1948 Speedway National League Division Three

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1948 Speedway National League Division Three
LeagueNational League Division Three
Season1948
ChampionsExeter Falcons
No. of competitors12
National Trophy (Div 3 final)Southampton Saints
Highest average
Division/s aboveDivision One
Division Two

The 1948 National League Division Three was the second season of British speedway's National League Division Three[1][2]

The league had expanded from 8 teams to 12. Reigning champions Eastbourne Eagles were forced to close due to a petrol ban at their stadium, so their team moved a few miles along the Sussex coast to Hastings. The new entrants Coventry Bees, Hull Angels, Poole Pirates and Yarmouth Bloaters all struggled to make an impact and finished in the bottom five positions. Exeter Falcons won their first title.[3]

of Southampton topped the averages.[4]

Eric Dunn of Hastings Saxons was a third speedway rider (with Reg Craven and Bill Wilson) to be killed during the season. 34-year-old Dunn was riding in a meeting (on 13 June) at the Arlington track when he fell and was hit by a rider behind. He died two days later in hospital (15 June).[5]

Final League table[]

Pos Team PL W D L Pts
1 Exeter Falcons 44 32 1 11 65
2 Cradley Heath Cubs 44 29 2 13 60
3 Southampton Saints 44 29 0 15 58
4 Tamworth Hounds 44 23 4 17 50
5 Hanley Potters 44 24 1 19 49
6 Hastings Saxons 44 22 0 22 44
7 Plymouth Devils 44 21 2 22 43
8 Coventry Bees 44 19 1 24 39
9 Hull Angels 44 19 0 25 38
10 Poole Pirates 44 17 0 27 34
11 Yarmouth Bloaters 44 13 1 30 27
12 Wombwell Colliers 44 10 1 33 21

Leading Averages[]

Rider Team C.M.A.
1 Southampton 11.29
2 Wally Green Hastings 11.23
3 Cyril Roger Exeter 9.93
4 Hastings 9.77
5 Bert Roger Exeter 9.72

National Trophy[]

The 1948 Trophy was the 11th edition of the Knockout Cup.[6] The Qualifying event for Division 3 teams saw Southampton Saints win the final and qualify for the Elimination event. The Elimination event for Division 2 teams saw Birmingham Brummies win the final and qualify for the Quarter Finals proper.

Qualifying Event First Round[]

Date Team One Score Team Two
08/04 Plymouth 56-50 Cradley Heath
17/04 Cradley Heath 66-42 Plymouth
13/04 Southampton 89-19 Wombwell
23/04 Wombwell 31-77 Southampton
07/04 Tamworth 82-26 Exeter
12/04 Exeter 81-27 Tamworth

Qualifying Second Round[]

Date Team One Score Team Two
29/04 Stoke Hanley 64-43 Coventry
01/05 Coventry 48-59 Stoke Hanley
04/05 Southampton 77-31 Tamworth
05/05 Tamworth 46-62 Southampton
26/04 Poole 74-32 Yarmouth
27/04 Yarmouth 47-67 Poole
01/05 Hull 42-66 Cradley Heath
07/05 Cradley Heath 78-29 Hull

Qualifying Third Round[]

Date Team One Score Team Two
10/05 Poole 49-57 Stoke Hanley
13/05 Stoke Hanley 64-44 Poole
11/05 Southampton 85-23 Cradley Heath
21/05 Cradley Heath 54-50 Southampton

Qualifying Final Round[]

First leg

Southampton Saints
Alf Bottoms 18
Bob Oakley 15
Jimmy Squibb 10
Alf Kaines 9
Bert Croucher 8.5
George Bason 8
Tom Oakley 2
Cecil Bailey 2		74.5 – 33.5Hanley Potters
Gil Blake 11
Les Jenkins 6
Ray Harris 5
Dave Anderson 4
Vic Pitcher 3.5
Dick Howard 2
Ken Adams 2
Frank Evans 0
[7][8]
Banister Court Stadium

Second leg

Hanley Potters
Gil Blake 14
Ray Harris 9
Les Jenkins 6
Dick Howard 5
Dave Anderson 4
Vic Pitcher 3
Frank Evans 3
Ken Adams 1		43 – 64Southampton Saints
Alf Bottoms 17
Bob Oakley 14
Jimmy Squibb 9
Bert Croucher 8
Alf Kaines 7
Cecil Bailey 6
George Bason 3
Tom Oakley 0
[9][8]
Sun Street Stadium


See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ http://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk
  2. ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Major League Competitions". Speedway Archive.
  4. ^ "National League Division 3 1948" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Speedway News". Eastbourne Gazette. 16 June 1948. Retrieved 11 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "1948 National Trophy". Speedway archive.
  7. ^ "Speedway Defeat". Staffordshire Sentinel. 26 May 1948. Retrieved 30 October 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ a b "Southampton 1948 results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Cup final defeat". Staffordshire Sentinel. 28 May 1948. Retrieved 30 October 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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