# 2004 Rugby League National Leagues

The 2004 National Leagues (known as the LHF Healthplan National Leagues due to sponsorship) are the second, third and fourth divisions of rugby league in the UK.

## National League One

National League One was won by Leigh Centurions, and won promotion to the Super League after defeating runners-up Whitehaven in the play-off final. Keighley Cougars were relegated to National League Two.

### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Leigh Centurions (P) | 18 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 686 | 407 | +279 | 28 | Semi-final |
| 2 | Whitehaven | 18 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 552 | 312 | +240 | 28 | Semi-final |
| 3 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 18 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 466 | 428 | +38 | 20 | Elimination Semi-final |
| 4 | Oldham | 18 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 482 | 503 | −21 | 20 | Elimination Semi-final |
| 5 | Featherstone Rovers | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 500 | 491 | +9 | 19 | Elimination Semi-final |
| 6 | Doncaster Dragons | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 468 | 502 | −34 | 19 | Elimination Semi-final |
| 7 | Batley Bulldogs | 18 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 503 | 534 | −31 | 16 | |
| 8 | Rochdale Hornets | 18 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 472 | 587 | −115 | 15 | |
| 9 | Halifax | 18 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 426 | 482 | −56 | 14 | Qualification for National League Two Playoff Final |
| 10 | Keighley Cougars (R) | 18 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 366 | 708 | −342 | 2 | Relegated to National League Two |

### Play-offs

| Elimination play-offs | Elimination play-offs | Elimination play-offs | Qualifying/Elimination semifinal | Qualifying/Elimination semifinal | Qualifying/Elimination semifinal | Elimination final | Elimination final | Elimination final | Grand Final2 | Grand Final2 | Grand Final2 |
| | | | Leigh Sports Village | Leigh Sports Village | Leigh Sports Village | | | | | | |
| | | | 1 | Leigh | 30 | | | | Leigh | 32 |
| | | | 2 | Whitehaven | 16 | Recreation Ground | Recreation Ground | Recreation Ground | Whitehaven | Whitehaven | 16 |
| Craven Park | Craven Park | Craven Park | 2 | Whitehaven | 16 | Recreation Ground | Recreation Ground | Recreation Ground | Whitehaven | Whitehaven | 16 |
| Craven Park | Craven Park | Craven Park | | | | Whitehaven | 30 | | | |
| 3 | Hull KR | 63 | | | | Whitehaven | 30 | | | |
| 3 | Hull KR | 63 | Craven Park | Craven Park | Craven Park | Featherstone | Featherstone | | 2 | | |
| 6 | Doncaster | 22 | Craven Park | Craven Park | Craven Park | Featherstone | Featherstone | | 2 | | |
| 6 | Doncaster | 22 | Hull KR | Hull KR | 18 | | | | | | |
| Whitebank | Whitebank | Whitebank | Hull KR | Hull KR | 18 | | | | | | |
| Whitebank | Whitebank | Whitebank | Featherstone | Featherstone | 19 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Oldham | 28 | Featherstone | Featherstone | 19 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Featherstone | 33 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Grand Final

* 10 October 2004
| Leigh Centurions | 32 – 16 | Whitehaven |
| Tries: Cooper (2), Turley, Martyn Goals: Turley (6) Drop goals: Turley (2), Martyn, Rowley | | Tries: Wilson (2), Calvert Goals: Nanyn (2) |
* Halton Stadium, Widnes Attendance: 11,005 Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley)

## National League Two

National League Two was won by Barrow Raiders, and were automatically promoted to National League One. York City Knights reached the play-off final, but lost to Halifax, who retained their National League One status.

### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Barrow Raiders (P) | 18 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 521 | 346 | +175 | 29 | Promoted to National League One |
| 2 | York City Knights | 18 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 630 | 308 | +322 | 26 | Semi-final |
| 3 | Sheffield Eagles | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 569 | 340 | +229 | 24 | Elimination Semi-final |
| 4 | Swinton Lions | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 547 | 460 | +87 | 24 | Elimination Semi-final |
| 5 | Workington Town | 18 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 597 | 479 | +118 | 20 | Elimination Semi-final |
| 6 | Hunslet Hawks | 18 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 475 | 394 | +81 | 20 | Elimination Semi-final |
| 7 | Chorley Lynx | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 460 | 522 | −62 | 16 | |
| 8 | London Skolars | 18 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 361 | 583 | −222 | 7 | |
| 9 | Dewsbury Rams | 18 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 284 | 595 | −311 | 7 | |
| 10 | Gateshead Thunder | 18 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 298 | 715 | −417 | 2 | |

## National League Three

National League Three expanded to a 14-team league, but there was still no automatic promotion and relegation with National League Two. The league was won by Coventry Bears, who also went on to win the play-offs.

### Table

| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | Pts for | Pts agst | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Coventry Bears | 20 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 831 | 385 | 34 | Play-offs |
| 2 | Bradford Dudley Hill | 20 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 942 | 317 | 32 | Play-offs |
| 3 | Woolston Rovers (Warrington) | 20 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 764 | 232 | 31 | Play-offs |
| 4 | Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks | 20 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 631 | 334 | 27 | Play-offs |
| 5 | Bramley Buffaloes | 20 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 592 | 368 | 27 | Play-offs |
| 6 | Hemel Stags | 20 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 721 | 424 | 26 | Play-offs |
| 7 | St Albans Centurions | 20 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 724 | 406 | 26 | Play-offs |
| 8 | Birmingham Bulldogs | 20 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 620 | 624 | 20 | Play-offs |
| 9 | Underbank Rangers | 20 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 671 | 519 | 19 |
| 10 | South London Storm | 20 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 496 | 510 | 18 |
| 11 | Manchester Knights | 20 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 467 | 625 | 10 |
| 12 | Carlisle Centurions | 20 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 290 | 498 | 6 |
| 13 | Gateshead Storm | 20 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 290 | 1041 | 4 |
| 14 | Essex Eels | 20 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 186 | 1492 | 2 |

### Play-offs
#### Week 1

Bradford Dudley Hill 13–30 St Albans Centurions
Coventry Bears 32–26 Birmingham Bulldogs
Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks 38–6 Bramley Buffaloes
Woolston Rovers (Warrington) 36–32 Hemel Stags

#### Week 2

Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks 26–40 Bradford Dudley Hill
St Albans Centurions 18–26 Bramley Buffaloes

#### Week 3

Coventry Bears 32–18 Bramley Buffaloes
Woolston Rovers (Warrington) 32–18 Bradford Dudley Hill

### Grand Final

Coventry Bears 48–24 Woolston Rovers (Warrington)