# 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 (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 | Pts |
| 1 | Bristol Bulldogs | 44 | 34 | 1 | 9 | 69 |
| 2 | Sheffield Tigers | 44 | 29 | 1 | 14 | 59 |
| 3 | Norwich Stars | 44 | 27 | 0 | 17 | 54 |
| 4 | Cradley Heath Heathens | 44 | 25 | 0 | 19 | 50 |
| 5 | Edinburgh Monarchs | 44 | 24 | 0 | 20 | 48 |
| 6 | Walthamstow Wolves | 44 | 21 | 3 | 20 | 45 |
| 7 | Southampton Saints | 44 | 21 | 3 | 20 | 45 |
| 8 | Glasgow Tigers | 44 | 20 | 0 | 24 | 40 |
| 9 | Fleetwood Flyers | 44 | 18 | 1 | 25 | 37 |
| 10 | Newcastle Magpies | 44 | 17 | 1 | 26 | 35 |
| 11 | Ashfield Giants | 44 | 12 | 1 | 31 | 25 |
| 12 | Coventry Bees | 44 | 10 | 1 | 33 | 21 |

## Fixtures & results
### A fixtures

| Home \ Away | ASH | BRI | COV | CH | ED | FLE | GLA | NEW | NOR | SHE | SOT | WAL |
| Ashfield | | 38–46 | 45–39 | 45–38 | 39–45 | 45–39 | 35–46 | 52–32 | 50–34 | 40–43 | 40–41 | 48–36 |
| Bristol | 63–21 | | 67.5–16.5 | 62–22 | 68–16 | 61–22 | 62–22 | 60–24 | 66–18 | 55–29 | 56–27 | 60–24 |
| Coventry | 38–45 | 35–48 | | 42–40 | 44–39 | 35–49 | 45–39 | 47–37 | 53–31 | 32–50 | 42–42 | 45–39 |
| Cradley | 48–36 | 34–50 | 59–25 | | 54–30 | 50–34 | 56–27 | 49–35 | 45–38 | 61–23 | 48–34 | 52–32 |
| Edinburgh | 57–27 | 40–44 | 53–31 | 44–40 | | 45–39 | 43–41 | 52–32 | 43–40 | 34–49 | 54–29 | 45–39 |
| Fleetwood | 45–39 | 46–38 | 53–29 | 46–38 | 57–27 | | 38–46 | 47–37 | 30–53 | 51–33 | 48–36 | 54–30 |
| Glasgow | 52–32 | 27–57 | 59–25 | 54–30 | 50–34 | 68–16 | | 53–31 | 48–36 | 45–39 | 64–20 | 52–32 |
| Newcastle | 54–30 | 29–55 | 53–31 | 60–23 | 49–34 | 45–39 | 43–40 | | 37–46 | 47–36 | 53–31 | 41–43 |
| Norwich | 48–36 | 52–32 | 67–16 | 58–26 | 58–25 | 58–26 | 57–27 | 59–24 | | 46–38 | 61–23 | 57–25 |
| Sheffield | 52–31 | 49–35 | 58–26 | 50–34 | 49–35 | 60–24 | 59–25 | 48–36 | 34–50 | | 69–15 | 56–27 |
| Southampton | 50–34 | 45–39 | 55–28 | 37.5–43.5 | 50–31 | 41–42 | 43–41 | 45–39 | 55–29 | 41–41 | | 52–29 |
| Walthamstow | 44–39 | 46–37 | 67–17 | 45–39 | 58–26 | 42–42 | 48–34 | 48–36 | 40–43 | 40.5–43.5 | 41–41 | |

### B fixtures

| Home \ Away | ASH | BRI | COV | CH | ED | FLE | GLA | NEW | NOR | SHE | SOT | WAL |
| Ashfield | | 42–42 | 54–30 | 33–51 | 39–45 | 45–38 | 51–33 | 51–33 | 34–50 | 41–43 | 37–47 | 53–31 |
| Bristol | 63–21 | | 52–29 | 53–31 | 60–24 | 67–17 | 70–14 | 60–24 | 68–16 | 65–19 | 55–26 | 51–33 |
| Coventry | 55–29 | 38–46 | | 36–48 | 38–46 | 46–38 | 32.5–30.5 | 40–44 | 38–45 | 35–47 | 36–47 | 36–47 |
| Cradley | 57–27 | 54–30 | 53–31 | | 50–34 | 44–40 | 59–25 | 51–33 | 56–27 | 60–24 | 49–35 | 57–27 |
| Edinburgh | 51–33 | 44–40 | 45–37 | 57–27 | | 58–26 | 61–23 | 54–29 | 55–29 | 45–39 | 58–26 | 61–22 |
| Fleetwood | 52–30 | 39–44 | 53–31 | 64–18 | 35–49 | | 56–28 | 53–31 | 35–49 | 46–38 | 49–35 | 41–43 |
| Glasgow | 49–35 | 35–49 | 35–49 | 51–33 | 48–34 | 51–33 | | 51–32 | 47–36 | 45–39 | 58–26 | 39–45 |
| Newcastle | 54–29 | 28–56 | 56–28 | 42–41 | 59–25 | 49–35 | 49–34 | | 48–36 | 30–54 | 50–33 | 42–42 |
| Norwich | 64–20 | 45–39 | 62–22 | 41–43 | 61–23 | 48–34 | 58–26 | 63–21 | | 41–43 | 61–23 | 56–28 |
| Sheffield | 57–26 | 56–28 | 58–26 | 49–35 | 63–21 | 43–40 | 68–16 | 48–36 | 48–36 | | 57–27 | 48–36 |
| Southampton | 45–39 | 41–42 | 54–30 | 52–32 | 53–31 | 51–33 | 52–32 | 47–37 | 44–40 | 50–34 | | 42–41 |
| Walthamstow | 54–29 | 35–49 | 49–35 | 54–30 | 53–31 | 62–21 | 56–27 | 50–34 | 55–28 | 52–32 | 51–32 | |

## Top Five Riders (League only)

| | Rider | 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 two |
| 07/06 | Glasgow Ashfield | 53-55 | Cradley Heath |
| 03/06 | Cradley Heath | 56-52 | Glasgow Ashfield |
| 15/06 | Glasgow White City | 67-41 | Norwich |
| 18/06 | Norwich | 71-36 | Glasgow White City |
| 22/06 | Fleetwood | 69-38 | Stoke Hanley |
| 18/06 | Stoke Hanley | 56-52 | Fleetwood |
| 17/06 | Bristol | 73-35 | Sheffield |
| 16/06 | Sheffield | 53-55 | Bristol |
| 31/05 | Southampton | 52-56 | Walthamstow |
| 30/05 | Walthamstow | 63-44 | Southampton |
Second Division Qualifying Second round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 25/06 | Coventry | 42-66 | Bristol |
| 24/06 | Bristol | 80-28 | Coventry |
| 02/07 | Edinburgh | 57-51 | Fleetwood |
| 29/06 | Fleetwood | 61-44 | Edinburgh |
| 02/07 | Norwich | 78-30 | Newcastle |
| 27/06 | Newcastle | 64-41 | Norwich |
| 24/06 | Cradley Heath | 66-41 | Walthamstow |
| 20/06 | Walthamstow | 64-39 | Cradley Heath |
| 08/07 replay | Cradley Heath | 71-37 | Walthamstow |
| 04/07 replay | Walthamstow | 62-44 | Cradley Heath |
Second Division Qualifying semifinals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 23/07 | Norwich | 70.5-37.5 | Cradley Heath |
| 22/07 | Cradley Heath | 67-41 | Norwich |
| 13/07 | Fleetwood | 46-60 | Bristol |
| 08/07 | Bristol | 73-35 | Fleetwood |

### Final

First leg
Second leg

## Riders & final averages

Ashfield
* Ken Le Breton 9.33
* Merv Harding 8.85
* Keith Gurtner 7.56
* Alec Grant 4.96
* Norman Evans 4.62
* Gruff Garland 4.15
* Norman Johnson 3.66
* Willie Wilson 3.65
* Rol Stobbart 3.18
* Eric Liddell 3.18
Bristol
* Billy Hole 10.11
* Jack Mountford 9.75
* Roger Wise 9.56
* Eric Salmon 9.19
* Fred Tuck 9.00
* Mike Beddoe 7.51
* Johnny Hole 6.31
* Dick Bradley 5.40
* Chris Boss 4.14
* Graham Hole 3.56
Coventry
* Bob Fletcher 7.70
* Derrick Tailby 6.35
* Bert Lacey 6.30
* Les Wotton 5.91
* Lionel Levy 5.76
* Les Hewitt 5.63
* Jack Gordon 5.00
* John Yates 4.79
* Roy Moreton 4.32
* Johnny Reason 4.00
* Ed Pye 3.83
* Jack Winstanley 3.74
* John Duncan White 3.17
Cradley Heath
* Alan Hunt 9.45
* Eric Williams 8.59
* Jack Arnfield 7.35
* Gil Craven 7.23
* Roy Moreton 6.72
* Geoff Godwin 5.76
* Bill Clifton 5.64
* Les Tolley 5.63
* Phil Malpass 5.56
* Les Beaumont 5.52
* Ray Beaumont 4.21
Edinburgh
* Jack Young 9.04
* Dick Campbell 8.81
* Eddie Lack 7.59
* Clem Mitchell 6.98
* Dennis Parker 6.35
* Don Cuppleditch 5.77
* Danny Lee 5.35
* Harold Fairhurst 5.04
* Keith Cox 4.
* Bill Baird 3.66
* Bert Shearer 3.
* Nobby Downham 3.
* Tommy Lack 2.05
Fleetwood
* Wilf Plant 8.67
* Cyril Cooper 8.45
* George Newton 8.12
* Norman Hargreaves 8.85
* Ernie Appleby 6.14
* Brian Wilson 4.96
* Don Potter 4.00
* Frank Malouf 3.95
* Ron Hart 3.59
* Fred Yates 3.14
* Percy Day 3.06
* Larry Young 2.90
Glasgow
* Bat Byrnes 8.35
* Junior Bainbridge 8.17
* Joe Crowther 8.00
* Will Lowther 7.51
* Jack Hodgson 7.20
* Gordon McGregor 6.40
* Harold Fairhurst 5.95
* Norman Lindsay 5.93
* Buck Ryan 5.08
* Nobby Downham 4.83
* Alf McIntosh 3.71
* Ken McKinlay 2.64
* Billy Bates 2.40
Newcastle
* Derick Close 8.12
* Frank Hodgson 8.10
* Jack Hodgson 7.91
* Wilf Jay 7.12
* Herby King 5.61
* Son Mitchell 5.57
* Ernie Brecknell 5.13
* Joe Arthur 3.77
* Don Lawson 3.48
Norwich
* Paddy Mills (Horace Burke) 8.96
* Phil Clarke 8.81
* Bob Leverenz 8.26
* Bert Spencer 7.22
* Ted Bravery 7.20
* Jack Freeman 7.11
* Fred Rogers 6.94
* Syd Littlewood 6.37
* Johnny Davies 5.70
* Alec Hunter 5.02
* Bill Codling 3.37
Sheffield
* Bruce Semmens 10.47
* Stan Williams 9.29
* Len Williams 8.70
* Tommy Allott 8.59
* Andy Menzies 6.27
* Tommy Bateman 6.09
* Jack Chignell 5.94
* Jack Bibby 5.77
* Guy Allott 4.98
* Alf Parker 4.47
* Ralph Horne 3.62
Southampton
* Bob Oakley 8.24
* Jimmy Squibb 7.30
* Cecil Bailey 7.12
* Roy Craighead 6.71
* Tom Oakley 5.95
* Phil Bishop 4.91
* Bill Rogers 4.87
* Bill Griffiths 4.74
* Bill Thatcher 3.67
* Alf Kaines 3.23
Walthamstow
* Jim Boyd 9.10
* Wilf Jay 8.11
* Charlie May 8.07
* Benny King 7.52
* Harry Edwards 6.50
* Reg Reeves 6.39
* Arch Windmill 5.92
* Harold Bull 5.78
* Bill Osborne 5.39
* Dick Geary 5.27
* Ted Argall 2.59