The 1947 National League Division Two was the second post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. In the previous season, the league was known as the Northern League but the addition of Bristol Bulldogs and a third tier saw the name revert to the one used 8 years previously.
As well as Bristol Bulldogs, Wigan Warriors were new entrants bringing the total teams to 8. Middlesbrough Bears won the title. In fact the entire top five were unchanged from the previous season.
Norwich Stars 38-year-old rider Cyril Anderson died instantly on 16 August, during a best pairs event at Norwich. Anderson was leading when he skidded and was hit by a rider from behind Remarkably another rider died the same day, 27-year-old Wembley rider Nelson 'Bronco' Wilson received fatal injuries in a National Trophy match.
Final Table Division Two Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Middlesbrough Bears 28 20 0 8 402 Sheffield Tigers 28 17 2 9 363 Norwich Stars 28 16 0 12 324 Birmingham Brummies 28 14 0 14 285 Newcastle Diamonds 28 12 2 14 266 Bristol Bulldogs 28 11 0 17 227 Wigan Warriors 28 9 2 17 208 Glasgow Tigers 28 10 0 18 20
Fixtures & results A fixtures
B fixtures
British Speedway Cup (Div 2) The British Speedway Cup for Division Two was run in a league format. Sheffield Tigers came out on top.
Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Sheffield Tigers 14 11 0 3 222 Middlesbrough Bears 14 9 0 5 183 Norwich Stars 14 7 0 7 144 Wigan Warriors 14 7 0 7 145 Newcastle Diamonds 14 6 0 8 126 Bristol Bulldogs 14 6 0 8 127 Glasgow Tigers 14 5 0 9 108 Birmingham Brummies 14 5 0 9 10
Top five riders (league only) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Jeff Lloyd Newcastle 10.67 2= Stan Williams Sheffield 10.40 2= Bert Spencer Norwich 10.40 4 Frank Hodgson Middlesbrough 10.14 5 Kid Curtis Middlesbrough 9.86
National Trophy The 1947 Division 2 National Trophy (sponsored by the Daily Mail) was the Knockout Cup for Division 2 teams. Middlesbrough and Norwich qualified for the quarter finals of the main National Trophy by virtue of finishing 1st & 2nd.
First round Date Team one Score Team two13/06Bristol 62–45 Wigan07/06Wigan 73–34Bristol04/06Glasgow White City 60–46Newcastle02/06Newcastle 63–45Glasgow White City12/06Middlesbrough 81–27Birmingham07/06Birmingham 50–57Middlesbrough12/06Sheffield 57–51Norwich07/06Norwich 60–47Sheffield Semifinals Date Team one Score Team two03/07Middlesbrough73–34Wigan28/06Wigan45–63Middlesbrough30/06Newcastle56–52 Norwich28/06/Norwich63–44Newcastle Final First leg
Second leg
Middlesbrough were National Trophy Division 2 Champions, winning on aggregate 127–88.
Riders & final averages
Birmingham
8.65 7.93 7.54 6.91 6.46 6.00 5.83 5.54 5.24 5.14 4.81 3.80 2.77 1.00
Bristol
9.50 8.06 7.27 6.86 6.25 5.89 5.67 5.25 4.28 3.76
Glasgow
9.28 7.76 6.62 6.29 5.91 5.49 5.41 5.27 4.74 4.55 3.92 3.43 2.88
Middlesbrough
10.14 9.86 9.54 7.49 6.67 6.57 5.67 5.04 4.34
Newcastle
10.67 8.99 8.75 8.54 6.59 4.78 4.00 2.83 2.00 1.63 1.14 0.71
Norwich
10.40 (Horace Burke) 8.43 7.38 6.98 6.86 6.36 6.27 6.15 5.73 5.19 4.41 4.27
Sheffield
10.40 9.11 8.83 8.63 7.42 6.40 6.24 6.00 5.27 4.50 4.41
Wigan
9.38 7.69 6.81 5.79 5.72 5.43 4.97 3.80 3.66 2.84
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)
References