seats)Lytham St. Annes, LancashireJerseySt Peter5,000Saint Peter, JerseyMacclesfieldPriory Park1,250 (250 seats)Macclesfield, CheshireRosslyn ParkThe Rock2,000 (630 seats)Roehampton, LondonSedgley ParkPark Lane3,000Whitefield, Greater ManchesterStourbridgeStourton Park3,500 (499 seats)Stourbridge, West MidlandsTynedaleTynedale Park2,000 (400 seats)Corbridge, NorthumberlandWharfedaleThe Avenue2,000Threshfield, Craven, North Yorkshire

League table

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

Round 15

Round 16

Round 17

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 March 2012.

Round 18

Round 19

Postponed. Game rescheduled for 25 February 2012.

Round 20

Round 21

Round 22

Postponed. Game rescheduled for 6 April 2012.

Postponed. Game rescheduled for 25 February 2012.

Postponed. Game rescheduled for 25 February 2012.

Postponed. Game rescheduled for 7 April 2012.

Postponed. Game rescheduled for 25 February 2012.

Postponed. Game rescheduled for 25 February 2012.

Postponed. Game rescheduled for 25 February 2012.

Round 23

Rounds 19 & 22 (Rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 11 February 2012.

Game rescheduled from 14 January 2012.

Game rescheduled from 11 February 2012

Game rescheduled from 11 February 2012.

Game rescheduled from 11 February 2012.

Game rescheduled from 11 February 2012.

Round 24

Round 25

Round 17 (Rescheduled game)

Rescheduled from 17 December 2011.

Round 26

Round 27

Rounds 22 (Rescheduled games)

Rescheduled from 11 February 2012.

Rescheduled from 11 February 2012.

Round 28

Round 29

Round 30

Total season attendances

ClubHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity Barking 15 2,695 180 307 101 18% Birmingham & Solihull 15 4,686 312 890 207 10% Blackheath 15 10,809 721 1,473 437 21% Blaydon 15 3,879 259 652 152 13% Cambridge 15 6,694 446 580 300 20% Cinderford 15 4,687 312 436 180 12% Coventry 15 15,717 1,048 1,643 745 26% Ealing Trailfinders 15 6,821 455 921 170 15% Fylde 15 11,326 755 1,250 324 10% Jersey 15 33,096 2,206 3,648 1,262 44% Macclesfield 15 4,789 319 410 205 26% Rosslyn Park 15 6,626 442 630 280 22% Sedgley Park 15 4,991 333 571 187 11% Stourbridge 14 6,270 448 650 350 13% Tynedale 15 5,987 399 580 310 20% Wharfedale 15 9,899 660 920 507 33%

Individual statistics

Note if players are tied on tries or points the player with the lowest number of appearances will come first. Also note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

Top points scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Points 1 Rory Teague Cinderford 27 254 2 Ross Laidlaw Rosslyn Park 24 232 3 Mark Woodrow Stourbridge / Birmingham & Solihull 27 215 4 Phil Chesters Ealing Trailfinders 29 210 5 Andrew Baggett Blaydon 26 208 6 Michael Le Bourgeois Jersey 23 197 7 Ross Winney Macclesfield 23 193 8 Matt Riley Sedgley Park 29 181 9 Ross Broadfoot Jersey 23 179 10 Ben Ward Ealing Trailfinders 24 177

Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 Phil Chesters Ealing Trailfinders 29 42 2 Oliver Brennand Flyde 29 27 3 Nick Royle Flyde 22 25 David Allen Blackheath 26 25 4 Owen Bruynseels Ealing Trailfinders 27 20 5 Nevard Codlin Cinderford 25 19 James Stephenson Blackheath 25 19 6 Nathan Bressington Stourbridge 25 18 Daniel Solomi Wharfedale 28 18 7 Charlie Mulchrone Macclesfield 22 17

Season records

Team Largest home win — 49 pts 56 - 7 Blaydon at home to Barking on 28 April 2012 Largest away win — 64 pts 64 - 0 Jersey away to Tynedale on 31 March 2012 Most points scored — 64 64 - 0 Jersey away to Tynedale on 31 March 2012 Most tries in a match — 10 Jersey away to Tynedale on 31 March 2012 Most conversions in a match — 8 (x2) Tynedale at home to Sedgley Park on 10 December 2011 Blaydon at home to Barking on 28 April 2012 Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2) Cambridge at home to Macclesfield on 1 October 2011 Birmingham & Solihull away to Stourbridge on 14 January 2012 Most drop goals in a match — 2 Wharfedale at home to Jersey on 28 January 2012

Player Most points in a match — 26 Michael Le Bourgeois for Jersey at home to Barking on 5 November 2011 Most tries in a match — 5 Nick Royle for Fylde at home to Cambridge on 25 February 2012 Most conversions in a match — 8 Andrew Baggett for Blaydon at home to Barking on 28 April 2012 Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2) Tom Wheatcroft for Cambridge at home to Macclesfield on 1 October 2011 Mark Woodrow for Birmingham & Solihull away to Stourbridge on 14 January 2012 Most drop goals in a match — 2 Tom Barrett for Wharfedale at home to Jersey on 28 January 2012

Attendances Highest — 3,648 Jersey at home to Rosslyn Park on 14 January 2012 Lowest — 101 Barking at home to Rosslyn Park on 3 September 2011 Highest Average Attendance — 2,206 Jersey Lowest Average Attendance — 180 Barking

See also English Rugby Union Leagues English rugby union system Rugby union in England

References

External links NCA Rugby