2012 National Conference League
# 2012 National Conference League

The 2012 National Conference League was the 27th season of the National Conference League, the top league for British amateur rugby league clubs, and was the first season that the league was played in the summer.

The league was expanded to four tiers for the first time, with the new Division Three largely consisting of teams from the former Rugby League Conference National Division.

## Premier Division

The Premier Division featured three new clubs:

* Oulton Raiders, promoted as champions from 2010–11 NCL Division One
* Ince Rose Bridge, promoted from 2010–11 NCL Division One
* Myton Warriors, promoted from 2010–11 NCL Division One

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Wath Brow Hornets (C) | 26 | 17 | 2 | 7 | 655 | 563 | +92 | 36 | Qualification for National Conference League play-offs |
| 2 | Siddal | 26 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 630 | 594 | +36 | 36 | Qualification for National Conference League play-offs |
| 3 | Myton Warriors | 26 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 665 | 429 | +236 | 35 | Qualification for National Conference League play-offs |
| 4 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 26 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 790 | 556 | +234 | 34 | Qualification for National Conference League play-offs |
| 5 | Leigh Miners Rangers | 26 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 750 | 477 | +273 | 33 | Qualification for National Conference League play-offs |
| 6 | West Hull | 26 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 590 | 487 | +103 | 32 | Qualification for National Conference League play-offs |
| 7 | Wigan St Patricks | 26 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 647 | 541 | +106 | 28 | |
| 8 | Hull Dockers | 26 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 628 | 637 | −9 | 26 | |
| 9 | Ince Rose Bridge | 26 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 581 | 607 | −26 | 20 | |
| 10 | East Hull | 26 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 633 | 721 | −88 | 20 | |
| 11 | Skirlaugh | 26 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 439 | 636 | −197 | 19 | |
| 12 | Leigh East (R) | 26 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 604 | 662 | −58 | 18 | Relegated to National Conference League Division Two |
| 13 | Oulton Raiders (R) | 26 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 500 | 765 | −265 | 15 | Relegated to National Conference League Division One |
| 14 | Saddleworth Rangers (R) | 26 | 5 | 2 | 19 | 505 | 942 | −437 | 12 | Relegated to National Conference League Division One |

* ↑ Leigh East were already relegated based on their league position, but were demoted another division due to non-fulfillment of a fixture during the season.

### Play-offs

| Elimination finals | Elimination finals | Elimination finals | Major/Minor semifinal | Major/Minor semifinal | Major/Minor semifinal | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | | | 3 November 2012 | 3 November 2012 | 3 November 2012 | | | | 16 November 2012 | 16 November 2012 | 16 November 2012 |
| | | | 1 | Wath Brow Hornets | 18 | | | | Wath Brow Hornets | 22 |
| | | | 2 | Siddal | 12 | 10 November 2012 | 10 November 2012 | 10 November 2012 | Myton Warriors | Myton Warriors | 6 |
| 27 October 2012 | 27 October 2012 | 27 October 2012 | 2 | Siddal | 12 | 10 November 2012 | 10 November 2012 | 10 November 2012 | Myton Warriors | Myton Warriors | 6 |
| 27 October 2012 | 27 October 2012 | 27 October 2012 | | | | Siddal | 22 | | | |
| 3 | Myton Warriors | 24 | | | | Siddal | 22 | | | |
| 3 | Myton Warriors | 24 | 3 November 2012 | 3 November 2012 | 3 November 2012 | Myton Warriors | Myton Warriors | | 23 | | |
| 6 | West Hull | 22 | 3 November 2012 | 3 November 2012 | 3 November 2012 | Myton Warriors | Myton Warriors | | 23 | | |
| 6 | West Hull | 22 | Myton Warriors | Myton Warriors | 21 | | | | | | |
| 27 October 2012 | 27 October 2012 | 27 October 2012 | Myton Warriors | Myton Warriors | 21 | | | | | | |
| 27 October 2012 | 27 October 2012 | 27 October 2012 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 20 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 38 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 20 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Leigh Miners Rangers | 6 | | | | | | | | | |

## Division One

Division One featured six new clubs:

* Hunslet Warriors, promoted as champions from 2010–11 NCL Division Two
* Castleford Lock Lane, promoted from 2010–11 NCL Division Two
* Egremont Rangers, promoted from 2010–11 NCL Division Two
* Bradford Dudley Hill, relegated from 2010–11 NCL Premier Division
* Wigan St Judes, relegated from 2010–11 NCL Premier Division
* York Acorn, relegated from 2010–11 NCL Premier Division

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Egremont Rangers (C, P) | 26 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 921 | 558 | +363 | 38 | Promoted to National Conference League Premier Division |
| 2 | Castleford Lock Lane (P) | 26 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 679 | 443 | +236 | 38 | Promoted to National Conference League Premier Division |
| 3 | York Acorn (P) | 26 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 701 | 509 | +192 | 38 | Promoted to National Conference League Premier Division |
| 4 | Bradford Dudley Hill | 26 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 850 | 404 | +446 | 37 | |
| 5 | Hunslet Warriors | 26 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 746 | 434 | +312 | 37 | |
| 6 | Rochdale Mayfield | 26 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 759 | 587 | +172 | 31 | |
| 7 | Milford Marlins | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 692 | 438 | +254 | 30 | |
| 8 | Wigan St Judes | 26 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 796 | 662 | +134 | 30 | |
| 9 | Eccles & Salford | 26 | 12 | 1 | 13 | 669 | 718 | −49 | 25 | |
| 10 | Millom | 26 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 536 | 661 | −125 | 20 | |
| 11 | Stanley Rangers | 26 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 534 | 832 | −298 | 17 | |
| 12 | Stanningley (R) | 26 | 8 | 0 | 18 | 426 | 822 | −396 | 16 | Relegated to National Conference League Division Two |
| 13 | Oldham St Annes (R) | 26 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 414 | 872 | −458 | 4 | Relegated to National Conference League Division Two |
| 14 | Castleford Panthers (R) | 26 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 282 | 1065 | −783 | 3 | Relegated to National Conference League Division Two |

## Division Two

Division Two featured five new clubs:

* Normanton Knights, relegated from 2010–11 NCL Division One
* Askam, played in 2011 NCL transitional season
* Widnes West Bank, played in 2011 NCL transitional season
* Dewsbury Celtic, joined from Rugby League Conference National Division
* Featherstone Lions, joined from Rugby League Conference National Division

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | East Leeds (C, P) | 24 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 800 | 313 | +487 | 44 | Promoted to National Conference League Division One |
| 2 | Waterhead Warriors (P) | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 799 | 454 | +345 | 36 | Promoted to National Conference League Division One |
| 3 | Dewsbury Celtic (P) | 24 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 832 | 463 | +369 | 35 | Promoted to National Conference League Division One |
| 4 | Shaw Cross Sharks | 24 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 568 | 382 | +186 | 35 | |
| 5 | Widnes West Bank | 24 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 657 | 488 | +169 | 27 | |
| 6 | Crosfields (R) | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 562 | 594 | −32 | 22 | Relegated to National Conference League Division Three |
| 7 | Normanton Knights | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 499 | 762 | −263 | 22 | |
| 8 | Ovenden | 24 | 10 | 1 | 13 | 544 | 651 | −107 | 21 | |
| 9 | Featherstone Lions (R) | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 565 | 724 | −159 | 21 | Relegated to National Conference League Division Three |
| 10 | Askam | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 511 | 615 | −104 | 20 | |
| 11 | Elland | 24 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 569 | 518 | +51 | 19 | |
| 12 | Eastmoor Dragons | 24 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 524 | 706 | −182 | 9 | |
| 13 | Heworth (R) | 24 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 252 | 1012 | −760 | 1 | Relegated to National Conference League Division Three |

* 1 2 3 Although there was no official relegation to Division Three, Crosfields, Featherstone Lions and Heworth were all demoted due to non-fulfillment of a fixture during the season.

## Division Three

Of the ten clubs in the newly formed Division Three, seven joined from the former Rugby League Conference National Division and two teams were promoted from the RLC Premier Divisions (Bristol Sonics and St Albans Centurions). The tenth club, South Wales Hornets, were a newly founded team. The Grand Final winners were Hemel Stags, defeating Underbank Rangers 17–10.

At the end of the season, all clubs apart from Underbank Rangers and Coventry Bears withdrew from the league for various reasons:

* Hemel Stags, accepted into Championship One
* Bristol Sonics, St Albans Centurions and Nottingham Outlaws, joined newly formed Conference League South
* Bramley Buffaloes and Kippax Knights, applications rejected by NCL; joined Yorkshire Men's League
* Warrington Wizards, merged with Woolston Rovers
* South Wales Hornets, folded

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Underbank Rangers | 18 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 702 | 160 | +542 | 50 | Qualification for NCL Division Three play-offs |
| 2 | Hemel Stags (C) | 18 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 612 | 229 | +383 | 47 | Qualification for NCL Division Three play-offs |
| 3 | Coventry Bears | 18 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 512 | 320 | +192 | 40 | Qualification for NCL Division Three play-offs |
| 4 | Warrington Wizards | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 543 | 402 | +141 | 37 | Qualification for NCL Division Three play-offs |
| 5 | Bramley Buffaloes | 18 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 378 | 402 | −24 | 29 | Qualification for NCL Division Three play-offs |
| 6 | Nottingham Outlaws | 18 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 366 | 620 | −254 | 21 | Qualification for NCL Division Three play-offs |
| 7 | St Albans Centurions | 18 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 362 | 626 | −264 | 20 | |
| 8 | Kippax Knights | 17 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 302 | 454 | −152 | 19 | |
| 9 | Bristol Sonics | 17 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 333 | 583 | −250 | 18 | |
| 10 | South Wales Hornets | 18 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 297 | 611 | −314 | 14 | |

### Play-offs

| Elimination finals | Elimination finals | Elimination finals | Major/Minor semifinal | Major/Minor semifinal | Major/Minor semifinal | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | | | 15 September 2012 | 15 September 2012 | 15 September 2012 | | | | 29 September 2012 | 29 September 2012 | 29 September 2012 |
| | | | 1 | Underbank Rangers | 14 | | | | Hemel Stags | 17 |
| | | | 2 | Hemel Stags | 24 | 22 September 2012 | 22 September 2012 | 22 September 2012 | Underbank Rangers | Underbank Rangers | 10 |
| 9 September 2012 | 9 September 2012 | 9 September 2012 | 2 | Hemel Stags | 24 | 22 September 2012 | 22 September 2012 | 22 September 2012 | Underbank Rangers | Underbank Rangers | 10 |
| 9 September 2012 | 9 September 2012 | 9 September 2012 | | | | Underbank Rangers | 36 | | | |
| 3 | Coventry Bears | 40 | | | | Underbank Rangers | 36 | | | |
| 3 | Coventry Bears | 40 | 15 September 2012 | 15 September 2012 | 15 September 2012 | Coventry Bears | Coventry Bears | | 18 | | |
| 6 | Nottingham Outlaws | 16 | 15 September 2012 | 15 September 2012 | 15 September 2012 | Coventry Bears | Coventry Bears | | 18 | | |
| 6 | Nottingham Outlaws | 16 | Coventry Bears | Coventry Bears | 44 | | | | | | |
| 8 September 2012 | 8 September 2012 | 8 September 2012 | Coventry Bears | Coventry Bears | 44 | | | | | | |
| 8 September 2012 | 8 September 2012 | 8 September 2012 | Warrington Wizards | Warrington Wizards | 34 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Warrington Wizards | 64 | Warrington Wizards | Warrington Wizards | 34 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Bramley Buffaloes | 22 | | | | | | | | | |
