1948 Speedway National League


The 1948 National League Division One was the 14th season of speedway in the United Kingdom and the third post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

Summary

The entrant list was the same as the previous season. New Cross Rangers won the National League for the second time.

Fatalities

1948 proved to be the worst season so far in regard to fatalities. During the 1947 season two riders had died on the same day but 1948 saw three riders killed during the season. It started with 37-year-old Reg Craven, on his debut for Yarmouth Bloaters. Craven crashed with two Poole Pirates riders at Poole during a National Trophy match and died eight days later from a fractured skull in hospital. Billy Wilson of Norwich Stars and Eric Dunn of Hastings Saxons from the lower divisions were also killed.

National League results

Matches 1–12
Teams play each other twice, once at home and once away.
Matches 13–24
Teams play each other twice, once at home and once away.

Anniversary Cup

On account of the small number of teams in the league the Anniversary Cup was run in a league format. Harringay Racers finished on top.
PosTeamPLWDLPts
1Harringay Racers1290318
2Belle Vue Aces1270514
3Odsal Boomerangs1270514
4New Cross Rangers1260612
5West Ham Hammers1260612
6Wembley Lions1250710
7Wimbledon Dons1220104

Teams play each other twice, once at home and once away.

National Trophy

The 1948 Trophy was the 11th edition of the Knockout Cup.
Qualifying Competition Round 1
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
23/04 Wombwell31 77 Southampton
17/04 Cradley Heath66 42 Plymouth
13/04Southampton89 19 Wombwell
12/04 Exeter81 27 Tamworth
08/04 Plymouth56 50 Cradley Heath
07/04 Tamworth82 26 Exeter

Qualifying Competition Round 2
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
29/04 Stoke Hanley64 43 Coventry
27/04 Yarmouth47 67 Poole
26/04 Poole74 32 Yarmouth
07/05 Cradley Heath78 29 Hull
05/05 Tamworth46 62 Southampton
04/05 Southampton 77 31 Tamworth
01/05 Coventry 48 59 Stoke Hanley
01/05 Hull42 66 Cradley Heath

Qualifying Competition semifinal
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
21/05 Cradley Heath54 50 Southampton
13/05 Stoke Hanley64 44 Poole
11/05 Southampton85 23 Cradley Heath
10/05 Poole49 57 Stoke Hanley

Qualifying Competition final
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
27/05 Stoke Hanley43 64 Southampton
25/05 Southampton74½ 33½ Stoke Hanley

Eliminating Competition First round
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
19/06 Birmingham79 29 Southampton
19/06 Edinburgh62 46 Glasgow White City
16/06 Glasgow White City70 38 Edinburgh
15/06 Southampton41 66 Birmingham

Eliminating Competition Second round
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
23/06 Glasgow White City45½ 61½ Birmingham
22/06 Fleetwood69 39 Bristol
19/06 Norwich76 32 Sheffield
18/06 Bristol 65 43 Fleetwood
17/06 Middlesbrough67 40 Newcastle
17/06 Sheffield55 53 Norwich
14/06 Newcastle41 65 Middlesbrough
03/07 Birmingham80 28 Glasgow White City

Eliminating Competition semifinal
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
26/07 Birmingham75 33 Fleetwood
13/07 Fleetwood49 59 Birmingham
03/07 Norwich66 41 Middlesbrough
01/07 Middlesbrough53 54 Norwich

Eliminating Competition final
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
02/08 Birmingham79 28 Norwich
31/07 Norwich64 43 Birmingham

First round
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
04/09 Belle Vue64 44 Wembley
27/08 Harringay67 40 Wimbledon
26/08 Wembley64 42 Belle Vue
21/08 Birmingham85 23 West Ham
21/08 Bradford62 46 New Cross
19/08 New Cross77 30 Bradford
17/08 West Ham67 41 Birmingham
16/08 Wimbledon53 55 Harringay
04/09 Belle Vue64 44 Wembley

Quarterfinals
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
27/08 Harringay67-40Wimbledon
26/08 Wembley64-42 Belle Vue
21/08 Birmingham85-23 West Ham
21/08 Bradford62-46New Cross
19/08 New Cross77-30Bradford
17/08 West Ham67-41Birmingham
16/08 Wimbledon53-55Harringay
04/09 Belle Vue64-44Wembley

Semifinals
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
18/09 Birmingham69-39 New Cross
10/09 Harringay52-56 Wembley
09/09 Wembley73-35 Harringay
09/09 New Cross83-25Birmingham

Final

First leg
Second leg
Wembley were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 120–96.

Riders' Championship

Vic Duggan won the British Riders' Championship final held at Empire Stadium on 16 September, in front of nearly 90,000 spectators.
Pos.RiderHeat ScoresTotal
1

London Cup

First round
Team oneScoreTeam two
New Cross65–43, 43–64Harringay

Semi final round
Team oneScoreTeam two
Wimbledon57–51, 27–80New Cross
West Ham61–46, 40–67Wembley

Final

First leg
Second leg
Wembley won on aggregate '''115–98'''

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue
  • 9.35
  • 7.46
  • 6.92
  • 6.00
  • 5.76
  • 5.60
  • 4.96
  • 4.27
  • 3.75
  • 2.00
Harringay
  • 11.42
  • 8.53
  • 7.23
  • 7.23
  • 6.67
  • 6.56
  • 5.37
  • 4.96
  • 4.68
  • 3.84
New Cross
  • 10.33
  • 8.17
  • 7.96
  • 7.39
  • 7.27
  • 7.15
  • 7.12
  • 5.48
  • 5.79
  • 2.00
  • 0.67
Odsal
  • 9.63
  • 8.57
  • 7.72
  • 7.34
  • 6.15
  • 5.60
  • 4.00
  • 3.33
  • 3.71
  • 3.20
  • 2.78
  • 2.40
  • 1.50
Wembley
  • 9.71
  • 9.65
  • 8.81
  • 8.27
  • 7.63
  • 7.17
  • 6.43
  • 5.40
  • 4.26
  • 3.37
  • 2.50
West Ham
  • 9.59
  • Eric Chitty 9.21
  • 8.13
  • 7.01
  • 5.89
  • 5.64
  • 5.30
  • 3.58
  • 0.67
Wimbledon
  • 9.09
  • 9.48
  • 7.19
  • 5.37
  • 4.87
  • 3.80
  • 3.59
  • 3.43
  • 2.35
  • 2.29