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] The league system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw with the promotion system changing for this season with a playoff system being introduced. The champions of both National Division Three North and 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] Halifax would suffer a double disappointment by missing out on their second stab at promotion as they lost narrowly at home to 2003–04 National Division Three South runners up Launceston in the promotion playoff.[5][6] Relegated teams included newly promoted Longton (who gained only 4 points all season), Liverpool St Helens and Preston Grasshoppers.[4] Longton would drop back down to Midlands Division 1 while Liverpool St Helens and Preston Grasshoppers would fall to North Division 1.[7][8]
Participating teams and locations
Locations of the 2003-04 National Division Three North teams
Final league table
Updated to match(es) played on 08-05-2004. Source: Rugby Statbunker
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ 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
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
Round 5
Round 6
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 March 2004.
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 April 2004.
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
Round 18
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 1 May 2004.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
Round 19
Round 20
- Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004.
- Game rescheduled from 18 October 2003.
- Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004.
- Game rescheduled from 24 January 2004.
- Game rescheduled from 18 October 2003.
Round 21
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 March 2004.
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 27 March 2004.
- Game would initially be postponed but due to fixture congestion it would ultimately be cancelled.
- Game rescheduled from 28 February 2004.
- Game rescheduled from 1 November 2003.
Round 22
Round 23
Round 21 (rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 28 February 2004.
Round 24
Round 25
Round 26
- Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 May 2004.
Round 12 (rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 13 December 2003.
Round 18 (rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004.
Round 26 (rescheduled game)
- Game rescheduled from 17 April 2004.
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.
[5]
Total season attendances
- ^ 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.
Season records
See also
References
- ^ "National Division Two 2002-03". englandrugby.com. 26 April 2003.
- ^ "Midlands 1 2002-03". englandrugby.com. 12 April 2003.
- ^ "North 1 2002-03". englandrugby.com. 12 April 2003.
- ^ a b "National League 3 North 2003-04". englandrugby.com. 8 May 2004.
- ^ a b "National League Playoffs 2003-04". englandrugby.com. 15 May 2004.
- ^ "Play-off agony for Halifax". Yorkshire Post. 17 May 2004.
- ^ "Midlands 1 2004-05". englandrugby.com/. 4 September 2004.
- ^ "North 1 2004-05". englandrugby.com. 4 September 2004.
- ^ "National Three North 03/04 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 5 May 2004.
- ^ "National Three North 03/04 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 5 May 2004.
- ^ "National 3 North 03/04 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2004.
- ^ "National 3 North 03/04 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2004.
- ^ "National 3 North 03/04 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2004.
- ^ "National 3 North 03/04 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2004.
- ^ "National 3 North 03/04 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2004.
- ^ "National 3 North 03/04 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2004.
- ^ "National 3 North 03/04 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2004.
- ^ "National 3 North 03/04 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2004.
- ^ "National 3 North 03/04 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2004.
- ^ "National 3 North 03/04 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2004.
External links
