# 1950 Speedway National League Division Two

The 1950 National League Division Two was the fifth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

## Summary

The League was extended again to 15 teams with the promotion from Division Three of Halifax Dukes, Plymouth, Yarmouth and Hanley. Bristol Bulldogs, champions for the previous two seasons, moved up to Division One.
Norwich Stars claimed the title by a single point.
On 1 July 1950, two riders were killed on the same night. Jock Shead riding for Halifax Dukes was killed at The Firs Stadium, (the third rider in four years to be killed at the track) during the semi-final of the National Trophy. Shead's bike collided with another bike and he somersaulted before landing, he was take to hospital but died shortly afterwards. A second rider was killed on the same night in a division 1 fixture.

## Final table

| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Norwich Stars | 28 | 18 | 1 | 9 | 37 |
| 2 | Glasgow Tigers | 28 | 18 | 0 | 10 | 36 |
| 3 | Cradley Heath Heathens | 28 | 18 | 0 | 10 | 36 |
| 4 | Coventry Bees | 28 | 16 | 0 | 12 | 32 |
| 5 | Walthamstow Wolves | 28 | 16 | 0 | 12 | 32 |
| 6 | Halifax Dukes | 28 | 16 | 0 | 12 | 32 |
| 7 | Southampton Saints | 28 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 29 |
| 8 | Edinburgh Monarchs | 28 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 29 |
| 9 | Plymouth Devils | 28 | 13 | 0 | 15 | 26 |
| 10 | Sheffield Tars | 28 | 13 | 0 | 15 | 26 |
| 11 | Ashfield Giants | 28 | 12 | 0 | 16 | 24 |
| 12 | Yarmouth Bloaters | 28 | 12 | 0 | 16 | 24 |
| 13 | Newcastle Diamonds | 28 | 10 | 0 | 18 | 20 |
| 14 | Hanley Potters | 28 | 9 | 2 | 17 | 20 |
| 15 | Fleetwood Flyers | 28 | 8 | 1 | 19 | 17 |

## Fixtures & results

| Home \ Away | ASH | COV | CH | ED | FLE | GLA | HAL | HAN | NEW | NOR | PLY | SHE | SOT | WAL | YAR |
| Ashfield | | 44–40 | 35–49 | 45–39 | 35–49 | 37–47 | 33–51 | 46–38 | 51–33 | 38–45 | 52–32 | 55–29 | 58–26 | 56–28 | 47–36 |
| Coventry | 48–36 | | 52–31 | 47–37 | 59–25 | 47–37 | 63–21 | 54–30 | 57–27 | 33–51 | 54–29 | 48–36 | 41–43 | 53–30 | 53–31 |
| Cradley | 52–32 | 41–43 | | 56–28 | 58–26 | 52–32 | 49–35 | 51–33 | 46–37 | 58–26 | 28–56 | 57–27 | 50.5–33.5 | 56–28 | 64–20 |
| Edinburgh | 46–36 | 31–53 | 46–38 | | 50–33 | 49–35 | 34–50 | 53–30 | 63–21 | 43–41 | 51–32 | 56–28 | 52–31 | 48–36 | 61–23 |
| Fleetwood | 37–46 | 34–50 | 37–47 | 42–42 | | 40–44 | 39–45 | 50–34 | 54–30 | 47–37 | 46–38 | 54–30 | 39–45 | 40–44 | 57–27 |
| Glasgow | 49–35 | 47–36 | 50–34 | 60–24 | 56–28 | | 56–28 | 60–23 | 56–28 | 61–23 | 61–23 | 45–39 | 51–33 | 43–41 | 68–16 |
| Halifax | 36–48 | 45–39 | 47–37 | 51–31 | 51–33 | 51–33 | | 63–21 | 59–25 | 45–39 | 49–35 | 40–44 | 55–29 | 55–29 | 62–21 |
| Hanley | 44–40 | 43–40 | 34–50 | 48–35 | 38–46 | 38–43 | 43–41 | | 55–29 | 42–42 | 60–24 | 54–30 | 42–42 | 49–35 | 53–30 |
| Newcastle | 59–25 | 41–42 | 50–34 | 41–43 | 60–23 | 41–43 | 52–32 | 61–22 | | 33–51 | 42–41 | 46–38 | 46–38 | 51–33 | 47–37 |
| Norwich | 49–35 | 52–32 | 53–31 | 43–41 | 69–15 | 54–29 | 54–30 | 63–21 | 53.5–30.5 | | 54–30 | 53–31 | 46–38 | 66–17 | 55–29 |
| Plymouth | 37–47 | 45–39 | 40–44 | 40–43 | 57–27 | 54–30 | 47–37 | 60–24 | 58–26 | 49–35 | | 60–24 | 47–37 | 44–40 | 56–28 |
| Sheffield | 51–33 | 49–35 | 40–44 | 55–29 | 68–16 | 48–36 | 61–23 | 51–33 | 52–32 | 43–41 | 55–29 | | 55–29 | 34–49 | 62–22 |
| Southampton | 51–33 | 44–40 | 52–31 | 46–38 | 56–28 | 56–28 | 40–44 | 62–22 | 53–31 | 41–43 | 50–34 | 63–21 | | 46–38 | 61–23 |
| Walthamstow | 54–29 | 46–37 | 59–25 | 52–32 | 54–30 | 53–31 | 47–34 | 49–34 | 61–23 | 52–32 | 40–43 | 51–33 | 49–34 | | 46–38 |
| Yarmouth | 50–34 | 46–38 | 39–45 | 53–31 | 59–25 | 43–31 | 52–32 | 45–38 | 54–30 | 44–40 | 54–30 | 60–24 | 48–36 | 31–51 | |

## Top Five Riders (League only)

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Jack Young | Edinburgh | 11.24 |
| 2 | Arthur Forrest | Halifax | 11.00 |
| 3 | Alan Hunt | Cradley Heath | 10.44 |
| 4 | Bob Oakley | Southampton | 10.43 |
| 5 | Phil Clarke | Norwich | 9.91 |

## National Trophy Stage Two

The 1950 National Trophy was the 13th 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. Halifax won stage two and therefore qualified for stage three.
* For Stage One - see Stage One
* For Stage Three - see Stage Three
Second Division Qualifying First round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 26/05 | Halifax | 71-37 | Oxford |
| 25/05 | Oxford | 68-40 | Halifax |
| 27/05 | Coventry | 64-44 | Newcastle |
| 29/05 | Newcastle | 62-45 | Coventry |
| 27/05 | Norwich | 63-44 | Fleetwood |
| 31/05 | Fleetwood | 48-59 | Norwich |
| 31/05 | Glasgow White City | 70-38 | Stoke Hanley |
| 27/05 | Stoke Hanley | 65-43 | Glasgow White City |
| 30/05 | Ashfield Giants | 61-47 | Cradley Heath |
| 29/05 | Cradley Heath | 60-47 | Ashfield Giants |
| 26/05 | Sheffield | 77-31 | Plymouth |
| 25/05 | Plymouth | 56-51 | Sheffield |
| 30/05 | Yarmouth | 57-50 | Walthamstow |
| 29/05 | Walthamstow | 66-42 | Yarmouth |
| 30/05 | Southampton | 62-46 | Edinburgh |
| 27/05 | Edinburgh | 48-60 | Southampton |
Second Division Qualifying Second round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 10/06 | Coventry | 53-53 | Halifax |
| 09/06 | Halifax | 68-40 | Coventry |
| 10/06 | Norwich | 78-30 | Glasgow White City |
| 07/06 | Glasgow White City | 70-38 | Norwich |
| 20/06 | Ashfield Giants | 63-44 | Sheffield |
| 09/06 | Sheffield | 57-51 | Ashfield Giants |
| 20/06 | Southampton | 59-49 | Walthamstow |
| 19/06 | Walthamstow | 67-41 | Southampton |
Second Division Qualifying semifinals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 01/07 | Norwich | 58-50 | Halifax |
| 30/06 | Halifax | 69-39 | Norwich |
| 04/07 | Ashfield Giants | 67-41 | Walthamstow |
| 26/06 | Walthamstow | 66-41 | Ashfield Giants |

### Second Division Qualifying final

| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 11/07 | Ashfield Giants | 58-50 | Halifax |
| 14/07 | Halifax | 64-43 | Ashfield Giants |
First leg
Second leg
Ashfield
* Ken Le Breton 9.56
* Merv Harding 8.61
* Bruce Semmens 7.68
* Keith Gurtner 5.91
* Alec Grant 5.10
* Willie Wilson 6.28
* Bob Lovell 4.72
* Larry Lazarus 2.92
* Bill Baird 2.91
* Ernie Noakes 2.81
* Norman Johnson 2.42
* Geoff Godwin 2.36
* Eric Liddell 2.33
Coventry
* Stan Williams 8.94
* Les Hewitt 8.93
* Johnny Reason 7.78
* Cyril Cooper 7.70
* Bob Fletcher 7.59
* Derrick Tailby 7.15
* Lionel Levy 5.74
* Roy Moreton 4.41
* Peter Brough 3.92
Cradley Heath
* Alan Hunt 10.44
* Eric Boothroyd 7.75
* Brian Shepherd 7.26
* Laurie Schofield 7.25
* Gil Craven 6.97
* Phil Malpass 6.93
* Les Tolley 6.52
* Bill Clifton 5.94
* Harry Bastable 5.33
* Jack Arnfield 5.14
* Les Beaumont 4.67
* Frank Young 4.35
* Jim Pain 3.00
Edinburgh
* Jack Young 11.24
* Dick Campbell 8.68
* Don Cuppleditch 8.00
* Tommy Allott 7.09
* Eddie Lack 5.49
* Harold Fairhurst 5.41
* Danny Lee 4.76
* Bob Mark 4.42
* Clem Mitchell 4.27
* Harold Booth 3.79
* Ron Phillips 3.02
Fleetwood
* Don Potter 7.60
* Norman Hargreaves 7.05
* Wilf Plant 6.45
* Alf Parker 6.00
* Graham Williams 5.87
* Bill Reynolds 5.69
* Dick Geary 4.27
* Angus McGuire 3.20
* Frank Malouf 2.80
* Geoff Culshaw 2.92
Glasgow
* Tommy Miller 9.78
* Junior Bainbridge 8.68
* Gordon McGregor 7.57
* Norman Lindsay 7.06
* Jack Hodgson 6.87
* Frank Hodgson 6.84
* Joe Crowther 6.74
* Peter Dykes 6.29
* Ken McKinlay 6.03
* Alf McIntosh 5.58
* Johnny Green 2.26
Halifax
* Arthur Forrest 11.00
* Vic Emms 9.61
* Jock Shead 8.40
* Jack Hughes 7.04
* Al Allison 6.76
* Bill Crosland 6.58
* Jack Dawson 5.03
* Dyson Harper 4.20
* Bunny Burrows 3.79
* Ray Johnson 3.57
* George Stringer 0.47
Hanley
* Lindsay Mitchell 7.11
* Brian Pritchett 7.01
* Ken Adams 6.44
* Johnny Fitzparick 6.34
* Gil Blake 6.22
* Bill Harris 5.41
* Les Jenkins 5.04
* Ray Harris 4.86
* Stan Bradbury 4.00
Newcastle
* Derick Close 9.79
* Tommy Bateman 9.67
* Frank Hodgson 7.11
* Herby King 6.10
* Wilf Jay 5.60
* Will Lowther 5.59
* Son Mitchell 5.56
* Ernie Brecknell (Ernest Blight) 5.37
* Don Lawson 4.24
* Joe Arthur 4.00
* Don Wilkinson 4.00
Norwich
* Phil Clarke 9.91
* Paddy Mills (Horace Burke) 7.76
* Bob Leverenz 8.98
* Jack Freeman 7.46
* Alec Hunter 6.95
* Fred Rogers 6.46
* Johnny Davies 6.42
* Bill Codling 5.50
* Ted Bravery 5.19
* Syd Littlewood 4.16
Plymouth
* Pete Lansdale 9.48
* Peter Robinson 8.68
* Len Read 8.32
* Alan Smith 6.27
* George Wall 5.68
* Johnny Bradford 5.59
* Cecil Bailey 5.17
* Bill Thatcher 4.96
* Wally Mawdsley 2.46
* Denis Hayles 2.19
Sheffield
* Len Williams 8.04
* Guy Allott 7.53
* Jack Chignell 7.36
* Peter Orpwood 7.28
* Tommy Allott 6.75
* Charlie New 6.46
* Bill Dalton 6.36
* Ron Johnston 6.22
* Bert Lacey 5.60
* Jack Winstanley 4.88
* Stuart Hickman 3.33
* Johnny Green 2.93
* Jack Gordon 0.73
Southampton
* Bob Oakley 10.43
* Jimmy Squibb 8.42
* Roy Craighead 8.36
* Tom Oakley 8.23
* Cecil Bailey 6.58
* Steve Langton 6.58
* Harold McNaughton 5.90
* Buck Whitby 5.33
* Les Wotton 5.31
* Phil Bishop 5.00
* Bill Holden 2.48
* Bill Griffiths 2.00
Walthamstow
* Jim Boyd 8.76
* Benny King 7.92
* Arch Windmill 7.40
* Jimmy Grant 7.08
* Harry Edwards 6.70
* Reg Reeves 7.93
* Charlie May 6.11
* Dick Geary 5.74
* Dick Shepherd 4.90
* George Newton 4.87
* Bert Edwards 3.56
Yarmouth
* Reg Morgan 7.11
* Fred Brand 7.00
* Tip Mills 6.75
* Bill Carruthers 6.41
* Bill Maddern 5.90
* Johnny White 5.66
* Wally Higgs 5.28
* Stan Page 4.74
* Bert Rawlinson 4.73
* George Flower 2.09