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2003 Rugby League National Leagues

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2003 LHF Healthplan National League
LeagueNational League
National League One
ChampionsSalford City Reds
League leadersSalford City Reds
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from National League OneSalford City Reds
Relegated to National League TwoDewsbury Rams
National League Two
ChampionsKeighley Cougars
League leadersSheffield Eagles
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from National League TwoKeighley Cougars
National League Three
ChampionsWoolston Rovers
League leadersBradford 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.

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

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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.

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Salford City Reds (P) 18 14 2 2 443 438 +5 30 Semi-final
2 Leigh Centurions 18 15 0 3 702 309 +393 30
3 Rochdale Hornets 18 13 0 5 647 477 +170 26 Elimination Semi-final
4 Hull Kingston Rovers 18 10 0 8 401 373 +28 20
5 Oldham 18 7 2 9 404 500 −96 16
6 Whitehaven 18 5 5 8 683 398 +285 15
7 Featherstone Rovers 18 7 0 11 387 478 −91 14
8 Doncaster Dragons 18 6 1 11 429 632 −203 13
9 Batley Bulldogs 18 5 1 12 366 543 −177 11
10 Dewsbury Rams (R) 18 2 1 15 284 751 −467 5 Relegated to National League Two
Source: [1]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Playoffs

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Grand Final

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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

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

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Sheffield Eagles 18 13 0 5 644 326 +318 26 Semi-final
2 Chorley Lynx 18 13 0 5 584 362 +222 26
3 Keighley Cougars (P) 18 13 0 5 488 340 +148 26 Elimination Semi-final
4 York City Knights 18 11 1 6 576 381 +195 23
5 Barrow Raiders 18 11 0 7 546 419 +127 22
6 Hunslet Hawks 18 10 1 7 513 425 +88 21
7 Swinton Lions 18 8 1 9 445 426 +19 17
8 Workington Town 18 4 1 13 393 558 −165 9
9 Gateshead Thunder 18 3 1 14 365 663 −298 7
10 London Skolars 18 1 1 16 222 876 −654 3
Source: [2]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(P) Promoted

Playoffs

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Grand Final

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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

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

Table

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Pos Club Pld W D L Pts for Pts agst Pts Qualification
1 Bradford Dudley Hill 14 13 0 1 545 178 26 Qualifying Semi Final
2 Teesside Steelers 14 10 1 3 343 273 21
3 Woolston Rovers (Warrington) 14 9 1 4 480 244 19 Elimination Play-off
4 St Albans Centurions 14 9 0 5 410 284 18
5 Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks 14 7 1 6 395 246 15
6 Underbank Rangers 14 7 0 7 412 396 14
7 South London Storm 14 6 0 8 274 362 12
8 Coventry Bears 14 4 1 9 273 385 9
9 Manchester Knights 14 3 0 11 228 584 6
10 Hemel Stags 14 0 0 14 160 568 0

Playoffs

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References

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  1. ^ Wilson, Andy (6 October 2003). "Clinch ensures Salford book return ticket to top flight". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b 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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