The 2006–07 National Division Three South was the seventh season (20th 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 only included promoted teams from lower leagues (there had been no relegation from the 2005–06 National Division Two) including Canterbury who came up as champions of London Division 1, while Chinnor (champions) and Clifton (playoffs) came up from South West Division 1. The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into National Division Two while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from National Division Three North (at the home ground of the club with the superior league record) for the final promotion place.

In what was a close title race, Southend edged out Westcombe Park to take the title by just two points (and promotion to the 2007–08 National Division Two), despite the London side having a much superior for and against points record. Westcombe Park would join Southend in the following seasons National Division Two by defeating 2006–07 National Division Three North runners up Tynedale at Goddington Dene in the promotion playoff. At the other end of the table newly promoted Chinnor went straight back down as the first team to be relegated, followed closely by Cheltenham-based side Old Patesians. Hertford were the final team to go down, being much more competitive but eventually finishing two points below 11th placed Clifton. Chinnor and Old Patesians would join South West Division 1 while Hertford would fall to London Division 1.

Participating teams and locations

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaBridgwater & AlbionBath Road5,000Bridgwater, SomersetCanterburyMerton Lane1,500 (75 seats)Canterbury, KentChinnorKingsey Road2,000Thame, OxfordshireCinderfordDockham Road2,500Cinderford, GloucestershireCliftonStation Road2,200 (200 seats) Clifton, BristolDings CrusadersLandseer Avenue1,500Lockleaze, BristolHavantHook's Lane2,000 (200 seats)Havant, HampshireHertfordHighfieldsWare, HertfordshireLydneyRegentsholme3,000 (340 seats)Lydney, GloucestershireNorth WalshamNorwich Road1,200Scottow, North Walsham, NorfolkOld PatesiansEverest RoadCheltenham, GloucestershireRosslyn ParkThe Rock2,000 (630 seats)Roehampton, LondonSouthendWarners Park1,500 (150 seats) Southend, EssexWestcombe ParkGoddington Dene3,200 (200 seats)Orpington, London

Final 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

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 10 March 2007.

Round 14

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 10 March 2007.

Round 15

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 7 April 2007.

Round 16

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 10 March 2007.

Round 17

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 April 2007.

Round 18

Round 19

Round 20

Round 21

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 7 April 2007.

Rounds 13, 14 & 16 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 16 December 2006.

Game rescheduled from 23 December 2006.

Game rescheduled from 13 January 2007.

Round 22

Round 23

Round 24

Rounds 15 & 21 (rescheduled games)

Game rescheduled from 6 January 2007.

Game rescheduled from 3 March 2007.

Round 25

Round 26

Round 17 (rescheduled game)

Game rescheduled from 27 January 2007.

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. Westcombe Park were the southern division runners up and as they had a superior league record than northern runners-up, Tynedale, they hosted the play-off match.

Total season attendances

ClubHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity Bridgwater & Albion 12 7,780 648 740 450 13% Canterbury 13 3,400 262 600 146 17% Chinnor 11 1,504 137 250 75 7% Cinderford 9 2,220 247 650 120 10% Clifton 11 2,357 214 452 70 10% Dings Crusaders 12 2,430 203 276 90 14% Havant 11 3,420 311 390 250 16% Hertford 13 3,570 298 470 180 Lydney 11 6,960 633 1,120 410 21% North Walsham 10 3,406 341 502 198 28% Old Patesians 13 1,246 96 180 50 Rosslyn Park 12 3,964 330 480 220 17% Southend 12 5,070 423 1,100 106 28% Westcombe Park 11 2,700 245 450 150 8%

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 Andy Frost Southend 26 335 2 James Whittingham Westcombe Park 21 238 3 John Barnes Clifton 22 210 4 Richard Mahoney Rosslyn Park 24 201 5 Rory Teague Lydney 15 166 6 Faapoloo Soolefai Southend 26 160 7 Ngapaku Ngapaku Havant 24 155 8 Christian Wulff Bridgwater & Albion 26 136 9 Adam Westall Lydney 25 134 10 Marshall Milroy Bridgwater & Albion 13 125

Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 Faapoloo Soolefai Southend 26 32 2 Sam Greenaway Westcombe Park 23 22 3 Andy Thorpe North Walsham 19 20 Gert De Kock Canterbury 26 20 4 Tom Hayman Westcombe Park 24 19 5 Chris Green Southend 26 17 6 Cam Avery Havant 20 16 Michael Melford Canterbury 26 16 Andy Pratt Canterbury 26 16 7 Rob Viol Clifton 20 15

Season records

Team Largest home win — 78 pts 85 - 7 Westcombe Park at home to Hertford on 11 November 2006 Largest away win — 77 pts 85 - 8 Westcombe Park away to Chinnor on 7 October 2006 Most points scored — 85 pts (x2) 85 - 8 Westcombe Park away to Chinnor on 7 October 2006 85 - 7 Westcombe Park at home to Hertford on 11 November 2006 Most tries in a match — 13 Westcombe Park at home to Hertford on 11 November 2006 Most conversions in a match — 11 Westcombe Park away to Chinnor on 7 October 2006 Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2) Hertford at home to Rosslyn Park on 30 September 2006 Clifton at home to Lydney on 21 October 2006 Most drop goals in a match — 1 N/A - multiple teams

Player Most points in a match — 30 Andy Thorpe for North Walsham at home to Rosslyn Park on 14 April 2007 Most tries in a match — 6 Andy Thorpe for North Walsham at home to Rosslyn Park on 14 April 2007 Most conversions in a match — 11 James Whittingham for Westcombe Park away to Chinnor on 7 October 2006 Most penalties in a match — 7 (x2) Kieron Davies for Hertford at home to Rosslyn Park on 30 September 2006 John Barnes for Clifton at home to Lydney on 21 October 2006 Most drop goals in a match — 1 N/A - multiple players

Attendances Highest — 1,120 Lydney at home to Cinderford on 17 March 2007 Lowest — 50 Old Patesians at home to Hertford on 21 April 2007 Highest Average Attendance — 648 Bridgwater & Albion Lowest Average Attendance — 96 Old Patesians

See also English rugby union system Rugby union in England

References

External links NCA Rugby