# 1949 Speedway National League Division Three

The 1949 National League Division Three was the third season of British speedway's National League Division Three.
The league expanded to 13 teams from 12. Cradley Heath, Southampton and Coventry had all moved up to Division Two whilst Wombwell dropped out. The five new sides were Liverpool Chads, Leicester Hunters, Rayleigh Rockets, Oxford Cheetahs and Halifax Dukes. The latter racing on a new speedway track at The Shay.
Swindon Robins joined the league late in the season, when Reg Witcomb applied to the Speedway Control Board to take over the remaining fixtures of Hull Angels, who had withdrawn from the league.
Hanley Potters won the title on race points difference from Yarmouth Bloaters and Billy Bales of Yarmouth topped the averages.

## Final table

| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Hanley Potters | 48 | 35 | 1 | 12 | 71 |
| 2 | Yarmouth Bloaters | 48 | 35 | 1 | 12 | 71 |
| 3 | Tamworth Hounds | 48 | 33 | 0 | 15 | 66 |
| 4 | Halifax Dukes | 48 | 28 | 2 | 18 | 58 |
| 5 | Plymouth Devils | 48 | 28 | 2 | 18 | 58 |
| 6 | Poole Pirates | 48 | 27 | 0 | 21 | 54 |
| 7 | Exeter Falcons | 48 | 24 | 0 | 24 | 48 |
| 8 | Hastings Saxons | 48 | 21 | 1 | 36 | 43 |
| 9 | Liverpool Chads | 48 | 19 | 0 | 29 | 38 |
| 10 | Leicester Hunters | 48 | 17 | 1 | 30 | 35 |
| 11 | Swindon Robins+ | 48 | 15 | 1 | 32 | 31 |
| 12 | Rayleigh Rockets | 48 | 14 | 0 | 34 | 28 |
| 13 | Oxford Cheetahs | 48 | 11 | 1 | 36 | 23 |
+Hull Angels withdrew and were replaced by Swindon.

## Fixtures & results
### A fixtures

| Home \ Away | EX | HAL | HAN | HAS | LEI | LIV | OX | PLY | PP | RAY | S/H | TAM | YAR |
| Exeter | | 36–48 | 48–36 | 61–23 | 38–44 | 60–24 | 60–24 | 44–40 | 54–30 | 48–35 | 48–36 | 49–35 | 40–42 |
| Halifax | 34–49 | | 47–35 | 59–24 | 58–26 | 39–44 | 66–18 | 54–29 | 62–22 | 62–22 | 57–26 | 62–22 | 37–45 |
| Hanley | 52–32 | 65–19 | | 60–24 | 49–33 | 57–26 | 56–28 | 52–32 | 60–23 | 67–17 | 63–20 | 51–32 | 44–40 |
| Hastings | 48–36 | 58–25 | 40–44 | | 56–28 | 51–33 | 61–23 | 52–31 | 55–28 | 65–16 | 45–39 | 51–33 | 39–45 |
| Leicester | 59–25 | 41–43 | 31–53 | 52–32 | | 41–42 | 46–38 | 45–39 | 37–47 | 58–25 | 49–35 | 36–48 | 30–54 |
| Liverpool | 55–29 | 44–40 | 43–41 | 58–26 | 61–23 | | 48–36 | 39–45 | 48–36 | 49–35 | 48–34 | 36–48 | 39–44 |
| Oxford | 51–33 | 42–42 | 23–60 | 37–47 | 35–49 | 37–46 | | 40–43 | 33.5–50.5 | 41–37 | 32–51 | 32–52 | 25–59 |
| Plymouth | 44–40 | 52–32 | 54–30 | 48–32 | 49–34 | 54–29 | 53–31 | | 35–47 | 46–38 | 59–25 | 50–34 | 57–27 |
| Poole | 45–39 | 46–37 | 41–43 | 60–23 | 44–39 | 50–33 | 51–33 | 37–46 | | 53–31 | 44–40 | 33–50 | 53–31 |
| Rayleigh | 46–37 | 42–40 | 30–53 | 59–25 | 47–37 | 53–31 | 47–37 | 27–56 | 31–53 | | 52–31 | 45–37 | 29–55 |
| Swindon/Hull | 40–44 | 37–46 | 40–43 | 47–37 | 53–30 | 53–31 | 60–24 | 44–40 | 54–30 | 62–22 | | 43–41 | 42–42 |
| Tamworth | 55–28 | 52–30 | 41–43 | 47.5–36.5 | 60–24 | 56–28 | 65–19 | 57–27 | 44–40 | 55–29 | 53–30 | | 55–29 |
| Yarmouth | 59–23 | 63–21 | 46–38 | 62–22 | 60–24 | 63–20 | 66–17 | 41–43 | 41–42 | 49–34 | 66–18 | 50–34 | |

### B fixtures

| Home \ Away | EX | HAL | HAN | HAS | LEI | LIV | OX | PLY | PP | RAY | S/H | TAM | YAR |
| Exeter | | 42–41 | 32–52 | 52–31 | 57–27 | 57–27 | 52–30 | 47–36 | 45–38 | 60–24 | 58–26 | 53–31 | 53–31 |
| Halifax | 49–35 | | 55–29 | 67–17 | 58–25 | 46–38 | 60–24 | 58–26 | 64–20 | 64–20 | 62–22 | 50–34 | 37–44 |
| Hanley | 50–34 | 48–35 | | 56–28 | 60–24 | 58–24 | 57–27 | 60–24 | 61–23 | 47–34 | 64–19 | 51–32 | 39–44 |
| Hastings | 44–40 | 43–40 | 40–44 | | 53–31 | 55–28 | 50–34 | 42–42 | 46–38 | 63–21 | 54–30 | 39.5–44.5 | 41–43 |
| Leicester | 40–43 | 42–42 | 34–50 | 46–38 | | 55–29 | 52–32 | 52–32 | 56–27 | 56–28 | 57–27 | 38–46 | 35–49 |
| Liverpool | 49–35 | 35–48 | 49–35 | 49–35 | 36–47 | | 53–30 | 41–43 | 41–43 | 47–37 | 48–36 | 40–44 | 45–39 |
| Oxford | 41–42 | 46–38 | 38–46 | 47–37 | 46–38 | 45–39 | | 33–51 | 51–33 | 49–35 | 54–29 | 31–53 | 43–41 |
| Plymouth | 51–33 | 40–44 | 42–42 | 40–43 | 50–34 | 50–34 | 62–22 | | 41–43 | 50–34 | 50–4 | 48–36 | 56–28 |
| Poole | 46–38 | 36–48 | 44–40 | 46–38 | 43–41 | 50–33 | 58–26 | 49–35 | | 50–34 | 53–31 | 41–43 | 47–36 |
| Rayleigh | 42–40 | 40–44 | 34–50 | 49–35 | 50–33 | 52–32 | 37–47 | 33–51 | 34–50 | | 51–33 | 48–34 | 39–44 |
| Swindon/Hull | 56–28 | 39–45 | 47–37 | 41–43 | 33–51 | 54–29 | 42–41 | 36–47 | 49–35 | 52–32 | | 37–46 | 35–49 |
| Tamworth | 55–28 | 52–31 | 57–27 | 66–22 | 57–27 | 64–20 | 67–17 | 50–33 | 66–18 | 64–20 | 67–17 | | 50–34 |
| Yarmouth | 51–33 | 55–26 | 44–38 | 58–26 | 63–21 | 63–21 | 57–27 | 58–24 | 57–26 | 53–31 | 60–24 | 50–33 | |

## Leading Averages

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Billy Bales | Yarmouth | 10.44 |
| 2 | Vic Emms | Halifax | 10.33 |
| 3 | Pete Lansdale | Plymouth | 10.29 |
| 4 | Norman Clay | Exeter | 9.90 |
| 5 | Harry Saunders | Tamworth | 9.70 |

## National Trophy Stage One

* For Stage Two - see Stage Two
* For Stage Three - see Stage Three
The 1949 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. Hanley Potters won stage one and therefore qualified for stage two.
Third Division Qualifying First round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 07/04 | Plymouth | 54-54 | Exeter |
| 04/04 | Exeter | 62-45 | Plymouth |
| 15/04 | Leicester | 49-58 | Hull |
| 09/04 | Hull | 77-31 | Leicester |
| 14/04 | Stoke Hanley | 67-41 | Liverpool |
| 11/04 | Liverpool | 42-66 | Stoke Hanley |
| 19/04 | Yarmouth | 70-37 | Rayleigh |
| 16/04 | Rayleigh | 55-51 | Yarmouth |
Third Division Qualifying Second round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 07/05 | Stoke Hanley | 75-33 | Exeter |
| 25/04 | Exeter | 57-51 | Stoke Hanley |
| 03/05 | Yarmouth | 75-33 | Hastings |
| 27/04 | Hastings | 52-55 | Yarmouth |
| 20/04 | Halifax | 48-59 | Poole |
| 11/04 | Poole | 70-38 | Halifax |
| 27/04 | Tamworth | 70-38 | Hull |
| 30/04 | Hull | 61-47 | Tamworth |
Third Division Qualifying semifinals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 25/05 | Tamworth | 56-51 | Stoke Hanley |
| 14/05 | Stoke Hanley | 59-48 | Tamworth |
| 23/05 | Poole | 59-49 | Yarmouth |
| 17/05 | Yarmouth | 60-46 | Poole |

### Qualifying final

First leg
Second leg

## Riders & final averages

Exeter
* Norman Clay 9.77
* Don Hardy 8.70
* Arthur Pilgrim 7.32
* Hugh Geddes 7.16
* Stan Hodson 6.63
* Vic Gent 6.51
* Stan Lanfear 5.98
* Johnny Myson 5.45
* Bronco Slade 4.80
* John Hancox 4.36
* Goog Hoskin 2.59
Halifax
* Vic Emms 10.33
* Arthur Forrest 9.06
* Dick Seers 8.76
* Bill Crosland 6.85
* Jock Shead 6.38
* Al Allison 6.24
* Jack Hughes 6.10
* Jack Dawson 5.92
* Ray Johnson 5.78
* Ken Brown 4.31
* Eric Smith 3.22
* Eric Mason 2.92
Hanley
* Vic Pitcher 9.78
* Les Jenkins 9.38
* Ken Adams 9.24
* Gil Blake 9.19
* Lindsay Mitchell 8.54
* Ray Harris 8.26
* Bill Harris 8.09
* Frank Evans 5.82
* Stan Bradbury 5.59
* Brian Pritchett 5.04
* Johnny Fitzpatrick 4.87
* Dave Anderson 3.36
Hastings
* Jock Grierson 9.06
* Ken Middleditch 8.99
* Buddy Fuller 7.69
* Ron Clark 6.54
* Norman Street 5.59
* Harold McNaughton 5.53
* Ken Smith 5.41
* Dan English 5.33
* Harold Tapscott 4.74
* Ken Tidbury 4.94
* George Butler 4.75
Hull/Swindon
* Bob Baker 8.73/x
* Mick Mitchell 8.43/7.13
* Alf Webster 7.24/5.67
* Derek Glover 6.67/4.83
* Bob Jones x/6.08
* George Craig 5.66/6.69
* Bill Downton x/5.23
* Johnny Green 4.51/x
* Jack Watts 4.49/x
* Norman Johnson 4.29/x
* Reg Lambourne x/4.24
* Harry Hughes x/2.53
* Tom Wilson x/2.20
* Ken Allick 2.14/x
Leicester
* Vic Pitcher 8.07
* Cyril Page 7.35
* Ron Wilson 6.23
* Jack Baxter 6.17
* Harwood Pike 6.13
* Sid Hipperson 6.13
* Johnny Carpenter 6.07
* Jack Winstanley 5.90
* Roy Duke 5.60
* Ted Rawlinson 5.40
* George Gower 5.38
* Ernest Palmer 4.87
* Ted Moore 3.56
* Syd van der Vyver 3.45
Liverpool
* Alex Gray 8.55
* Harry Welch 7.91
* Doug Serrurier 6.44
* Fred Wills 5.99
* Charlie Oates 5.64
* George Bason 5.12
* Stan Bedford 4.98
* Reg Duval 4.95
* Angus McGuire 4.94
* Ron Burnett 4.35
* Ernie Steers 4.00
* Percy Brine 4.00
* Tom Turnham 3.00
Oxford
* Dennis Gray 8.20
* Bob McFarlane 7.94
* Bert Croucher 7.02
* Alf Viccary 5.60
* Frank Boyle 5.34
* Bil Kemp 5.10
* Jimmy Wright 4.20
* Alf Elliott 4.02
* Ernie Rawlins 3.96
* Jimmy Coy 3.91
* Bill Reynolds 3.58
Plymouth
* Pete Lansdale 10.29
* Len Read 9.22
* Peter Robinson 8.52
* George Wall 6.14
* Ivan Kessell 5.39
* Johnny Bradford 4.57
* Alan Smith 5.14
* Bob Wigg 4.32
* Bonny Waddell 4.00
* Wally Matthews 3.13
* Toby Boschoff 1.83
Poole
* Cyril Quick 8.47
* Allan Chambers 8.38
* Fred Pawson 8.29
* Dick Howard 6.94
* Ticker James 5.49
* Charlie Hayden 5.43
* Ken James 4.55
* Terry Small 4.17
* Frank Holcombe 4.13
* Ray Bartlett 2.80
* Frank Wheeler 2.09
Rayleigh
* Les McGillivray 7.33
* Pat Clark 6.55
* Jim Gregory 6.45
* Jack Unstead 6.16
* Percy Brine 5.95
* Ron Howes 5.55
* Vic Gooden 5.04
* Roy Uden 4.74
* Wally Mawdsley 4.58
* Doug Ible 3.43
* Charlie Mugford 3.27
Tamworth
* Harry Saunders 9.73
* Bill Dalton 8.40
* Peter Orpwood 8.28
* Basil Harris 7.94
* Steve Langton 7.05
* Cecil Hookham 6.54
* Lionel Watling 6.56
* Ray Beaumont 5.70
Yarmouth
* Billy Bales 10.60
* Tip Mills 8.61
* Bill Carruthers 8.13
* Reg Morgan 7.94
* Bert Rawlinson 7.21
* Cliff Ladbrooke 7.14
* Fred Brand 7.03
* John White 6.72
* Sid Hipperson 6.65
* Stan Page 5.62
* Joe Rodwell 4.29