The 2003–04 National Division Three South was the fourth season (17th 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 included Launceston who were relegated from the 2002–03 National Division Two while promoted clubs included Southend (champions) and Haywards Heath (playoffs) coming up from London Division 1 and Dings Crusaders as champions of South West Division 1 .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] The league system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw with the league champions going straight up into National Division Two and the runners up playing a playoff against the runners up from National Division Three North for the final promotion place.
The season saw an incredibly tight title race between Blackheath and Launceston. Both sides would finish dead level on 44 points each but Blackheath finished as champions thanks to a better for and against record.[ 4] Launceston would join the London side in the 2004–05 National Division Two , making an instant return by defeating 2003–04 National Division Three North runners up Halifax in their promotion playoff in what was a very tight game played at the Yorkshire-based club.[ 5] [ 6] At the other end of the table the relegation battle was much less close with Old Colfeians and Basingstoke being the two sides to be relegated.[ 4] Both Old Colfeians and Basingstoke would be demoted to London Division 1 for the next season.[ 7]
Participating teams and locations
Locations of the 2003-04 National Division Three South teams
Greater London National Division Three South clubs
Team
Stadium
Capacity
City/Area
Barking
Goresbrook
1,000
Becontree , Dagenham , London
Basingstoke
Down Grange
2,500 (250 seats)
Basingstoke , Hampshire
Blackheath
Rectory Field
6,000
Blackheath , London
Dings Crusaders
Landseer Avenue
1,500
Lockleaze , Bristol
Haywards Heath
Whitemans Green
Cuckfield , Haywards Heath , West Sussex
Launceston
Polson Bridge
3,000
Launceston , Cornwall
North Walsham
Norwich Road
1,200
Scottow , North Walsham , Norfolk
Old Colfeians
Horn Park
Lee , London
Old Patesians
Everest Road
Cheltenham , Gloucestershire
Redruth
The Recreation Ground
3,500 (580 seats)
Redruth , Cornwall
Southend
Warners Bridge Park
Southend , Essex
Tabard
Cobden Hill
Radlett , Hertfordshire
Westcombe Park
Goddington Dene
3,200
Orpington , London
Weston-super-Mare
Recreation Ground
6,000
Weston-super-Mare , Somerset
Final league table
Updated to match(es) played on 17-04-2004. Source:
Rugby Statbunker (C) Champions;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Results
Round 1
Barking 65 - 13 Basingstoke Report
Blackheath 36 - 23 Weston-super-Mare Report
Rectory Field Referee: Chris Healey
Haywards Heath 20 - 22 Tabard Report
Whitemans Green Referee: Mark Varnon
Old Patesians 37 - 44 Southend Report
Everest Road Referee: Guy Steel Bodger
North Walsham 44 - 18 Old Colfeians Report
Norwich Road Referee: Dean Richards
Redruth 32 - 20 Dings Crusaders Report
The Recreation Ground Referee: D May
Westcombe Park 9 - 25 Launceston Report
Goddington Dene Referee: Kevin Stewart
Round 2
Blackheath 15 - 17 Barking Report
Rectory Field Referee: G O'Hara
Dings Crusaders 18 - 18 Westcombe Park Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: R Mun-Gavin
Launceston 36 - 14 Basingstoke Report
Polson Bridge Referee: Chris Healey
Old Colfeians 38 - 23 Old Patesians Report
Horn Park Referee: Terry Hall
Warners Bridge Park Referee: Mark Varnon
Tabard 8 - 25 North Walsham Report
Cobden Hill Referee: Richard Phillips
Weston-super-Mare 22 - 10 Haywards Heath Report
Recreation Ground Referee: Greg Garner
Round 3
Barking 28 - 15 Launceston Report
Goresbrook Referee: Greg Garner
Basingstoke 26 - 5 Dings Crusaders Report
Down Grange Referee: Dale Newitt
Haywards Heath 7 - 38 Blackheath Report
Whitemans Green Referee: Richard Phillips
North Walsham 23 - 7 Weston-super-Mare Report
Norwich Road Referee: Paul Dickens
Old Patesians 11 - 27 Tabard Report
Everest Road Referee: Guy Steel Bodger
Redruth 15 - 8 Old Colfeians Report
The Recreation Ground Referee: D May
Westcombe Park 40 - 13 Southend Report
Round 4
Blackheath 22 - 17 North Walsham Report
Rectory Field Referee: Mark Varnon
Haywards Heath 5 - 37 Barking Report
Whitemans Green Referee: D May
Old Colfeians 18 - 35 Westcombe Park Report
Horn Park Referee: Richard Phillips
Southend 54 - 17 Basingstoke Report
Warners Bridge Park Referee: G O'Hara
Cobden Hill Referee: Dean Richards
Weston-super-Mare 8 - 16 Old Patesians Report
Recreation Ground Referee: Rob Sawyer
Dings Crusaders P - P Launceston
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
Round 5
Barking 25 - 18 Dings Crusaders Report
Goresbrook Referee: Richard Phillips
Basingstoke 41 - 22 Old Colfeians Report
Down Grange Referee: Greg Garner
Launceston 55 - 12 Southend Report
Polson Bridge Referee: Steve Harland
North Walsham 42 - 33 Haywards Heath Report
Norwich Road Referee: Terry Hall
Old Patesians 8 - 50 Blackheath Report
Everest Road Referee: Kevin Stewart
Redruth 17 - 21 Weston-super-Mare Report
The Recreation Ground Referee: Rhys Davies
Westcombe Park 37 - 14 Tabard Report
Goddington Dene Referee: Eric Woodmason
Round 6
Blackheath 40 - 19 Redruth Report
Rectory Field Referee: Greg Garner
Haywards Heath 43 - 16 Old Patesians Report
Whitemans Green Referee: Richard Parker-Sedgmore
North Walsham 16 - 6 Barking Report
Norwich Road Referee: Richard Phillips
Old Colfeians 3 - 32 Launceston Report
Horn Park Referee: Andrew Small
Southend 44 - 25 Dings Crusaders Report
Warners Bridge Park Referee: Rhys Davies
Tabard 39 - 15 Basingstoke Report
Cobden Hill Referee: Terry Hall
Weston-super-Mare 38 - 27 Westcombe Park Report
Recreation Ground Referee: D May
Round 7
Goresbrook Referee: Greg Garner
Basingstoke 22 - 25 Weston-super-Mare Report
Down Grange Referee: Steve Harland
Dings Crusaders 13 - 19 Old Colfeians Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: D May
Old Patesians 27 - 40 North Walsham Report
Everest Road Referee: Rhys Davies
Redruth 35 - 19 Haywards Heath Report
The Recreation Ground Referee: Kevin Stewart
Westcombe Park 20 - 18 Blackheath Report
Goddington Dene Referee: G O'Hara
Round 8
Blackheath 50 - 10 Basingstoke Report
Rectory Field Referee: Rhys Davies
Haywards Heath 34 - 6 Westcombe Park Report
Whitemans Green Referee: Mark Varnon
North Walsham 24 - 8 Redruth Report
Old Colfeians 18 - 50 Southend Report
Old Patesians 26 - 31 Barking Report
Everest Road Referee: D May
Tabard 30 - 34 Dings Crusaders Report
Cobden Hill Referee: Richard Phillips
Weston-super-Mare 16 - 23 Launceston Report
Recreation Ground Referee: Nigel Higginson
Round 9
Barking 41 - 11 Old Colfeians Report
Goresbrook Referee: Richard Draper
Basingstoke 7 - 42 Haywards Heath Report
Down Grange Referee: Ged Stone
Dings Crusaders 26 - 8 Weston-super-Mare Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: Steve Harland
Launceston 18 - 25 Blackheath Report
Polson Bridge Referee: Mark Varnon
Redruth 19 - 7 Old Patesians Report
The Recreation Ground Referee: G O'Hara
Warners Bridge Park Referee: Dale Newitt
Westcombe Park 16 - 28 North Walsham Report
Goddington Dene Referee: Greg Garner
Round 10
Blackheath 25 - 10 Dings Crusaders Report
Rectory Field Referee: David Sainsbury
Haywards Heath 14 - 18 Launceston Report
Whitemans Green Referee: Nick Williams
North Walsham 62 - 0 Basingstoke Report
Old Patesians 35 - 17 Westcombe Park Report
Everest Road Referee: Dale Newitt
The Recreation Ground Referee: Steve Harland
Tabard 27 - 5 Old Colfeians Report
Cobden Hill Referee: Alan Biggs
Weston-super-Mare 57 - 25 Southend Report
Recreation Ground Referee: Rob Sawyer
Round 11
Goresbrook Referee: Kevin Stewart
Basingstoke 10 - 27 Old Patesians Report
Down Grange Referee: Greg Garner
Dings Crusaders 3 - 21 Haywards Heath Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: Terry Hall
Launceston 25 - 10 North Walsham Report
Polson Bridge Referee: Dale Newitt
Old Colfeians 5 - 21 Weston-super-Mare Report
Horn Park Referee: Rhys Davies
Southend 3 - 20 Blackheath Report
Warners Bridge Park Referee: Richard Draper
Westcombe Park 21 - 10 Redruth Report
Goddington Dene Referee: Rob Sawyer
Round 12
Blackheath 40 - 23 Old Colfeians Report
Rectory Field Referee: Kevin Stewart
Haywards Heath 7 - 25 Southend Report
Whitemans Green Referee: Mark Varnon
North Walsham 15 - 0 Dings Crusaders Report
Norwich Road Referee: Rhys Davies
Old Patesians 12 - 24 Launceston Report
Everest Road Referee: G O'Hara
Redruth 43 - 15 Basingstoke Report
The Recreation Ground Referee: Terry Hall
Westcombe Park 0 - 28 Barking Report
Goddington Dene Referee: Richard Phillips
Weston-super-Mare 21 - 15 Tabard Report
Recreation Ground Referee: D May
Round 13
Barking 11 - 31 Weston-super-Mare Report
Goresbrook Referee: Terry Hall
Basingstoke 6 - 60 Westcombe Park Report
Down Grange Referee: Kevin Stewart
Dings Crusaders 8 - 12 Old Patesians Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: Richard Parker-Sedgmore
Launceston 13 - 11 Redruth Report
Polson Bridge Referee: Richard Phillips
Old Colfeians 17 - 12 Haywards Heath Report
Horn Park Referee: Greg Garner
Southend 15 - 13 North Walsham Report
Warners Bridge Park Referee: G O'Hara
Cobden Hill Referee: Rhys Davies
Round 14
Blackheath 25 - 5 Southend Report
Rectory Field Referee: Revis Phillips
Haywards Heath 21 - 10 Dings Crusaders Report
Whitemans Green Referee: G O'Hara
North Walsham 8 - 14 Launceston Report
Norwich Road Referee: Dean Richards
Old Patesians 42 - 21 Basingstoke Report
Everest Road Referee: Greg Garner
Redruth 28 - 9 Westcombe Park Report
The Recreation Ground Referee: D May
Cobden Hill Referee: Steve Harland
Weston-super-Mare 25 - 15 Old Colfeians Report
Recreation Ground Referee: Mike Hamlin
Round 15
Goresbrook Referee: Greg Garner
Basingstoke 20 - 49 North Walsham Report
Down Grange Referee: Rhys Davies
Dings Crusaders 17 - 22 Blackheath Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: D May
Launceston 38 - 14 Haywards Heath Report
Polson Bridge Referee: Kevin Stewart
Old Colfeians 37 - 25 Tabard Report
Horn Park Referee: G O'Hara
Southend 31 - 35 Weston-super-Mare Report
Warners Bridge Park Referee: Richard Phillips
Westcombe Park 3 - 22 Old Patesians Report
Goddington Dene Referee: Dean Richards
Round 16
Blackheath 29 - 26 Launceston Report
Rectory Field Referee: Greg Garner
Haywards Heath 15 - 13 Basingstoke Report
Whitemans Green Referee: Steve Harland
North Walsham 27 - 19 Westcombe Park Report
Norwich Road Attendance: 450 Referee: Rob Sawyer
Old Colfeians 17 - 20 Barking Report
Horn Park Referee: P.W Davies
Old Patesians 13 - 10 Redruth Report
Everest Road Referee: Terry Hall
Cobden Hill Referee: D May
Weston-super-Mare 15 - 16 Dings Crusaders Report
Recreation Ground Attendance: 300 Referee: Guy Steel Bodger
Round 17
Barking 18 - 28 Old Patesians Report
Goresbrook Referee: Kevin Stewart
Basingstoke 3 - 49 Blackheath Report
Down Grange Referee: Rowan Kitt
Dings Crusaders 21 - 13 Tabard Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: Richard Parker-Sedgmore
Launceston 30 - 15 Weston-super-Mare Report
Polson Bridge Referee: David Grashoff
Redruth 28 - 27 North Walsham Report
The Recreation Ground Referee: D May
Southend 67 - 22 Old Colfeians Report
Warners Bridge Park Referee: Paul Dickens
Westcombe Park 9 - 25 Haywards Heath Report
Goddington Dene Referee: Greg Garner
Round 18
Blackheath 20 - 8 Westcombe Park Report
Rectory Field Referee: Richard Parker-Sedgmore
Haywards Heath 5 - 19 Redruth Report
Whitemans Green Referee: Eric Woodmason
Old Colfeians 17 - 20 Dings Crusaders Report
Horn Park Referee: Kitt Rowan
Warners Bridge Park Referee: Terry Hall
Weston-super-Mare 16 - 19 Basingstoke Report
Recreation Ground Referee: Steve Harland
North Walsham P - P Old Patesians
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 February 2004.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 March 2004.
Round 19
Barking 17 - 19 North Walsham Report
Goresbrook Referee: Greg Garner
Basingstoke 18 - 10 Tabard Report
Down Grange Referee: Terry Hall
Dings Crusaders 8 - 5 Southend Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: Steve Harland
Launceston 80 - 25 Old Colfeians Report
Polson Bridge Referee: David Sainsbury
Old Patesians 29 - 6 Haywards Heath Report
Everest Road Referee: Richard Parker-Sedgmore
Redruth 28 - 13 Blackheath Report
The Recreation Ground Referee: G O'Hara
Westcombe Park 35 - 19 Weston-super-Mare Report
Goddington Dene Referee: Rowan Kitt
Round 20
Blackheath 62 - 15 Old Patesians Report
Rectory Field Referee: Greg Garner
Dings Crusaders 24 - 27 Barking Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: D May
Haywards Heath 36 - 11 North Walsham Report
Whitemans Green Referee: Tim Miller
Old Colfeians 37 - 57 Basingstoke Report
Horn Park Referee: Richard Parker-Sedgmore
Southend 7 - 53 Launceston Report
Warners Bridge Park Referee: G O'Hara
Tabard 22 - 36 Westcombe Park Report
Cobden Hill Referee: Rhys Davies
Weston-super-Mare 15 - 18 Redruth Report
Recreation Ground Referee: David Grashoff
Rounds 4 & 18 (rescheduled games)
Dings Crusaders 6 - 36 Launceston Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: Rhys Davies
Game rescheduled from 18 October 2003.
North Walsham 26 - 21 Old Patesians Report
Norwich Road Referee: Dale Newitt
Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004.
Round 21
Barking 41 - 7 Haywards Heath Report
Goresbrook Referee: Fred Copstake
Basingstoke 11 - 15 Southend Report
Down Grange Referee: Rhys Davies
Launceston 29 - 3 Dings Crusaders Report
Polson Bridge Referee: Craig Pocock
Old Patesians 29 - 12 Weston-super-Mare Report
Everest Road Referee: Darryl Chapman
The Recreation Ground Referee: Eric Woodmason
Westcombe Park 36 - 10 Old Colfeians Report
Goddington Dene Referee: Paul Dickens
North Walsham P - P Blackheath
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 6 March 2004.
Rounds 18 & 21 (rescheduled games)
North Walsham 7 - 23 Blackheath Report
Norwich Road Referee: Guy Steel Bodger
Game rescheduled from 28 February 2004.
Cobden Hill Referee: Richard Phillips
Game rescheduled from 31 January 2004.
Round 22
Blackheath 26 - 12 Haywards Heath Report
Rectory Field Referee: Stuart Parker
Dings Crusaders 21 - 20 Basingstoke Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: Rowan Kitt
Polson Bridge Referee: Richard Phillips
Old Colfeians 24 - 28 Redruth Report
Horn Park Referee: Rhys Davies
Southend 49 - 10 Westcombe Park Report
Warners Bridge Park Referee: Andrew Bickle
Tabard 15 - 17 Old Patesians Report
Cobden Hill Referee: Ed Turnill
Weston-super-Mare 25 - 33 North Walsham Report
Recreation Ground Referee: D May
Round 23
Goresbrook Referee: David Sainsbury
Basingstoke 26 - 10 Launceston Report
Down Grange Referee: Tim Miller
Haywards Heath 22 - 12 Weston-super-Mare Report
Whitemans Green Referee: Gareth Rees-Smith
North Walsham 39 - 10 Tabard Report
Norwich Road Referee: Terry Hall
The Recreation Ground Referee: Rowan Kitt
Westcombe Park 76 - 10 Dings Crusaders Report
Goddington Dene Referee: Rob Sawyer
Old Patesians P - P Old Colfeians
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 27 March 2004.
Round 23 (rescheduled game)
Old Patesians 67 - 8 Old Colfeians Report
Everest Road Referee: Steve Harland
Game rescheduled from 20 March 2004.
Round 24
Basingstoke 26 - 49 Barking Report
Down Grange Referee: Kevin Stewart
Dings Crusaders 15 - 13 Redruth Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: Guy Steel Bodger
Launceston 30 - 11 Westcombe Park Report
Polson Bridge Referee: Eric Woodmason
Old Colfeians 14 - 24 North Walsham Report
Horn Park Referee: Des Headington
Southend 42 - 22 Old Patesians Report
Warners Bridge Park Referee: Rob Sawyer
Tabard 18 - 17 Haywards Heath Report
Cobden Hill Referee: Craig Pocock
Weston-super-Mare 7 - 29 Blackheath Report
Recreation Ground Referee: Richard Phillips
Round 25
Rectory Field Referee: Richard Parker-Sedgmore
Haywards Heath 36 - 16 Old Colfeians Report
Whitemans Green Referee: G O'Hara
North Walsham 25 - 10 Southend Report
Norwich Road Referee: Keith Lewis
Old Patesians 35 - 22 Dings Crusaders Report
Everest Road Referee: Rowan Kitt
Redruth 13 - 28 Launceston Report
The Recreation Ground Referee: Paul Dix
Westcombe Park 66 - 7 Basingstoke Report
Goddington Dene Referee: Terry Hall
Weston-super-Mare 23 - 11 Barking Report
Recreation Ground Referee: Andrew Bickle
Round 26
Barking 30 - 15 Westcombe Park Report
Goresbrook Referee: Kevin Stewart
Basingstoke 19 - 31 Redruth Report
Down Grange Referee: Steve Harland
Dings Crusaders 13 - 20 North Walsham Report
Landseer Avenue Referee: Terry Hall
Launceston 55 - 17 Old Patesians Report
Polson Bridge Referee: D May
Old Colfeians 22 - 59 Blackheath Report
Horn Park Referee: Tim Miller
Southend 48 - 8 Haywards Heath Report
Warners Bridge Park Referee: Rowan Kitt
Tabard 36 - 38 Weston-super-Mare Report
Cobden Hill Referee: Eric Woodmason
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.
Halifax 16 - 18 Launceston Report
Ovenden Park Referee: Alan Biggs
[ 5]
Total season attendances
Club
Home Games
Total
Average
Highest
Lowest
% Capacity
Barking
0
0
0
0
0
0%
Basingstoke
0
0
0
0
0
0%
Blackheath
0
0
0
0
0
0%
Dings Crusaders
0
0
0
0
0
0%
Haywards Heath
0
0
0
0
0
Launceston
0
0
0
0
0
0%
North Walsham
1
450
450
450
450
38%
Old Colfeians
0
0
0
0
0
Old Patesians
0
0
0
0
0
Redruth
0
0
0
0
0
0%
Southend
0
0
0
0
0
Tabard
0
0
0
0
0
Westcombe Park
0
0
0
0
0
0%
Weston-super-Mare
1
300
300
300
300
3%
^ Due to extremely poor coverage and reporting by the media for this season there is almost no attendance figures.
Individual statistics
Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
[ 8]
Top try scorers
[ 9]
Season records
Team
Largest home win — 66 pts
76 - 10 Westcombe Park at home to Dings Crusaders on 20 March 2004
Largest away win — 54 pts
60 - 6 Westcombe Park away to Basingstoke on 20 December 2003
Most points scored — 80 pts
80 - 25 Launceston at home to Old Colfeians on 7 February 2004
Most tries in a match — 14
Rosslyn Park at home to Basingstoke on 11 January 2003
Most conversions in a match — 10
Launceston at home to Old Colfeians on 7 February 2004
Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2)
Blackheath away to Launceston on 22 November 2003
Blackheath away to Old Colfeians on 17 April 2004
Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple teams
[ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13]
Player
Most points in a match — 35
James O'Brien for Old Patesians at home to Old Colfeians on 27 March 2004
Most tries in a match — 7
James O'Brien for Old Patesians at home to Old Colfeians on 27 March 2004
Most conversions in a match — 10
Simon Porter for Launceston at home to Old Colfeians on 7 February 2004
Most penalties in a match — 6 (x2)
Derek Coates for Blackheath away to Launceston on 22 November 2003
Derek Coates for Blackheath away to Old Colfeians on 17 April 2004
Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple players
[ 14] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17] [ 18]
Attendances
Highest — N/A
N/A
Lowest — N/A
N/A
Highest Average Attendance — N/A
N/A
Lowest Average Attendance — N/A
N/A
As only two attendances were listed due to poor media and club tracking it is therefore impossible to give any insight into attendances for this season.
[ 19]
See also
References
External links
2021–22 teams (final season) Former clubs Seasons
Area League South National 4 South National Division 4 National Division 4 South National League 2 South National Division 3 South National League 2 South
Governing body National teams
International competitions
Competition divisions
European competitions National competitions London and South East competitions Midland competitions Northern competitions South West competitions County competitions Discontinued competitions Related articles Other