# 2017 National League speedway season

The 2017 National League speedway season was the third tier/division of British speedway.

## Summary

The title was won by Belle Vue Colts. Eastbourne Eagles finished top of the regular season table.
King's Lynn Young Stars withdrew part way through the season and their results were expunged.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | 4w | 3w | D | 1L | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | Eastbourne Eagles | 20 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 981 | 799 | 49 |
| 2 | Belle Vue Colts | 20 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1037 | 749 | 47 |
| 3 | Kent Kings | 20 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 950 | 814 | 47 |
| 4 | Lakeside Hammers | 20 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 907 | 865 | 36 |
| 5 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 20 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 878 | 873 | 34 |
| 6 | Birmingham Brummies | 20 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 898 | 863 | 33 |
| 7 | Cradley Heathens | 20 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 885 | 893 | 31 |
| 8 | Plymouth Devils | 20 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 848 | 911 | 25 |
| 9 | Stoke Potters | 20 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 764 | 932 | 20 |
| 10 | Buxton Hitmen | 20 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 787 | 978 | 18 |
| 11 | Isle of Wight Islanders | 20 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 751 | 1009 | 15 |
| 12 | King's Lynn Young Stars | withdrew, results expunged | withdrew, results expunged | withdrew, results expunged | withdrew, results expunged | withdrew, results expunged | withdrew, results expunged | withdrew, results expunged | withdrew, results expunged | withdrew, results expunged | withdrew, results expunged | withdrew, results expunged | withdrew, results expunged |

## Fixtures & results

| Home \ Away | BV | BIR | BUX | CH | EAS | IOW | KK | LH | MIL | PLY | STO |
| Belle Vue Colts | | 55–35 | 62–28 | 56–34 | 57–33 | 61–28 | 53–37 | 60–30 | 65–25 | 57–33 | 66–24 |
| Birmingham Brummies | 43–47 | | 55–35 | 57–31 | 45–45 | 54–36 | 39–51 | 46–44 | 51–39 | 54–36 | 51–39 |
| Buxton Hitmen | 31–59 | 39–51 | | 27–62 | 38–52 | 66–24 | 47–43 | 53–37 | 40–50 | 49–40 | 40–50 |
| Cradley Heathens | 56–34 | 43–43 | 53–37 | | 43–46 | 61–29 | 47–37 | 48–42 | 43–46 | 48–41 | 54–35 |
| Eastbourne Eagles | 53–37 | 50–39 | 54–35 | 51–36 | | 57–33 | 40–49 | 47–36 | 57–33 | 64–26 | 58–32 |
| Isle of Wight Islanders | 28–62 | 37–53 | 44–46 | 61–29 | 39–51 | | 47–43 | 49–41 | 53–37 | 42–48 | 56–33 |
| Kent Kings | 46–32 | 50–40 | 61–29 | 56–34 | 54–36 | 60–22 | | 45–44 | 49–41 | 50–40 | 45–38 |
| Lakeside Hammers | 49–41 | 52–37 | 51–38 | 49–41 | 49–41 | 63–27 | 52–38 | | 44–33 | 55–35 | 57–32 |
| Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 47–43 | 54–36 | 45–45 | 60–28 | 46–44 | 53–37 | 43–46 | 55–34 | | 54–35 | 61–29 |
| Plymouth Devils | 45–45 | 34–25 | 54–36 | 39–51 | 32–52 | 53–37 | 47–43 | 57–32 | 64–26 | | 52–38 |
| Stoke Potters | 44–45 | 46–44 | 31–28 | 47–43 | 40–50 | 38–22 | 43–47 | 42–46 | 30–30 | 53–37 | |

## Play-offs

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| Lakeside Hammers | Lakeside Hammers | 53 | 21 | 74 | | | | | |
| Belle Vue Colts | Belle Vue Colts | 37 | 69 | 106 | | | | | |
| Belle Vue Colts | Belle Vue Colts | 37 | 69 | 106 | Belle Vue Colts | Belle Vue Colts | 33 | 56 | 89 |
| | | | | | Eastbourne Eagles | Eastbourne Eagles | 45 | 34 | 79 |
| Kent Kings | Kent Kings | 46 | 27 | 73 | Eastbourne Eagles | Eastbourne Eagles | 45 | 34 | 79 |
| Eastbourne Eagles | Eastbourne Eagles | 44 | 63 | 107 | | | | | |
Home team scores are in bold Overall aggregate scores are in red
Grand Final
| 14 October | Eastbourne Eagles Jake Knight 10 Georgie Wood 10 Tom Brennan 8 Josh Bailey 7 Drew Kemp 5 Matt Bates 5 Jason Edwards 0 Charley Powell R/R | 45–33 | Belle Vue Colts Dan Bewley 11 Kyle Bickley 9 Jack Smith 7 Luke Woodhull 3 Rob Shuttleworth 3 Andy Mellish 0 Lee Payne R/R | Arlington Stadium |
| 18 October | Belle Vue Colts Kyle Bickley 14 Jack Smith 14 Dan Bewley 13 Rob Shuttleworth 10 Luke Woodhull 3 Paul Bowen 2 Lee Payne R/R | 56–34 | Eastbourne Eagles Jake Knight 10 Georgie Wood 10 Tom Brennan 8 Josh Bailey 7 Drew Kemp 5 Matt Bates 5 Jason Edwards 0 Charley Powell R/R | National Speedway Stadium |

## National League Knockout Cup

The 2017 National League Knockout Cup was the 20th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier three teams. Eastbourne Eagles were the winners for the third successive year.

### First round

| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 01/07 | Eastbourne | 46-44 | Kent |
| 03/06 | Stoke | 46-44 | Buxton |
| 29/05 | Kent | 42-48 | Eastbourne |
| 30/04 | Buxton | 35-54 | Stoke |
| 28/04 | Plymouth | 51-38 | Isle of Wight |
| 27/04 | Isle of Wight | 43-47 | Plymouth |

### Final Stages

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Eastbourne Eagles | Eastbourne Eagles | | | W/O | | | | | | | | | | |
| King's Lynn Young Stars | King's Lynn Young Stars | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| King's Lynn Young Stars | King's Lynn Young Stars | | | | Plymouth Devils | Plymouth Devils | 50 | 25 | 75 | | | | | |
| | | | | | Eastbourne Eagles | Eastbourne Eagles | 39 | 40 | 79 | | | | | |
| Birmingham Brummies | Birmingham Brummies | 43 | 41 | 84 | Eastbourne Eagles | Eastbourne Eagles | 39 | 40 | 79 | | | | | |
| Plymouth Devils | Plymouth Devils | 47 | 49 | 96 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Plymouth Devils | Plymouth Devils | 47 | 49 | 96 | | | | | | Eastbourne Eagles | Eastbourne Eagles | 59 | 43 | 102 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 31 | 47 | 78 |
| Mildenhall Fen Tigers | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 57 | 41 | 98 | | | | | | | | | | | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 31 | 47 | 78 |
| Stoke Potters | Stoke Potters | 33 | 49 | 82 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stoke Potters | Stoke Potters | 33 | 49 | 82 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 53 | 39 | 92 | | | | | |
| | | | | | Belle Vue Colts | Belle Vue Colts | 37 | 51 | 88 | | | | | |
| Belle Vue Colts | Belle Vue Colts | '59 | w/o | 59 | Belle Vue Colts | Belle Vue Colts | 37 | 51 | 88 | | | | | |
| Cradley Heathens | Cradley Heathens | 31 | scr | 31 | | | | | | | | | | |
Replay was required in the Quarter-final due to tie Mildenhall Fen Tigers 50 Stoke Potters 40 Stoke Potters 50 Mildenhall Fen Tigers 40 Mildenhall Fen Tigers 90 Stoke Potters 90
Home team scores are in bold Overall aggregate scores are in red
KO Cup Final
| 22 October | Eastbourne Eagles Josh Bailey 15 Georgie Wood 14 Jake Knight 9 Tom Brennan 9 Charley Powell 6 Matt Bates 4 Jason Edwards 2 | 59–31 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers Drew Kemp (guest)10 Jon Armstrong 8 Luke Ruddick 7 Jordan Jenkins 4 Luke Harris (guest) 2 Alex Spooner 0 Dan Halsey R/R | Arlington Stadium |
| 29 October | Mildenhall Fen Tigers Drew Kemp (guest)15 Jordan Jenkins 15 Ben Hopwood (guest) 8 Alfie Bowtell (guest) 6 Alex Spooner 2 Luke Ruddick 1 Dan Halsey R/R | 47–43 | Eastbourne Eagles Josh Bailey 11 Jake Knight 10 Georgie Wood 8 Tom Brennan 5 Jason Edwards 5 Charley Powell 4 Matt Bates 0 | Mildenhall Stadium |

## Riders' Championship

Dan Bewley won the Riders' Championship. The final was held on 24 September at Beaumont Park Stadium.
| Pos. | Rider | Team | Total |
| 1 | Dan Bewley | Belle Vue | 15 |
| 2 | Matt Williamson | Buxton | 13 |
| 3 | Liam Carr | Birmingham | 12 |
| 4 | Tom Bacon | Birmingham | 11 |
| 5 | Ben Morley | Lakeside | 11 |
| 6 | Jordan Jenkins | Mildenhall | 10 |
| 7 | Alfie Bowtell | Lakeside | 9 |
| 8 | Josh Bailey | Eastbourne | 8 |
| 9 | Jon Armstrong | Mildenhall | 8 |
| 10 | Luke Bowen | Kent | 7 |
| 11 | Adam Roynon | Plymouth | 4 |
| 12 | Ryan Terry-Daley | Stoke | 3 |
| 13 | Tom Woolley | Buxton | 3 |
| 14 | Luke Harris | Cradley | 3 |
| 15 | Chris Widman | Isle Of Wight | 2 |
| 16 | Connor Dwyer (res) | Cradley | 1 |
| 17 | James Cockle | Isle Of Wight | 0 |

## Final leading averages

| Rider | Team | Average |
| Dan Bewley | Belle Vue Colts | 10.96 |
| Zach Wajtknecht | Lakeside | 10.84 |
| Steve Boxall | Plymouth | 10.02 |
| Ben Morley | Lakeside | 9.93 |
| Adam Roynon | Plymouth | 9.91 |

## Riders & final averages

Belle Vue Colts
* Dan Bewley 10.96
* Lee Payne 9.09
* Rob Shuttleworth 9.00
* Jack Smith 8.74
* Kyle Bickley 8.00
* Andy Mellish 6.02
* Luke Woodhull 4.52
Birmingham Brummies
* Jack Parkinson-Blackburn 9.35
* Liam Carr 9.00
* Danyon Hume 9.00 (2 matches only)
* Tom Bacon 8.72
* Darryl Ritchings 8.15
* David Mason 6.87
* Layne Cupitt 5.40
* Taylor Hampshire 4.55
* Kyle Roberts 2.29
* Macauley Leek 2.59
Buxton Hitmen
* Max Clegg 9.74
* Matt Williamson 9.50
* Tom Woolley 6.97
* Ryan Kinsley 4.97
* Ben Basford 4.33
* Shelby Rutherford 4.23
* Lee Geary 3.78
* Jamie Halder 3.16
* Ben Woodhull 3.00
* Carl Basford 2.86
Cradley Heathens
* Richard Hall 10.00 (2 matches only)
* Tom Perry 9.41
* Danny Ayres 8.71
* Dan Greenwood 7.69
* Luke Harris 6.37
* Joe Lawlor 5.87
* Conor Dwyer 5.49
* Ryan Burton 5.58
* Shelby Rutherford 3.93
* Tyler Govier 2.00 (2 matches only)
Eastbourne Eagles
* Connor Coles 9.85 (3 matches only)
* Mark Baseby 9.30
* Josh Bailey 9.13
* Jake Knight 9.04
* Georgie Wood 8.06
* Tom Brennan 7.96
* Charley Powell 6.89
* Mattie Bates 6.42
* Kelsey Dugard 5.67
Isle of Wight Warriors
* James Cockle 8.39
* Ben Wilson 8.25
* Connor Coles 6.79
* Scott Campos 6.78
* Chris Widman 4.97
* Adam Portwood 4.51
* Kelsey Dugard 4.00
* Jamie Sealey 2.31
Kent Kings
* Luke Bowen 9.84
* Ben Hopwood 8.26
* Jack Thomas 8.08
* Dan Greenwood 8.00
* Nathan Stoneman 8.00
* Luke Clifton 6.67
* George Hunter 6.39
* Anders Rowe 6.17
* Bradley Andrews 5.80
Lakeside Hammers
* Zach Wajtknecht 10.84
* Ben Morley 9.93
* Paul Hurry 9.50
* Alfie Bowtell 7.51
* David Mason 7.50 (2 matches only)
* George Hunter 4.00
* Connor Locke 3.39
* Nick Laurence 3.28
* Jamie Couzins 3.09
Mildenhall Fen Tigers
* Connor Mountain 9.56
* Danny Halsey 8.00
* Jordan Jenkins 8.00
* Jon Armstrong 7.54
* Luke Ruddick 6.14
* Danno Verge 5.77
* Sam Woods 3.83
Plymouth Devils
* Steve Boxall 10.02
* Adam Roynon 9.91
* Benji Compton 6.81
* Henry Atkins 5.53
* Richard Andrews 5.41
* Callum Walker 4.91
* Lee Smart 4.24
* William O'Keefe 1.85
* Rob Parker 1.67
Stoke Potters
* Mitchell Davey 8.87
* Tony Atkin 7.68
* Lee Dicken 6.91
* David Wallinger 6.50
* Luke Priest 6.05
* Ryan Terry-Daley 5.32
* Paul Burnett 5.08
* Shaun Tedham 4.07
* David Speight 1.00

## Development Leagues
### Midland Development League

| Pos | team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Peterborough | 8 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| 2 | Belle Vue | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| 3 | Scunthorpe | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| 4 | Milton Keynes | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| 5 | Carmarthen Dragons | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 |

### Northern Junior League

| Pos | team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Berwick | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 16 |
| 2 | Halifax | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| 3 | Northside | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| 4 | Ashfield | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| 5 | Newcastle | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 |
| 6 | Redcar | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 |

### Southern Development League

| Pos | team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Reading Racers | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| 2 | Kent Kestrels | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| 3 | Plymouth | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 4 | Exeter | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| 5 | Weymouth | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 |