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The 2003–04 National Division One rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship . New teams to the division included Bristol Shoguns who had been relegated from the Zurich Premiership 2002–03 while Penzance & Newlyn and Henley Hawks were promoted from the 2002–03 National Division Two .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] Plymouth Albion had a new home - moving from Beacon Park to newly built Brickfields which at 6,500 had twice the capacity of the original ground.[ 4]
After three consecutive seasons finishing second, Worcester became champions and were promoted to the Zurich Premiership for season 2004–05 .[ 5] Orrell were runners–up, and Wakefield and Manchester were relegated to the 2004–05 National Division Two .[ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
Participating teams [ edit ] Locations of the 2003–04 National Division One teams
Team
Stadium
Capacity
City/Area
Bedford Blues
Goldington Road
7,000
Bedford , Bedfordshire
Bristol Shoguns
Memorial Stadium
12,100
Bristol
Coventry
Coundon Road
9,000
Coventry , West Midlands
Exeter Chiefs
County Ground
5,200
Exeter , Devon
Henley Hawks
Dry Leas
4,000
Henley-on-Thames , Oxfordshire
London Welsh
Old Deer Park
5,850
Richmond , London
Manchester
Grove Park
4,000
Cheadle Hulme , Greater Manchester
Orrell
Edge Hall Road
5,500
Orrell , Greater Manchester
Otley
Cross Green
5,000
Otley , West Yorkshire
Penzance & Newlyn
Mennaye Field
3,500
Penzance , Cornwall
Pertemps Bees
Sharmans Cross
2,500
Solihull , West Midlands
Plymouth Albion
The Brickfields
6,500
Plymouth , Devon
Wakefield
College Grove
3,000
Wakefield , West Yorkshire
Worcester
Sixways
8,477
Worcester , Worcestershire
Source:
rugbyarchive.net and trelawnys-army.org.uk
[ 9] Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows: four points for a win; two points for a draw; no points for a loss; one bonus point for scoring four
tries or more in a match; one bonus point for losing by seven points or less.
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: (1) difference between points for and against; (2) total number of points for. Bedford Blues 29 - 15 Manchester Report
Goldington Road Alan Biggs
Coventry 19 - 23 Plymouth Albion Report
Coundon Road David Grashoff
Henley Hawks 16 - 27 London Welsh Report
Dry Leas Tim Beddow
Cross Green Tim Wigglesworth
Edge Hall Road Robin Goodliffe
Pertemps Bees 27 - 18 Exeter Chiefs Report
Sharmans Cross David Rose
Bristol Shoguns 34 - 7 Penzance & Newlyn Report
Memorial Stadium Rob Debney
Exeter Chiefs 42 - 21 Coventry Report
County Ground Rob Debney
Manchester 20 - 36 London Welsh Report
Grove Park Nick Williams
Penzance & Newlyn 20 - 15 Henley Hawks Report
Mennaye Field Geraint Ashton-Jones
Plymouth Albion 10 - 16 Otley Report
Brickfields [ 10] Alan Biggs
Wakefield 27 - 23 Bedford Blues Report
College Grove Tim Wigglesworth
Sixways David Rose
Bristol Shoguns 11 - 45 Pertemps Bees Report
Memorial Stadium Wayne Barnes
Bedford Blues 20 - 31 Worcester Report
Goldington Road Robin Goodliffe
Coventry 40 - 21 Bristol Shoguns Report
Coundon Road Martin Fox
Henley Hawks 38 - 9 Manchester Report
Dry Leas Bruce Robertson
London Welsh 3 - 17 Wakefield Report
Old Deer Park S Leyshon
Orrell 25 - 15 Plymouth Albion Report
Edge Hall Road Tim Beddow
Otley 30 - 28 Exeter Chiefs Report
Cross Green Mark Wilson
Pertemps Bees 50 - 17 Penzance & Newlyn Report
Sharmans Cross [ 11] Sean Davey
Exeter Chiefs 26 - 40 Orrell Report
County Ground Wayne Barnes
Penzance & Newlyn 28 - 16 Coventry Report
Mennaye Field Eric Gauzins
Pertemps Bees 42 - 12 Henley Hawks Report
Sharmans Cross Chris Sharp
Plymouth Albion 15 - 24 Bedford Blues Report
Brickfields Bruce Robertson
Wakefield 33 - 8 Manchester Report
College Grove Robin Goodliffe
Worcester 34 - 0 London Welsh Report
Sixways Mark Wilson
Bristol Shoguns 11 - 35 Otley Report
Memorial Stadium Geraint Ashton-Jones
Bedford Blues 47 - 24 Exeter Chiefs Report
Goldington Road Chris Sharp
Coventry 13 - 39 Pertemps Bees Report
Coundon Road Rob Debney
Dry Leas Tim Beddow
London Welsh 27 - 35 Plymouth Albion Report
Manchester 3 - 56 Worcester Report
Grove Park Tim Wigglesworth
Orrell 29 - 21 Bristol Shoguns Report
Edge Hall Road Sean Davey
Otley 33 - 6 Penzance & Newlyn Report
Cross Green Bruce Robertson
Coventry 12 - 29 Henley Hawks
Coundon Road Bruce Robertson
Exeter Chiefs 29 - 13 London Welsh Report
County Ground Tim Beddow
Penzance & Newlyn 12 - 48 Orrell Report
Mennaye Field Trevor Fisher
Pertemps Bees 32 - 23 Otley Report
Sharmans Cross Mark Wilson
Plymouth Albion 54 - 14 Manchester Report
Brickfields Rob Debney
Worcester 46 - 15 Wakefield Report
Sixways Martin Fox
Bristol Shoguns 20 - 14 Bedford Blues Report
Memorial Stadium David Rose
Bedford Blues 39 - 7 Penzance & Newlyn Report
Goldington Road Alan Biggs
London Welsh 23 - 10 Bristol Shoguns Report
Old Deer Park Bruce Robertson
Manchester 14 - 19 Exeter Chiefs Report
Grove Park Trevor Fisher
Orrell 20 - 13 Pertemps Bees Report
Edge Hall Road Rob Debney
Cross Green Tim Beddow
Wakefield 10 - 14 Plymouth Albion Report
College Grove Tim Wigglesworth
Worcester 59 - 24 Henley Hawks Report
Sixways David Grashoff
Exeter Chiefs P - P Wakefield
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 December 2003. Henley Hawks 16 - 23 Otley Report
Dry Leas Andrew Small
London Welsh P - P Penzance & Newlyn
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004. Edge Hall Road Chris Sharp
Plymouth Albion 17 - 43 Worcester Report
Brickfields Alan Biggs
Pertemps Bees P - P Bedford Blues
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 December 2003. Bristol Shoguns P - P Manchester
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 December 2003. Coventry 23 - 19 Bedford Blues Report
Coundon Road Nigel Higginson
Henley Hawks 14 - 35 Plymouth Albion Report
Dry Leas Nick Williams
London Welsh 16 - 0 Pertemps Bees Report
Old Deer Park Sean Davey
Manchester 34 - 14 Penzance & Newlyn Report
Grove Park Chris Sharp
Cross Green Bruce Robertson
Worcester 37 - 14 Exeter Chiefs Report
Sixways Wayne Barnes
Wakefield 23 - 34 Bristol Shoguns Report
College Grove Mark Wilson
Bedford Blues 22 - 15 Otley Report
Goldington Road Mark Wilson
Coventry 25 - 17 London Welsh Report
Coundon Road Rob Debney
Exeter Chiefs 17 - 19 Plymouth Albion Report
County Ground Bruce Robertson
Orrell 69 - 15 Henley Hawks Report
Edge Hall Road David Rose
Penzance & Newlyn 22 - 7 Wakefield Report
Mennaye Field Andrew Small
Pertemps Bees 39 - 12 Manchester Report
Sharmans Cross Geraint Ashton-Jones
Bristol Shoguns 3 - 10 Worcester Report
Memorial Stadium Tim Beddow
[ 12]
Henley Hawks 10 - 34 Exeter Chiefs Report
Dry Leas Tony Spreadbury
London Welsh 13 - 19 Otley Report
Old Deer Park Andrew Small
Manchester 16 - 16 Coventry Report
Grove Park Eric Gauzin
Orrell 57 - 24 Bedford Blues Report
Edge Hall Road Tim Wigglesworth
Plymouth Albion 34 - 16 Bristol Shoguns Report
Brickfields David Grashoff
Wakefield 19 - 44 Pertemps Bees Report
College Grove Trevor Fisher
Worcester 71 - 10 Penzance & Newyln Report
Sixways Nigel Higginson
Bedford Blues 45 - 20 Henley Hawks Report
Goldington Road Chris Sharp
Coventry 23 - 16 Wakefield Report
Coundon Road Nick Williams
London Welsh 28 - 40 Orrell Report
Old Deer Park Tim Beddow
Cross Green Martin Fox
Pertemps Bees 0 - 18 Worcester Report
Sharmans Cross Chris White
Bristol Shoguns 43 - 15 Exeter Chiefs Report
Memorial Stadium Steve Lander
Penzance & Newlyn 3 - 48 Plymouth Albion Report
Mennaye Field Tony Spreadbury
[ 13] [ 14]
[ edit ] Exeter Chiefs 24 - 5 Wakefield Report
County Ground Nigel Higginson
Pertemps Bees 22 - 5 Bedford Blues Report
Sharmans Cross Tim Beddow
Bristol Shoguns 34 - 20 Manchester Report
Memorial Stadium Chris Sharp
Bedford Blues 19 - 22 London Welsh Report
Goldington Road Geraint Ashton-Jones
Exeter Chiefs P - P Penzance & Newlyn
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 3 January 2004. Henley Hawks P - P Bristol Shoguns
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 3 January 2004. Grove Park Mark Wilson
Plymouth Albion 16 - 22 Pertemps Bees Report
Brickfields Rob Debney
College Grove Tim Beddow
Sixways Sean Davey
[ edit ] Exeter Chiefs 26 - 12 Penzance & Newlyn Report
County Ground Tim Wigglesworth
Henley Hawks 18 - 13 Bristol Shoguns Report
Dry Leas Nigel Higginson
Exeter Chiefs 6 - 12 Pertemps Bees Report
County Ground Mark Wilson
London Welsh 18 - 13 Henley Hawks Report
Old Deer Park Bruce Robertson
Manchester 19 - 47 Bedford Blues Report
Grove Park Tim Beddow
Penzance & Newlyn 18 - 20 Bristol Shoguns Report
Mennaye Field David Rose
Plymouth Albion 51 - 9 Coventry Report
Brickfields Geraint Ashton-Jones
College Grove Trevor Fisher
Sixways Nigel Higginson
Bedford Blues 29 - 8 Wakefield Report
Goldington Road Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
Coventry 26 - 31 Exeter Chiefs Report
Coundon Road Gareth Copsey
Henley Hawks 18 - 24 Penzance & Newlyn Report
Dry Leas David Grashoff
London Welsh 21 - 17 Manchester Report
Old Deer Park Nick Williams
Edge Hall Road Ashley Rowden
Otley 24 - 29 Plymouth Albion Report
Cross Green Alan Biggs
Pertemps Bees 37 - 22 Bristol Shoguns Report
Sharmans Cross Trevor Fisher
Exeter Chiefs 22 - 8 Otley Report
County Ground Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
Manchester 23 - 28 Henley Hawks Report
Grove Park Martin Fox
Penzance & Newlyn 32 - 53 Pertemps Bees Report
Mennaye Field Nigel Higginson
Plymouth Albion 22 - 19 Orrell Report
Brickfields Wayne Barnes
Wakefield 8 - 11 London Welsh Report
College Grove Rob Debney
Worcester 43 - 5 Bedford Blues Report
Sixways Bruce Robertson
Bristol Shoguns 26 - 25 Coventry Report
Memorial Stadium Tim Beddow
Bedford Blues 6 - 26 Plymouth Albion Report
Goldington Road Gareth Copsey
Coventry 17 - 27 Penzance & Newlyn Report
Coundon Road Andrew Small
Henley Hawks 17 - 19 Pertemps Bees Report
Dry Leas Bruce Robertson
London Welsh 3 - 28 Worcester Report
Old Deer Park Mark Wilson
Manchester 11 - 12 Wakefield Report
Grove Park Sean Davey
Orrell 16 - 13 Exeter Chiefs Report
Edge Hall Road Martin Fox
Otley 19 - 5 Bristol Shoguns Report
Cross Green Tim Fisher
Exeter Chiefs 21 - 10 Bedford Blues Report
County Ground Nigel Higginson
Penzance & Newlyn 30 - 21 Otley Report
Mennaye Field Nick Williams
Pertemps Bees 29 - 24 Coventry Report
Sharmans Cross Robin Goodliffe
Plymouth Albion 48 - 15 London Welsh Report
Brickfields Jean Matheu
Wakefield 13 - 13 Henley Hawks Report
College Grove Tim Wigglesworth
Worcester 74 - 8 Manchester Report
Sixways Trevor Fisher
Bristol Shoguns 26 - 27 Orrell Report
Memorial Stadium Andrew Small
Bedford Blues 30 - 16 Bristol Shoguns Report
Goldington Road Eric Gauzins
Henley Hawks 26 - 26 Coventry Report
Dry Leas Geraint Ashton-Jones
Manchester 7 - 55 Plymouth Albion Report
Grove Park Chris Sharp
Orrell 53 - 7 Penzance & Newlyn Report
Edge Hall Road Tim Wigglesworth
Otley 26 - 12 Pertemps Bees Report
Cross Green Sean Davey
Wakefield 19 - 64 Worcester Report
College Grove Alan Biggs
London Welsh 27 - 43 Exeter Chiefs Report
Old Deer Park Nick Williams
[ 15]
[ edit ] Penzance & Newlyn 40 - 38 London Welsh Report
Mennaye Field Alan Biggs
Pertemps Bees 17 - 11 Wakefield Report
Sharmans Cross Mark Wilson
Game brought forward from 17 April 2004. [ 16]
Coundon Road Rob Debney
Exeter Chiefs 85 - 6 Manchester Report
County Ground Geraint Ashton-Jones
Henley Hawks 33 - 69 Worcester Report
Dry Leas Nigel Higginson
Penzance & Newlyn 20 - 20 Bedford Blues Report
Mennaye Field Tim Beddow
Postponed. Game rescheduled for 7 March 2004. Plymouth Albion 11 - 7 Wakefield Report
Brickfields Gareth Copsey
Bristol Shoguns 18 - 30 London Welsh Report
Memorial Stadium Bruce Robertson
[ 17]
[ edit ] Penzance & Newlyn 24 - 49 Worcester Report
Mennaye Field Nick Williams
Game brought forward from 17 April 2004. Pertemps Bees 24 - 29 Orrell Report
Sharmans Cross Andrew Small
Bedford Blues P - P Pertemps Bees
Postponed. Game rescheduled for 27 March 2004. Coundon Road David Rose
London Welsh 37 - 5 Penzance & Newlyn Report
Old Deer Park Bruce Kuklinski
Manchester 6 - 27 Bristol Shoguns Report
Grove Park Tim Beddow
Otley 28 - 21 Henley Hawks Report
Cross Green Tim Wigglesworth
Wakefield 0 - 54 Exeter Chiefs Report
College Grove Trevor Fisher
Worcester 38 - 13 Plymouth Albion Report
Sixways Robin Goodliffe
[ 18]
Bedford Blues 24 - 20 Coventry Report
Goldington Road Andrew Small
Exeter Chiefs 14 - 25 Worcester Report
County Ground Martin Fox
Edge Hall Road Sean Davey
Penzance & Newlyn 48 - 9 Manchester Report
Mennaye Field Geraint Ashton-Jones
Pertemps Bees 18-31 London Welsh Report
Sharmans Cross Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
Plymouth Albion 55 - 0 Henley Hawks Report
Brickfields Chris Sharp
Bristol Shoguns 19 - 15 Wakefield Report
Memorial Stadium Bruce Kuklinski
[ 19]
[ edit ] Bedford Blues 38 - 26 Pertemps Bees Report
Goldington Road Nick Williams
Henley Hawks 20 - 17 Orrell Report
Dry Leas Trevor Fisher
London Welsh 41 - 8 Coventry Report
Old Deer Park Alan Biggs
Manchester 18 - 18 Pertemps Bees Report
Grove Park Bruce Robertson
Otley 27 - 17 Bedford Blues Report
Cross Green Gareth Copsey
Plymouth Albion 7 - 7 Exeter Chiefs Report
Brickfields Tim Beddow
Wakefield 38 - 31 Penzance & Newlyn Report
College Grove S Leyshon
Worcester 68 - 15 Bristol Shoguns Report
Sixways Geraint Ashton-Jones
[ 20]
Coventry 18 - 57 Worcester Report
Coundon Road
London Welsh 25 - 30 Bedford Blues Report
Old Deer Park Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
Edge Hall Road Chris Sharp
Cross Green Robin Goodliffe
Penzance & Newlyn 10 - 42 Exeter Chiefs Report
Mennaye Field Alan Biggs
Pertemps Bees 20 - 23 Plymouth Albion Report
Sharmans Cross Mark Wilson
Bristol Shoguns 38 - 10 Henley Hawks Report
Memorial Stadium Wayne Barnes
[ 21]
Bedford Blues 22 - 55 Orrell Report
Goldington Road Jean Luc Rebollal
Coventry 34 - 20 Manchester Report
Coundon Road Stave Lander
Exeter Chiefs 21 - 15 Henley Hawks Report
County Ground Nick Williams
Cross Green Andrew Small
Penzance & Newlyn P - P Worcester
Game brought forward to 6 March 2004. Pertemps Bees P - P Wakefield
Game brought forward to 21 February 2004. Bristol Shoguns P - P Plymouth Albion
Postponed. Game rescheduled for 21 April 2004. [ 22]
[ edit ] Bristol Shoguns 15 - 21 Plymouth Albion Report
Memorial Stadium Alan Biggs
Exeter Chiefs 31 - 19 Bristol Shoguns Report
County Ground Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
Henley Hawks 23 - 15 Bedford Blues Report
Dry Leas Wayne Barnes
Grove Park Gareth Copsey
Orrell 49 - 0 London Welsh Report
Edge Hall Road
Plymouth Albion 56 - 0 Penzance & Newlyn Report
Brickfields Mark Wilson
Wakefield 11 - 15 Coventry Report
College Grove David Rose
Worcester 49 - 31 Pertemps Bees Report
Sixways Steve Lander
Total Season Attendances [ edit ]
Club
Home
Total
Average
Highest
Lowest
% Capacity
Bedford Blues
10[ a 2]
17,482
1,748
3,427
1,017
25%
Bristol Shoguns
13
47,895
3,684
4,217
2,831
30%
Coventry
9[ a 3]
15,447
1,716
3,100
1,000
19%
Exeter Chiefs
6[ a 4]
10,084
1,681
2,500
1,069
32%
Henley Hawks
8[ a 5]
8,240
1,030
2,020
450
26%
London Welsh
9[ a 6]
10,770
1,197
1,750
650
20%
Manchester
12[ a 7]
4,925
410
760
187
10%
Orrell
12[ a 8]
7,953
663
3,207
286
12%
Otley
7[ a 9]
4,585
655
790
575
13%
Penzance & Newlyn
9[ a 10]
19,810
2,201
5,100
1,000
58%
Pertemps Bees
8[ a 11]
5,385
673
2,000
300
27%
Plymouth Albion
10[ a 12]
28,467
2,847
4,342
1,648
44%
Wakefield
9[ a 13]
3,300
367
600
250
12%
Worcester
13
45,330
3,487
6,025
2,027
41%
[ 23]
^ Note that 47 home attendances are missing (see below) - so the total attendance will not be 100% accurate. The average attendance has also been taken into account with the missing games not included.
^ Missing home attendances v Exeter on 11 October 2003, Penzance & Newlyn on 8 November 2003 & Plymouth on 31 January 2003.
^ Missing home attendances v Bristol on 20 September 2003, Pertemps Bees on 11 October 2003, Henley on 25 October 2003 & Bedford on 22 November 2003.
^ Missing home attendances v Orrell on 27 September 2003, London Welsh on 25 October 2003, Wakefield on 20 December 2003, Penzance & Newlyn on 3 January 2004, Pertemps Bees on 10 January 2004, Otley on 24 January 2004 & Bedford on 7 February 2004.
^ Missing home attendances v Manchester on 20 September 2003, Wakefield on 11 October 2003, Plymouth on 22 November 2003, Exeter on 6 December 2003 & Pertemps Bees on 31 January 2003.
^ Missing home attendances v Plymouth on 11 October 2003, Pertemps Bees on 22 November 2003, Henley on 10 January 2004 & Manchester on 17 January 2004.
^ Missing home attendance v Exeter on 8 November 2003.
^ Missing home attendance v Manchester on 10 April 2004.
^ Missing home attendances v Exeter on 20 September 2003, Penzance & Newlyn on 11 October 2003, Coventry on 8 November 2003, Orrell on 22 November 2003, Plymouth on 17 January 2004 & Bristol on 31 January 2004.
^ Missing home attendances v Henley on 13 September 2003, Orrell on 25 October 2003, Pertemps Bees on 24 January 2004, Otley on 7 February 2004.
^ Missing home attendances v Henley on 27 September 2003, Otley on 25 October 2003, Bedford on 20 December 2003, Coventry on 7 February 2004 & Orrell on 7 March 2004.
^ Missing home attendances v Manchester on 25 October 2003, Bristol on 6 December 2003 & Orrell on 24 January 2004.
^ Missing home attendances v Plymouth on 8 November 2003, Pertemps Bees on 6 December 2003, London Welsh on 24 January 2004 & Henley on 7 February 2004.
Individual statistics [ edit ] Note that points scorers include tries as well as conversions, penalties, and drop goals.
Largest home win — 79 pts 85 - 6 Exeter Chiefs at home to Manchester on 28 February 2004
Largest away win — 54 pts 54 - 0 Exeter Chiefs away to Wakefield on 13 March 2004
Most points scored — 85 pts 85 - 6 Exeter Chiefs at home to Manchester on 28 February 2004
Most tries in a match — 13 Exeter Chiefs at home to Manchester on 28 February 2004
Most conversions in a match — 10 (x2) Exeter Chiefs at home to Manchester on 28 February 2004
Most penalties in a match — 7 Exeter Chiefs away to Otley on 20 September 2003
Most drop goals in a match — 2 Coventry at home to Worcester on 10 April 2004
[ 26] [ 27] [ 28] [ 29]
Most points in a match — 31 Leigh Hinton for Orrell at home to Bedford Blues on 6 December 2003
Most tries in a match — 4 (x3) Dan Ward-Smith for Plymouth Albion at home to Henley Hawks on 20 March 2004Lee Carruthers for Otley at home to Manchester 13 December 2003
Most conversions in a match — 10 (x2) Tony Yapp for Exeter Chiefs at home to Manchester on 28 February 2004Leigh Hinton for Orrell at home to Manchester on 10 April 2004
Most penalties in a match — 7 Tony Yapp for Exeter Chiefs away to Otley on 20 September 2003
Most drop goals in a match — 1 N/A - multiple players
[ 30] [ 31] [ 32] [ 33] [ 34]
Highest — 6,025 Worcester at home to Pertemps Bees on 24 April 2004
Lowest — 187[ b 1] Manchester at home to Pertemps Bees on 3 April 2004
Highest Average Attendance — 2,460 Worcester
Lowest Average Attendance — 367[ b 2] Wakefield
[ 35]
^ As several attendances are missing this season, it is possible that there were lower attendances than the one recorded.
^ As Wakefield had 4 home games missing from the attendance statistics, this figure is not 100% accurate.
2024–25 teams Former clubs Seasons
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