The 2007–08 National Division Three South was the eighth season (21st 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 Barking who were relegated from the 2006–07 National Division Two while promoted sides included London Scottish (champions) and Ealing (playoffs) who came up from London Division 1, Mounts Bay who came up as champions of South West Division 1 and Luton who were Midlands Division 1 champions.[1][2][3][4] In the case of Luton, Midlands league champions usually moved up to National Division Three North but due to number imbalances in that division, for this season, they would go into National Division Three South instead. 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 Division Two while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from National Division Three North (at the home ground of the club with the superior league record) for the final promotion place.
In what was a very competitive league there were a number of teams tipped to be promoted. In the end, it was Mounts Bay who came out on top as champions 12 points clear and sealing promotion to the 2008–09 National Division Two – part of an sequence of six successive promotions stretching back to Cornwall 1 in 2003–04.[5][6] The battle for the runner up spot was keenly contested between Cinderford and newly promoted Ealing Trailfinders but in the end the Gloucestershire side took second spot despite losing their final game to the west Londoners. Cinderford would join Mounts Bay in National Division Two after defeating 2007–08 National Division Three North runners up Darlington Mowden Park in a very close playoff game viewed by over 2,000 spectators at Dockham Road.[7][8] At the other end of the table newly promoted Luton went straight back down as the worst side in the division followed by North Walsham. The third and final relegation spot was very closely contested but eventually Clifton went down just 1 point behind relegation rivals Barking and Havant – an away victory against relegation rivals Havant not being enough as Barking had a shock win against champions Mount Bays to keep them up instead.[5] Luton and North Walsham would drop to London Division 1 while Clifton would go into South West Division 1.[9][10]
Updated to match(es) played on 19-04-2008. Source: Statbunker (C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes:
↑The Athletic Ground capacity had been around 7,300 in the 1990s but had reduced to around 4,500 by the time London Scottish and Richmond had returned to national league rugby.[13]
↑Canterbury deducted two points for unnecessarily going to uncontested scrums in their match against Mounts Bay on 16 February 2008.[15]
The league runners up of National Division Three South and North would meet in a playoff game for promotion to National Division Two. Cinderford were the southern division runners up and as they had a superior league record than northern runners-up, Darlington Mowden Park, they hosted the play-off match.
↑Note that 15 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 Cinderford on 6 October 2007, Havant on 3 November 2007 and Lydney on 5 January 2008.
↑Missing home attendances v Mounts Bay on 6 October 2007 and North Walsham on 10 November 2007.
↑Missing home attendances v Mounts Bay on 23 February 2008 and Ealing Trailfinders on 8 March 2008.
↑Missing home attendance v Havant on 9 February 2008.
↑Missing home attendance v Cinderford on 22 December 2007.
↑Missing home attendances v Havant on 15 September 2007, Rosslyn Park on 29 September 2007 and North Walsham on 1 December 2007.
↑Missing home attendances v Ealing Trailfinders on 15 December 2007 and Bridgwater & Albion on 9 February 2008.
↑Missing home attendance v Luton on 27 October 2007.
61 – 0 Cinderford at home to North Walsham on 22 September 2007
Largest away win – 39 pts
39 – 0 Cinderford away to Havant on 27 October 2007
Most points scored – 71 pts
71 – 17 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
Most tries in a match – 10 (x4)
Cinderford at home to North Walsham on 22 September 2007
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
London Scottish at home to Luton on 19 January 2008
Mounts Bay v Luton on 15 March 2008
Most conversions in a match – 9 (x2)
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
Mounts Bay v Luton on 15 March 2008
Most penalties in a match – 6 (x2)
Mounts Bay away to Ealing Trailfinders on 3 November 2007
Luton at home to North Walsham on 22 December 2007
Lee Jarvis for Mounts Bay away to Bridgwater & Albion on 8 September 2007
Most tries in a match – 4 (x2)
Stuart Peel for London Scottish at home to Barking on 20 October 2007 Gert De Kock for Canterbury at home to Barking on 12 April 2008
Most conversions in a match – 9 (x2)
Lee Jarvis for Mounts Bay at home to Barking on 1 September 2007 Ben Ward for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Clifton on 20 October 2007
Most penalties in a match – 6 (x3)
Tim Mosey for Mounts Bay away to Ealing Trailfinders on 3 November 2007 Lee Jarvis for Mounts Bay at home to Lydney on 10 November 2007 Andy Davey for Luton at home to North Walsham on 22 December 2007
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Clifton R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.135.
↑Bill Mitchell, ed. (1994). "Havant RFC (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1994–95. Taunton: Tony Williams Publications. p.236.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Richmond F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.112.
↑Bill Mitchell, ed. (1994). "Lydney R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1994–95. Taunton: Tony Williams Publications. p.308.
↑"Park News 72"(PDF). Rosslyn Park FC. Archived from the original(PDF) on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008.
Lee Jarvis (Mounts Bay)
