1949 Speedway National League Division Two


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 Cup was discontinued as the expanded league programme gave the teams 44 league fixtures. Bristol Bulldogs retained their title.

National Trophy Stage Two

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
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
07/06 Glasgow Ashfield 53-55Cradley Heath
03/06 Cradley Heath56-52Glasgow Ashfield
15/06 Glasgow White City67-41Norwich
18/06 Norwich71-36Glasgow White City
22/06 Fleetwood69-38Stoke Hanley
18/06 Stoke Hanley56-52Fleetwood
17/06 Bristol 73-35Sheffield
16/06 Sheffield53-55Bristol
31/05 Southampton52-56Walthamstow
30/05 Walthamstow63-44Southampton

Second Division Qualifying Second round
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
25/06 Coventry42-66Bristol
24/06 Bristol80-28Coventry
02/07 Edinburgh57-51Fleetwood
29/06 Fleetwood61-44Edinburgh
02/07 Norwich78-30Newcastle
27/06 Newcastle64-41Norwich
24/06 Cradley Heath66-41Walthamstow
20/06 Walthamstow64-39Cradley Heath
08/07
replay		 Cradley Heath71-37Walthamstow
04/07
replay		 Walthamstow 62-44Cradley Heath

Second Division Qualifying semifinals
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
23/07 Norwich 70.5-37.5Cradley Heath
22/07 Cradley Heath67-41Norwich
13/07 Fleetwood46-60Bristol
08/07 Bristol 73-35Fleetwood

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
  • 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