League | National League Division Three |
---|---|
Season | 1948 |
No. of competitors | 12 |
Champions | Exeter Falcons |
National Trophy (Div 3 final) | Southampton Saints |
Highest average | Alf Bottoms |
Division/s above | Division 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.
The Hull Angels were a corporation backed team, managed by Fred Archer and the team wore the crest of the city's coat-of-arms (3 golden crowns on a blue shield and yellow background).[3]
Exeter Falcons won their first title[4] and Alf Bottoms of Southampton topped the averages.[5]
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).[6]
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 |
Rider | Team | C.M.A. | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Alf Bottoms | Southampton | 11.29 |
2 | Wally Green | Hastings | 11.23 |
3 | Cyril Roger | Exeter | 9.93 |
4 | Jock Grierson | Hastings | 9.77 |
5 | Bert Roger | Exeter | 9.72 |
The 1948 Trophy was the 11th edition of the Knockout Cup.[7] 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 |
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 – 33.5 | Hanley 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 |
---|---|---|
[8][9] |
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 – 64 | Southampton 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 |
---|---|---|
[10][9] |
Coventry
Cradley Heath
Exeter
Hanley
Hastings
Hull
Plymouth
Poole
Southampton
Tamworth
Wombwell
Yarmouth