The 2001–02 National Division Three South was the second season (fifteenth 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 Lydney and Camberley who were relegated from the 2000–01 National Division Two while promoted teams included Old Colfeians and Old Patesians, champions of London Division 1 and South West Division 1 respectively. The league system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw with the league champions going straight up into National Division Two and the runners up playing a playoff against the runners up from National Division Three North for the final promotion place.
Two Cornish teams dominated the division this season, with Penzance & Newlyn finishing 1 point ahead of Launceston to win the league title. Launceston, as runners up, found themselves in a similar position to that of the previous year, where they needed to win a playoff against the runners up of the 2001–02 National Division Three North. This time the Polson Bridge side were successful, beating Dudley Kingswinford 26 – 0 to clinch promotion and join Penzance & Newlyn in the 2002–03 National Division Two. At the opposite end of the table Cinderford and Clifton would be the two teams to be relegated with both sides dropping to South West Division 1.
Participating teams and locations
Final league table
Results
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2002.
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
Round 19
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2002.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2002.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 2002.
Round 20
Round 15 (rescheduled games)
Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
Game rescheduled from 5 January 2002.
Round 21
Rounds 18 & 19 (rescheduled games)
Game rescheduled from 26 January 2002.
Game rescheduled from 2 February 2002.
Game rescheduled from 26 January 2002.
Round 22
Round 23
Round 19 (rescheduled games)
Game rescheduled from 2 February 2002.
Game rescheduled from 2 February 2002.
Round 24
Round 25
Round 26
Promotion play-off
The league runners up of National Division Three South and North would meet in a playoff game for promotion to National Division Two. Launceston were runners-up in the south and because they had a better league record than north runners-up, Dudley Kingswinford, they hosted the play-off match.
Total season attendances
Not including promotion playoff.
Individual statistics
Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
Top try scorers
Season records
Team
Largest home win — 80 pts
85 - 5 North Walsham at home to Cinderford on 6 October 2001
Largest away win — 37 pts
56 - 19 Penzance & Newyln away to Old Colfeians on 19 January 2002
Most points scored — 85 pts
85 - 5 North Walsham at home to Cinderford on 6 October 2001
Most tries in a match — 14
North Walsham at home to Cinderford on 6 October 2001
Most conversions in a match — 9 (x3) Penzance & Newlyn at home to Old Patesians on 20 October 2001 Penzance & Newlyn at home to Clifton on 16 March 2002 Penzance & Newlyn away to Redruth on 30 March 2002 Most penalties in a match — 6 (x5) Launceston at home to North Walsham on 1 September 2001 Camberley at home to Tabard on 3 November 2001 Barking at home to Redruth on 10 November 2001 North Walsham away to Blackheath on 10 November 2001 Barking at home to Westcombe Park on 12 January 2002 Most drop goals in a match — 2 Lydney at home to Redruth on 22 September 2001