The 1949 National League Division Two was the fourth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.
Summary The League was extended to 12 teams with the addition of new entrants Walthamstow Wolves and Ashfield Giants. Coventry Bees, Southampton Saints and Cradley Heath moved up from Division Three, with Cradley changing their nickname from Cubs to Heathens in the process. Two sides were missing from those that finished the previous season. Birmingham Brummies moved up to Division One and Middlesbrough Bears dropped out, although the promotion and most of their riders moved to the renamed Newcastle Magpies whose riders and promotion in turn had moved to Ashfield
The Division Two Anniversary (League) Cup was discontinued as the expanded league programme gave the teams 44 league fixtures. Bristol Bulldogs retained their title.
Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Bristol Bulldogs 44 34 1 9 692 Sheffield Tigers 44 29 1 14 593 Norwich Stars 44 27 0 17 544 Cradley Heath Heathens 44 25 0 19 505 Edinburgh Monarchs 44 24 0 20 486 Walthamstow Wolves 44 21 3 20 457 Southampton Saints 44 21 3 20 458 Glasgow Tigers 44 20 0 24 409 Fleetwood Flyers 44 18 1 25 3710 Newcastle Magpies 44 17 1 26 3511 Ashfield Giants 44 12 1 31 2512 Coventry Bees 44 10 1 33 21
Fixtures & results A fixtures
B fixtures
Top Five Riders (League only) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Bruce Semmens Sheffield 10.47 2 Billy Hole Bristol 10.11 3 Jack Mountford Bristol 9.75 4 Roger Wise Bristol 9.56 5 Alan Hunt Cradley Heath 9.45
National Trophy Stage Two For Stage One - see Stage One For Stage Three - see Stage Three
The 1949 National Trophy was the 12th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third division clubs, stage two was for the second division clubs and stage three was for the top-tier clubs. The winner of stage one would qualify for stage two and the winner of stage two would qualify for the third and final stage. Bristol won stage two and therefore qualified for stage three.
Second Division qualifying first round Date Team one Score Team two07/06 Glasgow Ashfield 53-55 Cradley Heath03/06 Cradley Heath 56-52 Glasgow Ashfield15/06 Glasgow White City 67-41 Norwich18/06 Norwich 71-36 Glasgow White City22/06 Fleetwood 69-38 Stoke Hanley18/06 Stoke Hanley 56-52 Fleetwood17/06 Bristol 73-35 Sheffield16/06 Sheffield 53-55 Bristol31/05 Southampton 52-56 Walthamstow30/05 Walthamstow 63-44 Southampton
Second Division Qualifying Second round Date Team one Score Team two25/06 Coventry 42-66 Bristol24/06 Bristol 80-28 Coventry02/07 Edinburgh 57-51 Fleetwood29/06 Fleetwood 61-44 Edinburgh02/07 Norwich 78-30 Newcastle27/06 Newcastle 64-41 Norwich24/06 Cradley Heath 66-41 Walthamstow20/06 Walthamstow 64-39 Cradley Heath08/07replay Cradley Heath 71-37 Walthamstow04/07replay Walthamstow 62-44 Cradley Heath
Second Division Qualifying semifinals Date Team one Score Team two23/07 Norwich 70.5-37.5 Cradley Heath22/07 Cradley Heath 67-41 Norwich13/07 Fleetwood 46-60 Bristol08/07 Bristol 73-35 Fleetwood
Final First leg
Second leg
Riders & final averages
Ashfield
9.33 8.85 7.56 4.96 4.62 4.15 3.66 3.65 3.18 3.18
Bristol
10.11 9.75 9.56 9.19 9.00 7.51 6.31 5.40 4.14 3.56
Coventry
7.70 6.35 6.30 5.91 5.76 5.63 5.00 4.79 4.32 4.00 3.83 3.74 3.17
Cradley Heath
9.45 8.59 7.35 7.23 6.72 5.76 5.64 5.63 5.56 5.52 4.21
Edinburgh
9.04 8.81 7.59 6.98 6.35 5.77 5.35 5.04 4. 3.66 3. 3. 2.05
Fleetwood
8.67 8.45 8.12 8.85 6.14 4.96 4.00 3.95 3.59 3.14 3.06 2.90
Glasgow
8.35 8.17 8.00 7.51 7.20 6.40 5.95 5.93 5.08 4.83 3.71 2.64 2.40
Newcastle
8.12 8.10 7.91 7.12 5.61 5.57 5.13 3.77 3.48
Norwich
(Horace Burke) 8.96 8.81 8.26 7.22 7.20 7.11 6.94 6.37 5.70 5.02 3.37
Sheffield
10.47 9.29 8.70 8.59 6.27 6.09 5.94 5.77 4.98 4.47 3.62
Southampton
8.24 7.30 7.12 6.71 5.95 4.91 4.87 4.74 3.67 3.23
Walthamstow
9.10 8.11 8.07 7.52 6.50 6.39 5.92 5.78 5.39 5.27 2.59
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)
References