2012–13 National League 2 South


The 2012–13 National League 2 South was the fourth season of the fourth tier of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into National League 1 while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from National League 2 North for the final promotion place.
Henley Hawks, as champions, were promoted to the third tier for next season, along with Worthing Raiders who finished second. Worthing beat the 2012–13 National League 2 North runners up Stourbridge 28–26 to win the annual promotion playoff. Barking and Lydney were both relegated to National League 3 South West and National League 3 London & SE respectively with Barking winning just one game in what was a very poor season. As well as winning the league Henley Hawks also saw a divisional record attendance at Dry Leas with 3,270 fans turning up to the last game of the season - the championship decider against Worthing Raiders which Henley won 55 - 27 to seal the title for the Oxfordshire club.

Participating teams

Twelve of the teams listed below participated in the 2011–12 National League 2 South season. Barking were relegated from National League 1 after just one season and both Bournemouth and Chinnor were promoted from National League 3 South West. Rugby Lions were on the original fixture list after winning promotion from National League 3 Midlands but during July 2012 they went into liquidation and were unable to participate in the division, leaving fifteen teams instead of the usual sixteen.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/Area
BarkingGoresbrook1,000Barking, London
BournemouthChapel Gate1,500Bournemouth, Dorset
CanterburyMerton Lane1,075 Canterbury, Kent
ChinnorKingsey Road2,000Thame, Oxfordshire
CliftonStation Road2,500 Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol
Dings CrusadersLandseer Avenue1,500Lockleaze, Bristol
Hartpury CollegeCollege Stadium2,000Hartpury, Gloucestershire
Henley HawksDry Leas4,000Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
LauncestonPolson Bridge3,000Launceston, Cornwall
LydneyRegentsholme1,500Lydney, Gloucestershire
RedruthThe Recreation Ground3,500 Redruth, Cornwall
ShelfordThe Davey Field2,000 Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire
Southend SaxonsWarners Bridge ParkSouthend, Essex
Taunton TitansHyde Park, Bathpool2,000 Taunton, Somerset
Worthing RaidersRoundstone Lane1,500 Angmering, West Sussex

League table

Results

Round 1

Bye: Worthing Raiders
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Round 2

Bye: Chinnor
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Round 3

Bye: Redruth
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Round 4

Bye: Hartpury College
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Round 5

Bye: Dings Crusaders
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Round 6

Bye: Shelford
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Round 7

Bye: Henley Hawks
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Round 8

Bye: Southend Saxons
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Round 9

Bye: Clifton
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Round 10

Bye: Taunton Titans
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Round 11

Bye: Launceston
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Round 12

Bye: Lydney
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Round 13

Bye: Bournemouth
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Round 13 (Rescheduled Game)

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Round 14

Bye: Barking
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Round 15

Bye: Canterbury
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Round 16

Bye: Chinnor
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Round 17

Bye: Redruth
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Round 18

Bye: Hartpury College
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Round 19

Bye: Dings Crusaders
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Round 20

Bye: Shelford
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Round 21

Bye: Henley Hawks
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Rounds 16, 19 & 21 (Rescheduled Games)

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Round 22

Bye: Southend Saxons
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Rounds 18 & 19 (Rescheduled Games)

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Round 23

Bye: Clifton
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Round 24

Bye: Taunton Titans
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Rounds 19 & 20 (Rescheduled Games)

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Round 25

Bye: Launceston
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Round 26

Bye: Lydney
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Round 27

Bye: Bournemouth
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Round 28

Bye: Barking
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Round 29

Bye: Canterbury
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Round 30

Bye: Worthing Raiders
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Rounds 20 & 25 (Rescheduled Games)

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Round 25 (Rescheduled Game)

Each season, the runners–up in the National League 2 South and National League 2 North participate in a play–off for promotion into National League 1. The team with the best playing record, in this case northern runners up Stourbridge, would gain the home advantage with southern runners up Worthing Raiders having to travel up to the Midlands for the game.

Total Season Attendances

ClubHome GamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Barking141,4301021656710%
Bournemouth144,50232240020021%
Canterbury142,73319532311318%
Chinnor145,07536342818818%
Clifton143,174227900809%
Dings Crusaders142,16815525010510%
Hartpury College144,10529380015015%
Henley Hawks1410,1347243,27020618%
Launceston148,4746051,32738820%
Lydney145,26037660627925%
Redruth1411,3768131,14062423%
Shelford143,89327846913214%
Southend Saxons142,01814428185
Taunton Titans146,03943191720022%
Worthing Raiders145,77741362832828%

Individual Statistics

Top Try Scorers

Season records

Team

;Largest home win — 78 pts
74 - 0 Taunton Titans at home to Barking on 17 November 2012
;Largest away win — 83 pts
85 - 3 Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012
;Most points scored — 85 pts
85 - 3 Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012
;Most tries in a match — 13
Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012
;Most conversions in a match — 10
Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012
;Most penalties in a match — 7
Hartpury College away to Dings Crusaders on 17 November 2012
Dings Crusaders away to Lydney on 1 December 2012
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Launceston away to Hartpury College on 5 January 2013
Southend Saxons away to Worthing Raiders on 30 March 2013

Player

;Most points in a match — 29
Kieron Lewitt for Launceston at home to Barking on 6 April 2013
;Most tries in a match — 5
Gareth Evans for Hartpury College at home to Clifton on 27 April 2013
;Most conversions in a match — 10
James Combden for Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012
;Most penalties in a match — 7
Luke Cozens for Hartpury College away to Dings Crusaders on 17 November 2012
Danial Trigg for Dings Crusaders away to Lydney on 1 December 2012
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Jake Murphy for Launceston away to Hartpury College on 5 January 2013
Robert Kirby for Southend Saxons away to Worthing Raiders on 30 March 2013

Attendances

;Highest — 3,270
Henley Hawks at home against Worthing Raiders on 4 May 2013
;Lowest — 67
Barking at home against Taunton Titans on 30 March 20131
;Highest Average Attendance — 724
Redruth
;Lowest Average Attendance — 102
Barking