National League 3 Midlands

National League 3 Midlands
Current season or competition:
2016–17 National League 3 Midlands
Sport Rugby union
Instituted 1987
Number of teams 14
Country  England
Holders Scunthorpe (2nd title) (2015–16
promoted to National League 2 North)
Most titles Broadstreet (3 titles)
Website clubs.rfu.com

National League 3 Midlands (known before September 2009 as Midlands 1) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of four leagues at this level, with its counterparts, National League 3 London & SE, National League 3 North and National League 3 South West. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union.

National League 3 Midlands is the highest regional rugby union league in the English Midlands and the champion club is automatically promoted to National League 2 North. The runner-up meets the second placed team of National League 3 North in a play-off with the winner also gaining promotion. Relegated teams drop down to either Midlands 1 East or Midlands 1 West depending on location, and other factors such as the location of relegated and promoted teams in other divisions.

2016–17

Eight of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Broadstreet who were relegated from National 2 North while four teams were promoted into the league - Bedford Athletic, Bridgnorth, Derby and Towcestrians (who were level transferred from the south-west league on promotion) - as well as Sheffield who were level transferred from National League 3 North having finished 7th the previous season. Scunthorpe (champions) and Hinckley (play-off) were promoted into National League 2 North while Old Northamptonians were relegated to Midlands 1 East and Sutton Coldfield and Newport (Salop) both dropped to Midlands 1 West. In order to address a league imbalance due to only one team coming down from National League 2 South, Bromsgrove (who had finished 11th), were level transferred to National League 3 South West.[1]

Participating teams and locations

2016-17 West Midlands National League 3 Midlands clubs
Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Bedford Athletic Putnoe Woods 500 Bedford, Bedfordshire Promoted from Midlands 1 East (champions)
Birmingham & Solihull Portway Portway, Birmingham, West Midlands 7th
Bridgnorth Edgar Davies Ground Bridgnorth, Shropshire Promoted from Midlands 1 West (champions)
Broadstreet Ivor Preece Field 250 (seats) Coventry, West Midlands Relegated from 2015–16 National League 2 North (15th)
Derby Haslams Lane Derby, Derbyshire Promoted from Midlands 1 East (playoff)
Lichfield Cooke Fields Lichfield, Staffordshire 11th
Longton Trentham Fields Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire 8th
Nuneaton Liberty Way 4,314 (514 seats) Nuneaton, Warwickshire 5th
Old Halesonians Wassell Grove Hagley, Stourbridge, Worcestershire 3rd
Peterborough Lions Bretton Woods Peterborough, Cambridgeshire 4th
Sandbach Bradwell Road Sandbach, Cheshire 10th
Sheffield Abbeydale Park 1,000 (100 seats) Sheffield, South Yorkshire Level transfer from National League 3 North (7th)
Syston Barkby Road Queniborough, Leicestershire 6th
Towcestrians Greens Norton Road Towcester, Northamptonshire Promoted from South West 1 East (champions)

2015–16

Despite leading the table for most of the season Hinckley lost 13 – 23 on the final week-end of the season to Scunthorpe, to finish in second place for the second season in a row. Scunthorpe started the day four points behind and finished top due to winning one more match over the season.[2] Two of last seasons promoted teams were relegated; Newport (Salop) to Midland 1 West and Old Northamptonians to Midland 1 East. The third relegated team is Sutton Coldfield.

Participating teams and locations

2015-16 West Midlands National League 3 Midlands clubs
Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Birmingham & Solihull Portway Portway, Birmingham, West Midlands relegated from 2014–15 National League 2 North (14th)
Bromsgrove Finstall Park Bromsgrove, Worcestershire 6th
Hinckley Leicester Road Hinckley, Leicestershire 2nd (lost play-off)
Lichfield Cooke Fields Lichfield, Staffordshire 9th
Longton Trentham Fields Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire 10th
Newport (Salop) The Old Showground Newport, Shropshire promoted from Midlands 1 West (champions)
Nuneaton Liberty Way 4,314 (514 seats) Nuneaton, Warwickshire 4th
Old Halesonians Wassell Grove Hagley, Stourbridge, Worcestershire 5th
Old Northamptonians Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion Northampton, Northamptonshire promoted from Midlands 1 East (play-off)
Peterborough Lions Bretton Woods Peterborough, Cambridgeshire 3rd
Sandbach Bradwell Road Sandbach, Cheshire 8th
Scunthorpe Heslam Park Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire 7th
Sutton Coldfield Roger Smoldon Ground Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands 11th
Syston Barkby Road Queniborough, Leicestershire promoted from Midlands 1 East (champions)

Final league table

National League 3 Midlands 2015–16
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1 Scunthorpe (C) 26 23 0 3 766 343 423 14 2 108
2 Hinckley (P) 26 22 1 3 790 343 447 16 2 108
3 Old Halesonians 26 18 0 8 630 408 222 13 6 91
4 Peterborough Lions 26 15 0 11 593 464 129 10 4 69
5 Nuneaton 26 14 0 12 573 463 110 8 5 69
6 Syston 26 13 0 13 538 562 –24 11 4 67
7 Birmingham & Solihull 26 13 0 13 500 475 25 8 6 66
8 Longton 26 11 1 14 530 577 –47 12 3 61
9 Bromsgrove 26 12 0 14 559 670 –111 8 3 59
10 Sandbach 26 11 0 15 546 591 –45 9 4 57
11 Lichfield 26 9 0 17 600 683 –83 12 7 55
12 Old Northamptonians (R) 26 9 0 17 498 702 –204 6 7 49
13 Newport (Salop) (R) 26 8 0 18 451 738 –287 6 0 38
14 Sutton Coldfield (R) 26 3 0 23 412 967 –555 2 4 18
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 27 April 2016
Source: "National League 3 Midlands". England Rugby. 

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 Midland, and National League 3 North participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 North. The team with the best playing record, in this case Hinckley, host the match and their opponents are Wirral.

Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
Hinckley 26 22 1 3 790 343 447 16 2 108
Wirral Rugby Club 26 19 0 7 677 486 191 13 4 93
30 April 2016
15:00
Hinckley 33 – 20 Wirral
Report
Leicester Road
Attendance: 650

2014–15

2013–14

2012–13

2011–12

2010–11

2009–10

First season as National 3 Midlands

2007–08

National League 3 Midlands honours

Midlands Division One
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
1987–88 11 10 Stoke-on-Trent Barkers Butts Stafford, Hinckley, Peterborough [3]
1988–89 11 10 Walsall Hereford Wolverhampton [3]
1989–90 11 10 Hereford Birmingham & Solihull Paviors in last place (no relegation) [3]
1990–91 11 10 Towcestrians Barkers Butts Paviors, Stockwood Park, Sutton Coldfield [4]
1991–92 11 10 Stoke-on-Trent Syston Camp Hill [5]
1992–93 14 13 Birmingham & Solihull Barkers Butts Newark, Paviors, Vipers [6]

The top six teams from Midlands Division One and the top six from North Division One were combined to create National 5 North. Midland Division One was now the name of a tier six league and was one of two feeder leagues for National 5 North, the other being North Division One.

National Five North
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
1993–94 13 12 Rotherham Preston Grasshoppers Durham City, Bradford & Bingley [7]
1994–95 13 12 Walsall Kendal Barkers Butts, Hereford [8]
1995–96 13 12 Wharfedale Worcester Broughton Park [9]

The leagues were reorganised at the end of 1995–96 with the top four divisions increased in size. The fifth tier National 5 North was split and reverted to Midland Division One and North Division One. Wharfedale, the champions, were promoted to National Division Three and all of the other teams, bar Broughton Park, were transferred to the fourth tier, National 4 North.[9]

Midlands Division One
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
1996–97 17 16 Hinckley Burton Stafford, Leamington, Stockwood Park [10]
1997–98 17 16 Whitchurch Banbury Derby [11]
1998–99 17 16 Bedford Athletic Scunthorpe Leighton Buzzard, Mansfield, Wolverhampton [12]
1999–00 17 16 Dudley Kingswinford Scunthorpe Belgrave, Lichfield, Hinckley, Syston [13]
2000–01 12 22 Scunthorpe Leicester Lions Stoke-on-Trent, Burton, Newbold-on-Avon [14]
2001–02 12 22 Broadstreet Walsall Banbury, Camp Hill, Hereford [15]
2002–03 12 22 Longton Luctonians Barkers Butts, Kenilworth, Hinckley [16]
2003–04 12 22 Bedford Athletic Kettering Luton, Old Laurentians, Spalding [17]
2004–05 12 22 Leicester Lions Kettering Mansfield, Broadstreet, Derby [18]
2005–06 12 22 Rugby Lions Bedford Athletic Bromsgrove, Burton, Kettering [19]
2006–07 12 22 Luton Dudley Kingswinford Market Bosworth, Walsall [20]
2007–08 12 22 Loughborough Students Luctonians Dudley Kingswinford, Scunthorpe, Dunstablians [21]
2008–09 12 22 Broadstreet Chester No relegation due to league restructuring [22]
National League 3 Midlands
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
2009–10 14 26 No champion [n 1] Luctonians, Hinckley Bedford Athletic, Malvern [25]
2010–11 14 26 Bromsgrove Sheffield Tigers Burton, Kenilworth, Peterborough Lions [26]
2011–12 14 26 Rugby Lions[n 2] Dudley Kingswinford Manchester, Old Northamptonians, Hereford [28]
2012–13 14 26 Ampthill Sutton Coldfield Derby, Mansfield [29]
2013–14 14 26 Broadstreet Sutton Coldfield Bedford Athletic, Syston, Newport (Salop) [30]
2014–15 14 26 South Leicester Hinckley Dudley Kingswinford, Burton, Bournville [31]
2015–16 14 26 Scunthorpe Hinckley Sutton Coldfield, Newport (Salop), Old Northamptonians [32]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.
  1. ↑ A breach of regulations by Ampthill during the Luctonians game on 1 May 2010 led to Ampthill being denied promotion and transferred to National League 3 London & SE. By the time of the ruling Luctonians had already won their play-off against the runner-up of National 3 North so Hinckley were also promoted, despite finishing third.[23][24]
  2. ↑ Rugby Lions went into liquidation during the summer due to unpaid debts. The club was thrown out of the league, rejoining the league system in 2013–14 in Midlands 5 West (South).[27]

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the league runners-up of National League 3 North and National League 3 Midlands for the third and final promotion place to National League 2 North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage and the home team has won twelve of the sixteen ties and the Northern teams have been stronger with twelve wins to the Midlands four.

National League 3 (North v Midlands) promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance Reference
2000–01 Blaydon (N) 31–12 Leicester Lions Crow Trees, Swalwell, County Durham [33]
2001–02 Hull Ionians (N) 35–22 Walsall Brantingham Park, Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire [34][35]
2002–03 Luctonians 3–17 Macclesfield (N) Mortimer Park, Kingsland, Herefordshire 1,000 [36][37]
2003–04 Cleckheaton (N) 23–10 Kettering Cleckheaton Sports Club, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire 900 [38][39]
2004–05 Hull Ionians (N) 19–18 Kettering Brantingham Park, Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire [40][41]
2005–06 Bedford Athletic 17–24 West Park St Helens (N) Putnoe Woods, Bedford, Bedfordshire [42][43][44]
2006–07 Beverley (N) 7–3 Dudley Kingswinford Beaver Park, Beverley, East Yorkshire [45][46]
2007–08 Huddersfield (N) 22–7 Luctonians Lockwood Park, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire [47][48]
2008–09 Hull (N) 40–15 Chester Ferens Ground, Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire [49][50]
2009–10 Stockport (N) 10–18 Luctonians The Memorial Ground, Stockport, Greater Manchester 350 [51][52]
2010–11 Sheffield Tigers 16–14 Chester (N) Dore Moor, Sheffield, South Yorkshire [53][54]
2011–12 Dudley Kingswinford 36–27 Rossendale (N) Heath Brook, Kingswinford, West Midlands 1,000 [55][56]
2012–13 Sutton Coldfield 13–28 Harrogate (N) Roger Smoldon Ground, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands 650 [57][58][59]
2013–14 Stockport (N) 52–22 Sutton Coldfield The Memorial Ground, Stockport, Greater Manchester [60][61]
2014–15 Sandal (N) 20–10 Hinckley Milnthorpe Green, Sandal Magna, Wakefield, West Yorkshire 200 [62][63]
2015–16 Hinckley 33–20 Wirral (N) Leicester Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire 650 [64][65]
Green background represent the promoted teams. (M) stands for the Midlands teams.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bromsgrove Rugby Club lose appeal against level transfer to South West leagues". Worcester News. 3 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "Drama as Hinckley are denied at death". Rugby Paper (396). 17 April 2016. p. 34.
  3. 1 2 3 Williams, Tony; Mitchell, Bill (1990). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91. Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. pp. 327–442. ISBN 1 873057 024.
  4. ↑ Williams, Tony; Mitchell, Bill. Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1991–92. Taunton: Football Directories. pp. 343–462. ISBN 1 869833 15 5.
  5. ↑ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 170–185. ISBN 0 7472 7907 1.
  6. ↑ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 151–167. ISBN 0 7472 7891 1.
  7. ↑ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 163–179. ISBN 0 7472 7850 4.
  8. ↑ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 179–195. ISBN 0 7472 7816 4.
  9. 1 2 Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 150–163. ISBN 0 7472 7771 0.
  10. ↑ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 87–100. ISBN 0 7472 7732 X.
  11. ↑ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998–99. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 84–98. ISBN 0 7472 7653 6.
  12. ↑ "Midlands 1 1998–1999". England Rugby. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "Midlands 1 1999–2000". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  14. ↑ "Midlands 1 2000–2001". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  15. ↑ "Midlands 1 2001–2002". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  16. ↑ "Midlands 1 2002–2003". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  17. ↑ "Midlands 1 2003–2004". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  18. ↑ "Midlands 1 2004–2005". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  19. ↑ http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/midlands-division/2005-2006/
  20. ↑ http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/midlands-division/2006-2007/
  21. ↑ http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/midlands-division/2007-2008/
  22. ↑ http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/midlands-division/2008-2009/
  23. ↑ http://www.rolling-maul.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4062&PN=2&title=ampthill-appeal
  24. ↑ Hereford Times: Site Logo
  25. ↑ http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/midlands-division/2009-2010/
  26. ↑ http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/midlands-division/2010-2011/
  27. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-18901930
  28. ↑ http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/midlands-division/2011-2012/
  29. ↑ http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/midlands-division/2012-2013/
  30. ↑ http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/midlands-division/2013-2014/
  31. ↑ http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/midlands-division/2014-2015/
  32. ↑ http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/midlands-division/2015-2016/
  33. ↑ "North Play Offs 2000–2001". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  34. ↑ "North Play Offs 2001–2002". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  35. ↑ "Rugby Union: Errors end Walsall's hopes of rapid return; Hull Ionians 35 Walsall 22.". The Birmingham Post. 13 May 2002.
  36. ↑ "North Play Offs 2002–2003". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  37. ↑ "North/Mid Play off Match overview Luctonians VS Macclesfield". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2003.
  38. ↑ "North Play Offs 2003–2004". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  39. ↑ "Cleckheaton 23 Kettering 10". Telegraph & Argus. 26 April 2004.
  40. ↑ "North Play Offs 2004–2005". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  41. ↑ "North/Mid Play off Match overview Hull Ionians v Kettering". Rugby Statbunker. 30 April 2005.
  42. ↑ "Midland Play Offs 2005–2006". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  43. ↑ "Well done to West Park on their fine achievement". Liverpool Echo. 3 May 2006.
  44. ↑ "North/Mid Play off Match overview Bedford Athletic VS West Park St Helens". Rugby Statbunker. 29 April 2006.
  45. ↑ "North Play Offs 2006–2007". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  46. ↑ "DUDLEY-KO'D". Worcester News. 3 May 2007.
  47. ↑ "North Play Offs 2007–2008". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  48. ↑ "Rugby Union: WE'RE GOING UP! Joy as Huddersfield clinch National III berth RUGBY UNION PLAY-OFF.". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 26 April 2008.
  49. ↑ "North Play Offs 2008–2009". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  50. ↑ "Hull clinch promotion". Hull Daily Mail. 27 April 2009.
  51. ↑ "North Play Offs 2009–2010". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  52. ↑ "STOCKPORT FALL AT THE FINAL FENCE". Stockport RUFC. 8 May 2010.
  53. ↑ "North Play Offs 2010–2011". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  54. ↑ "Promotion party as wind-swept Tigers blow away rivals in play-off thriller". The Star. 17 May 2011.
  55. ↑ "North Play Offs 2011–2012". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  56. ↑ "Dudley Kingswinford 36 Rossendale 27". Dudley Kingswinford RFC. 28 April 2012.
  57. ↑ "North Play Offs 2012–2013". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  58. ↑ "Rugby Union: Harrogate secure promotion at Sutton Coldfield". Harrogate Advertiser. 27 April 2013.
  59. ↑ "Where are you going - where did you go? RUGBY UNION". Non League Matters. 27 April 2013.
  60. ↑ "North Play Offs 2013–2014". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  61. ↑ "Sutton's promotion hopes are shattered by solid Stockport". Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer. 1 May 2014.
  62. ↑ "North Play Offs 2014–2015". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  63. ↑ "Hinckley go down fighting". Hinckley RFC. 25 April 2015.
  64. ↑ "North Play Off 2015–2016". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  65. ↑ "Hinckley gain promotion to N2N in final countdown". Hinckley RFC. 30 April 2016.
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