1956 Speedway National League Division Two

1956 was the final season of the Speedway National League Division Two.

Summary

With the number of sides competing at national level diminishing from 37 at the start of 1951 to just 14 in 1956, only a single national division would be in existence by 1957. Poole Pirates had been promoted to Division One and Exeter Falcons had closed leaving seven entrants.
Swindon Robins captured the title by a single point.
Southampton's 34-year-old captain Ernie Rawlins died in Southampton Hospital on 22 September 1956, following an accident in the match against Birmingham on 18 September.

National Trophy Stage One

For Stage Two - see Stage Two

The 1956 National Trophy was the 19th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of two stages; stage one was for the second-tier clubs, stage two was for the top-tier clubs. Southampton won stage one and qualified for second and final stage.
Division Two First round

Date	Team one	Score	Team two
21/04	Coventry	55-53	Ipswich
21/04	Rayleigh	74-34	Oxford
21/04	Swindon	65-43	Leicester
20/04	Leicester	65-43	Swindon
19/04	Ipswich	68-40	Coventry
19/04	Oxford	40-68	Rayleigh
05/05 replay	Swindon	51-56	Leicester
04/05 replay	Leicester	76-32	Swindon

Division Two semifinals

Date	Team one	Score	Team two
26/05	Rayleigh	68-39	Southampton
25/05	Leicester	67-40	Ipswich
22/05	Southampton	69-39	Rayleigh
21/05	Ipswich	46-62	Leicester

Division Two final

First leg
'''Second leg'''

Riders & final averages

Coventry

11.74
7.50
8.04
6.53
6.40
5.98
5.05
4.41

Ipswich

9.21
8.93
8.70
6.40
5.31
4.56
3.54
3.05
2.76
2.33

Leicester

10.25
8.21
6.
5.
5.92
5.89
5.61
4.73
3.61
2.42
2.09
1.33
1.33

Oxford

8.53
6.20
5.90
5.60
5.55
5.07
4.70
4.29
4.00
4.00
3.69
2.46

Rayleigh

9.50
8.25
7.78
7.17
6.99
6.40
5.38
5.33

Southampton

10.22
8.48
8.41
8.36
5.75
5.43
5.25
5.17
4.59
3.20

Swindon

9.53
9.52
9.15
5.69
4.76
4.13
3.83
3.58
3.08