The 2003–04 National Division Three South was the fourth season (17th overall) of the fourth division (south) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three South. New teams to the division included Launceston who were relegated from the 2002–03 National Division Two while promoted clubs included Southend (champions) and Haywards Heath (playoffs) coming up from London Division 1 and Dings Crusaders as champions of South West Division 1. The league system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw with the league champions going straight up into National Division Two and the runners up playing a playoff against the runners up from National Division Three North for the final promotion place.

The season saw an incredibly tight title race between Blackheath and Launceston. Both sides would finish dead level on 44 points each but Blackheath finished as champions thanks to a better for and against record. Launceston would join the London side in the 2004–05 National Division Two, making an instant return by defeating 2003–04 National Division Three North runners up Halifax in their promotion playoff in what was a very tight game played at the Yorkshire-based club. At the other end of the table the relegation battle was much less close with Old Colfeians and Basingstoke being the two sides to be relegated. Both Old Colfeians and Basingstoke would be demoted to London Division 1 for the next season.

Participating teams and locations

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaBarkingGoresbrook1,000Becontree, Dagenham, LondonBasingstokeDown Grange2,500 (250 seats)Basingstoke, HampshireBlackheathRectory Field3,500 (500 seats)Blackheath, LondonDings CrusadersLandseer Avenue1,500Lockleaze, BristolHaywards HeathWhitemans GreenCuckfield, Haywards Heath, West SussexLauncestonPolson Bridge3,000Launceston, CornwallNorth WalshamNorwich Road1,200Scottow, North Walsham, NorfolkOld ColfeiansHorn ParkLee, LondonOld PatesiansEverest RoadCheltenham, GloucestershireRedruthRecreation Ground3,500 (580 seats)Redruth, CornwallSouthendWarners Park1,500 (150 seats) Southend, EssexTabardCobden HillRadlett, HertfordshireWestcombe ParkGoddington Dene3,200Orpington, LondonWeston-super-MareRecreation Ground3,000Weston-super-Mare, Somerset

Final league table

Results

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.

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

Round 18

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 March 2004.

Round 19

Round 20

Rounds 4 & 18 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 18 October 2003.

Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004.

Round 21

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 March 2004.

Rounds 18 & 21 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 28 February 2004.

Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004.

Round 22

Round 23

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 27 March 2004.

Round 23 (rescheduled game)

Game rescheduled from 20 March 2004.

Round 24

Round 25

Round 26

Promotion play-off 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.

Total season attendances

ClubHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity Barking 0 0 0 0 0 0% Basingstoke 0 0 0 0 0 0% Blackheath 0 0 0 0 0 0% Dings Crusaders 0 0 0 0 0 0% Haywards Heath 0 0 0 0 0 Launceston 0 0 0 0 0 0% North Walsham 1 450 450 450 450 38% Old Colfeians 0 0 0 0 0 Old Patesians 0 0 0 0 0 Redruth 0 0 0 0 0 0% Southend 0 0 0 0 0 Tabard 0 0 0 0 0 Westcombe Park 0 0 0 0 0 0% Weston-super-Mare 1 300 300 300 300 10%

Individual statistics

Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

Top points scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Points 1 Derek Coates Blackheath 25 368 2 Simon Porter Launceston 22 274 3 Ian Calder Basingstoke 24 229 4 Rob Colbourne Tabard 25 207 5 Alister Chambers Southend 22 198 6 Scott Martin Redruth 26 197 7 Waylon Gasson Dings Crusaders 22 160 8 Matthew Holmes North Walsham 22 160 9 Casey Mee Barking 25 146 10 Robert Nock Old Patesians 14 133

Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 Gert De Kock Westcombe Park 22 19 2 Andy Thorpe North Walsham 22 17 3 Mike Heyns Launceston 24 16 Chris Green Southend 26 16 4 Mark Sharp Tabard 25 15 5 James O'Brien Old Patesians 12 13 Paul Sprague Weston-super-Mare 19 13 6 Marc Smith Southend 18 12 Nicholas Maurer Blackheath 20 12 7 Ashley Rescorla Launceston 18 11 Matthew Britton Weston-super-Mare 18 11 Simon Porter Launceston 22 11 Jeff van Poortvliet North Walsham 22 11 Lewis Vinnicombe Redruth 22 11 Rob Colbourne Tabard 25 11 James Wagstaff Southend 24 11

Season records

Team Largest home win — 66 pts 76 - 10 Westcombe Park at home to Dings Crusaders on 20 March 2004 Largest away win — 54 pts 60 - 6 Westcombe Park away to Basingstoke on 20 December 2003 Most points scored — 80 pts 80 - 25 Launceston at home to Old Colfeians on 7 February 2004 Most tries in a match — 14 Rosslyn Park at home to Basingstoke on 11 January 2003 Most conversions in a match — 10 Launceston at home to Old Colfeians on 7 February 2004 Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2) Blackheath away to Launceston on 22 November 2003 Blackheath away to Old Colfeians on 17 April 2004 Most drop goals in a match — 1 N/A - multiple teams

Player Most points in a match — 35 James O'Brien for Old Patesians at home to Old Colfeians on 27 March 2004 Most tries in a match — 7 James O'Brien for Old Patesians at home to Old Colfeians on 27 March 2004 Most conversions in a match — 10 Simon Porter for Launceston at home to Old Colfeians on 7 February 2004 Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2) Derek Coates for Blackheath away to Launceston on 22 November 2003 Derek Coates for Blackheath away to Old Colfeians on 17 April 2004 Most drop goals in a match — 1 N/A - multiple players

Attendances Highest — N/A N/A Lowest — N/A N/A Highest Average Attendance — N/A N/A Lowest Average Attendance — N/A N/A

As only two attendances were listed due to poor media and club tracking it is therefore impossible to give any insight into attendances for this season.

See also English rugby union system Rugby union in England

References

External links NCA Rugby