2003 Rugby League National Leagues

Last updated

2003 LHF Healthplan National League
League National League
National League One
Champions Salford City Reds
League leaders Salford City Reds
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from National League One Salford City Reds
Relegated to National League Two Dewsbury Rams
National League Two
Champions Keighley Cougars
League leaders Sheffield Eagles
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from National League Two Keighley Cougars
National League Three
Champions Woolston Rovers
League leaders Bradford Dudley Hill

The 2003 National Leagues (known as the LHF National Leagues due to sponsorship) are the second, third and fourth divisions of rugby league played in Britain.

Contents

National Leagues One and Two were made up of the 18 clubs that competed in the Northern Ford Premiership during the previous season, plus the London Skolars and the York City Knights. National League Three consisted of ten additional teams from the amateur leagues. There was no automatic promotion and relegation with National League Two, but the RFL hoped to introduce this in the future.

National League One

National League One was won by Salford City Reds, and won promotion to the Super League after defeating runners-up the Leigh Centurions in the play-off final. The Dewsbury Rams were relegated to National Two.

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Redscolours.svg Salford City Reds (P)181422443438+530Semi-final
2 Leigh colours.svg Leigh Centurions 181503702309+39330
3 Rochdale colours.svg Rochdale Hornets 181305647477+17026Elimination Semi-final
4 HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers 181008401373+2820
5 Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham 18729404500−9616
6 Haven colours.svg Whitehaven 18558683398+28515
7 Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers 187011387478−9114
8 Doncaster colours.svg Doncaster Dragons 186111429632−20313
9 Batley colours.svg Batley Bulldogs 185112366543−17711
10 Ramscolours.svg Dewsbury Rams (R)182115284751−4675Relegated to National League Two
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Playoffs

Elimination play-offsQualifying/Elimination semifinalElimination final Grand Final
The Willows Halton Stadium
1 Redscolours.svg Salford 26 Redscolours.svg Salford 31
2 Leigh colours.svg Leigh Centurions 18 Leigh Sports Village Leigh colours.svg Leigh Centurions 14
Spotland
Leigh colours.svg Leigh Centurions 42
3 Rochdale colours.svg Rochdale 40
Spotland HKRcolours.svg Hull KR 12
6 Haven colours.svg Whitehaven 38
Rochdale colours.svg Rochdale 26
Craven Park
HKRcolours.svg Hull KR 30
4 HKRcolours.svg Hull KR 38
5 Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham 24

Grand Final

5 October 2003
Salford City Reds 31 – 14 Leigh Centurions
Tries: Hunte (2), Beverley, Littler
Goals: Charles (6), Blakeley
Drop goals: Blakeley 		[1]
Tries: Richardson, Halliwell, Swann
Goals: Turley
Halton Stadium, Widnes
Attendance: 9,186 [2]
Referee: Richard Silverwood

National League Two

National League Two was won by the Sheffield Eagles, but lost to the Keighley Cougars in the play-off final.

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles 181305644326+31826Semi-final
2 Blackpoolcolours.svg Chorley Lynx 181305584362+22226
3 Cougscolours.svg Keighley Cougars (P)181305488340+14826Elimination Semi-final
4 Yorkcolours.svg York City Knights 181116576381+19523
5 Barrowcolours.svg Barrow Raiders 181107546419+12722
6 Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet Hawks 181017513425+8821
7 Swintoncolours.svg Swinton Lions 18819445426+1917
8 Workingtoncolours.svg Workington Town 184113393558−1659
9 Gthundercolours.svg Gateshead Thunder 183114365663−2987
10 Skolscolours.svg London Skolars 181116222876−6543
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(P) Promoted

Playoffs

Elimination play-offsQualifying/Elimination semifinalElimination final Grand Final
Don Valley Stadium Halton Stadium
1 Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield 31 Cougscolours.svg Keighley 13
2 Blackpoolcolours.svg Chorley 14 Bloomfield Road Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield 11
Cougar Park
Blackpoolcolours.svg Chorley 12
3 Cougscolours.svg Keighley 25
Cougar Park Cougscolours.svg Keighley 45
6 Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet 12
Cougscolours.svg Keighley 35
Bootham Crescent
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow 26
4 Yorkcolours.svg York 30
5 Barrowcolours.svg Barrow 50

Grand Final

5 October 2003
Keighley Cougars 13 – 11 Sheffield Eagles
Tries: M. Foster, Robinson
Goals: Ashton (2)
Drop goals: Firth 		[3]
Tries: O'Reilly
Goals: G. Brown (3)
Drop goals: Reilly
Halton Stadium, Widnes
Attendance: 9,186 [2]
Referee: Peter Taberner

National League Three

National League Three was won by Bradford Dudley Hill, with the play-offs being won by the Woolston Rovers (Warrington).

Table

PosClubPldWDLPts forPts agstPtsQualification
1 Bradford Dudley Hill 14130154517826Qualifying Semi Final
2 Teesside Steelers 14101334327321
3 Woolston Rovers (Warrington)1491448024419Elimination Play-off
4 St Albans Centurions 1490541028418
5 Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks 1471639524615
6 Underbank Rangers 1470741239614
7 South London Storm 1460827436212
8 Coventry Bears 144192733859
9 Manchester Knights 1430112285846
10 Hemel Stags 1400141605680

Playoffs

References

  1. ↑ Wilson, Andy (6 October 2003). "Clinch ensures Salford book return ticket to top flight". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  2. 1 2 Tim Butcher; Daniel Spencer (November 2011). Gillette Rugby League Yearbook 2011–12. League Publications Limited. ISBN   978-1-901347-24-1.
  3. ↑ "Cougars edge Eagles". BBC Sport. 5 October 2003. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
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