2004–05 National Division Two


The 2004–05 National Division Two was the fifth version of the third division of the English rugby union league system using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division included Manchester who were relegated from the 2003–04 National Division One while Waterloo came up as champions of the 2003–04 National Division Three North with Blackheath and Launceston coming up from the 2003–04 National Division Three South. Wakefield had also been supposed to join the division having finished 13th in National Division One but sadly due to financial difficulties the club would go into liquidation and cease to exist. This season would see the league points system being overhauled in the division with four points being awarded for a win, two points for a draw as well as bonus points being introduced with teams being awarded an extra point for scoring four or more tries during a game or if losing, being within seven points of the victor.
Doncaster would finish as league champions, 13 points clear of nearest rivals, Newbury Blues. Both sides would go up to the 2005–06 National Division One. At the other end of the table, apart from Rosslyn Park who were comfortably bottom, it was a very tight relegation battle with Bracknell and Nuneaton eventually going down to join Rosslyn Park despite both sides winning their last games - in the end only 2 points separated 10th placed Esher from 12th placed Nuneaton. Nuneaton would drop down to the 2005–06 National Division Three North while Bracknell and Rosslyn Park went into the 2005–06 National Division Three South.

Participating teams and locations

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/Area
BlackheathRectory Field6,000Blackheath, London
BracknellLily Hill Park1,250 Bracknell, Berkshire
DoncasterCastle Park3,075Doncaster, South Yorkshire
EsherMolesey Road3,000Hersham, Surrey
HarrogateClaro RoadHarrogate, North Yorkshire
LauncestonPolson Bridge3,000Launceston, Cornwall
ManchesterGrove Park4,000Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
MoseleyBournbrookBirmingham, West Midlands
Newbury BluesMonk's Lane8,000Newbury, Berkshire
NuneatonLiberty Way4,314
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Rosslyn ParkThe Rock2,000Roehampton, London
StourbridgeStourton Park3,500 Stourbridge, West Midlands
WaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,000
Blundellsands, Merseyside
WharfedaleThe Avenue2,000Threshfield, Craven, North Yorkshire

Final league table

Results

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

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Round 9

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Round 10

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Round 11

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Round 12

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Round 13

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Round 14

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Round 15

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Round 16

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Round 17

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Round 18

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Round 10 (rescheduled game)

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Round 19

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Round 20

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Round 21

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Round 22

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Round 23

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Round 24

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Round 25

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Round 26

Total season attendances

ClubHome
Games
TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Blackheath138,7316721,50027311%
Bracknell123,00425038410020%
Doncaster108,7868792,00047029%
Esher135,67543760035015%
Harrogate135,367413778200
Launceston137,29056170042019%
Manchester123,6993084572088%
Moseley124,241353450195
Newbury Blues125,3164438252806%
Nuneaton82,4903115001007%
Rosslyn Park136,50550075028025%
Stourbridge136,02446370030013%
Waterloo104,0754086522005%
Wharfedale136,11047080037524%

Individual statistics

Top try scorers

Season records

Team

;Largest home win — 74 pts
79 - 5 Harrogate at home to Bracknell on 27 November 2004
;Largest away win — 45 pts
57 - 12 Doncaster away to Wharfedale on 20 4 September 2004
;Most points scored — 74 pts
79 - 5 Harrogate at home to Bracknell on 27 November 2004
;Most tries in a match — 11
Harrogate at home to Bracknell on 27 November 2004
;Most conversions in a match — 9
Harrogate at home to Bracknell on 27 November 2004
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Blackheath away to Stourbridge on 26 February 2005
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple teams

Player

;Most points in a match — 29
Jonathan Davies for Wharfedale at home to Nuneaton on 9 October 2004
;Most tries in a match — 3
N/A - multiple players
;Most conversions in a match — 9
Lee Cholewa for Harrogate at home to Bracknell on 27 November 2004
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Stephen McCashin for Blackheath away to Stourbridge on 26 February 2005
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple players

Attendances

;Highest — 2,000
Doncaster at home to Manchester on 9 October 2004
;Lowest — 120
Nuneaton at home to Bracknell on 23 October 2004 and Waterloo on 13 November 2004
Bracknell at home to Esher on 20 November 2004
;Highest Average Attendance — 879
Doncaster
;Lowest Average Attendance — 250
Bracknell