2000–01 National Division Two


The 2000–01 National Division Two was the fourteenth full season of rugby union within the third tier of the English league system currently known as National League 1. New teams to the division included West Hartlepool and Rugby Lions who were relegated from the 1999–2000 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two while promoted teams included [Kendal Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby Union Football Club|Kendal] and Esher who were promoted as champions of National Division Three North and National Division Three South respectively. The league system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
The league champions were Bracknell who won the title by five points and gained promotion to the 2001–02 National Division One. They would be joined by runners up Rugby Lions who squeaked past Rosslyn Park despite being level on points due to a better points for/conceded record. At the other end of the table West Hartlepool, Lydney and Camberley would be the unfortunate teams to be relegated. West Hartlepool were easily the worse team in the division, failing to win a single game all season and suffering their second successive relegation in a row while Lydney went down having only played 22 games due to fixture congestion/cancellations – although even if the Gloucestershire-based side won these remaining fixtures it would not have been enough to keep them up. West Hartlepool would drop to the 2001–02 National Division Three North while Camberley and Lydney would drop to the 2001–02 National Division Three South.

Participating teams and locations

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BracknellLily Hill Park1,000Bracknell, Berkshire7th
CamberleyWatchetts Recreation Ground2,000Camberley, Surrey12th
EsherMolesey Road3,000Hersham, SurreyPromoted from National 2 South
FyldeWoodlands Memorial Ground7,500 Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire9th
HarrogateClaro Road4,500 Harrogate, North Yorkshire6th
KendalMint Bridge4,600 Kendal, CumbriaPromoted from National 2 North
LydneyRegentsholme3,000 Lydney, Gloucestershire10th
Newbury BluesMonk's Lane8,000Newbury, Berkshire5th
NottinghamIreland Avenue4,990 Beeston, Nottinghamshire11th
Preston GrasshoppersLightfoot Green2,250 Preston, Lancashire8th
Rosslyn ParkThe Rock2,000 Roehampton, London4th
Rugby LionsWebb Ellis Road3,200 Rugby, WarwickshireRelegated from Premiership 2
West HartlepoolBrinkburn1,000 Hartlepool, County DurhamRelegated from Premiership 2
WharfedaleThe Avenue2,000Threshfield, Craven, North Yorkshire3rd

Results

Some of the early-season scores from Rugby Statbunker are incorrect as they are different from those reported in the Telegraph''. I have used scores from the England Rugby website to ensure that they are accurate with reports from Statbunker primarily used to show scorers, attendances and referees were relevant. Statbunker scores are consistent with rest of sources from 16 December 2000 onwards.''

Round 1

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Round 2

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Round 3

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Round 4

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Round 5

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Round 6

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Round 7

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Round 8

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 December 2000.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 December 2000.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 December 2000.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 December 2000.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 December 2000.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 December 2000.
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Round 9

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 3 February 2001.
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Round 10

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 February 2001.
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Round 11

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 3 February 2001.
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Round 12

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 3 February 2001.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 February 2001.
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Round 13

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Round 14

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 February 2001.
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Round 15

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Round 8 (rescheduled games)

  • Game originally rescheduled from 4 November 2000 but postponed once again. Game rescheduled to 3 March 2001.
  • Game originally rescheduled from 4 November 2000 but postponed once again. Game rescheduled to 3 March 2001.
  • Game originally rescheduled from 4 November 2000 and was initially postponed once again - eventually being cancelled due to fixture congestion and the result being irrelevant to Lydney's eventual relegation.
  • Game originally rescheduled from 4 November 2000 but postponed once again. Game rescheduled to 3 March 2001.
  • Game originally rescheduled from 4 November 2000 but postponed once again. Game rescheduled to 3 March 2001.
  • Game originally rescheduled from 4 November 2000 but postponed once again. Game rescheduled to 17 February 2001.
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Round 16

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Round 17

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Round 18

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 April 2001.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 3 February 2001.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 7 April 2001.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 7 April 2001.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 7 April 2001.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 April 2001.
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Round 19

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 April 2001.
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Rounds 3, 9, 11, 12 & 18 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 16 September 2000.
  • Game rescheduled from 25 November 2000.
  • Game rescheduled from 20 January 2001.
  • Game rescheduled from 2 December 2000.
  • Game rescheduled from 11 November 2000.
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Round 20

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 April 2001.
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Rounds 8, 10, 12 & 14 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 18 November 2000.
  • Game rescheduled from 16 December 2000.
  • Game rescheduled from 30 December 2000.
  • Game rescheduled from 2 December 2000.
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Round 21

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 April 2001.
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Round 8 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 30 December 2000.
  • Game rescheduled from 30 December 2000.
  • Game rescheduled from 30 December 2000.
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Round 22

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 April 2001.
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Round 23

  • Game was initially postponed but would eventually be cancelled due to fixture congestion and the result being irrelevant to Lydney's eventual relegation.
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Round 24

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Round 25

  • Game was initially postponed but would eventually be cancelled due to fixture congestion and the result being irrelevant to Lydney's eventual relegation.
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Round 18 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 20 January 2001.
  • Game rescheduled from 20 January 2001.
  • Game rescheduled from 20 January 2001.
  • Game rescheduled from 20 January 2001.
  • Game rescheduled from 20 January 2001.
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Round 26

  • Game was initially postponed but would eventually be cancelled due to fixture congestion and the result being irrelevant to Lydney's eventual relegation.
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Rounds 19, 20 & 21 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 27 January 2001.
  • Game rescheduled from 10 February 2001.
  • Game rescheduled from 24 February 2001.
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Rounds 8 & 23 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 4 November 2000.
  • Game rescheduled from 10 March 2001.

Total season attendances

ClubHome
Games
TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Bracknell31,00033360020033%
Camberley132,18016825080
Esher134,00030850015010%
Fylde41,8004505004006%
Harrogate135,2004006002509%
Kendal94,94054985040012%
Lydney72,76039458020013%
Newbury Blues52,2104425003006%
Nottingham71,9632804201456%
Preston Grasshoppers114,2303856302208%
Rosslyn Park53,2506501,00020033%
Rugby Lions62,00033345020010%
West Hartlepool69851642855016%
Wharfedale42,00050070035025%

Individual statistics

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

Season records

Team

;Largest home win — 92 pts
92 - 0 Kendal at home to West Hartlepool on 27 January 2001
;Largest away win — 57 pts
69 - 12 Rugby Lions away to Camberley on 21 April 2001
;Most points scored — 92 pts
92 - 0 Kendal at home to West Hartlepool on 27 January 2001
;Most tries in a match — 14
Kendal at home to West Hartlepool on 27 January 2001
Esher at home to West Hartlepool on 8 April 2001
;Most conversions in a match — 12
Rugby Lions away to Camberley on 21 April 2001
;Most penalties in a match — 8
Lydney away to Fylde on 18 November 2000
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Camberley at home to Nottingham on 17 February 2001
Nottingham away to Fylde on 14 April 2001

Player

;Most points in a match — 42
Mike Scott for Kendal at home to West Hartlepool on 27 January 2001
;Most tries in a match — 4
Mike Scott for Kendal at home to West Hartlepool on 27 January 2001
;Most conversions in a match — 11
Jaques Steyn for Rugby Lions at home to Camberley on 2 December 2000
Mike Scott for Kendal at home to West Hartlepool on 27 January 2001
;Most penalties in a match — 7
Rob Smart for Camberley away to Fylde on 9 September 2000
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Howard Graham for Camberley at home to Nottingham on 17 February 2001
Tom Rolt for Nottingham away to Fylde on 14 April 2001

Attendances

;Highest — 1,000
Rosslyn Park at home to Rugby Lions on 24 February 2001
;Lowest — 50
West Hartlepool at home to Camberley on 31 March 2001
;Highest Average Attendance — 650
Rosslyn Park
;Lowest Average Attendance — 164
West Hartlepool