League | National League |
---|---|
Champions | Eastbourne Eagles[1] |
Knockout Cup | Eastbourne Eagles[2] |
National Trophy | Mildenhall Fen Tigers[3] |
Individual | Ben Morley |
Highest average | Tom Bacon[4] |
Division/s above | SGB Premiership 2018 SGB Championship 2018 |
The National League speedway 2018 was the 2018 season of the third tier/division of British speedway.[5]
Eastbourne Eagles won the playoffs and were declared champions.[6][1] They completed the double by winning the Knockout Cup.[7]
Teams face each other two times: once home and once away.
The following National League matches were not staged during the 2018 league season
Buxton Hitmen Vs Coventry Bees
Eastbourne Eagles Vs Mildenhall Fen Tigers
Final National League Table Up To And Including Sunday 28 October
Pos. | Club | M | Home | Away | F | A | Pts | +/− | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | D | L | 4W | 3W | D | 1L | L | |||||||
1 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 17 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 889 | 597 | 57 | +292 |
2 | Eastbourne Eagles | 17 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 843 | 647 | 42 | +196 |
3 | Kent Kings | 18 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 827 | 754 | 38 | +73 |
4 | Birmingham Brummies | 18 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 846 | 768 | 33 | +78 |
5 | Coventry Bees | 17 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 787 | 704 | 31 | +83 |
6 | Belle Vue Colts | 18 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 809 | 792 | 30 | +17 |
7 | Plymouth Devils | 18 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 753 | 863 | 23 | -110 |
8 | Isle of Wight Warriors | 18 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 713 | 845 | 20 | -132 |
9 | Stoke Potters | 18 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 656 | 892 | 19 | -236 |
10 | Buxton Hitmen | 17 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 631 | 892 | 3 | -261 |
Coventry Bees were in fourth place and higher in the league table then Birmingham Brummies at the cut-off date to decide the National League play-off places.
Semi-finals | Grand Final | ||||||||||||
Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 61 | 46 | 107 | ||||||||||
Kent Kings | 29 | 44 | 73 | ||||||||||
Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 35 | 46 | 81 | ||||||||||
Eastbourne Eagles | 54 | 44 | 98 | ||||||||||
Eastbourne Eagles | 60 | 50 | 110 | ||||||||||
Coventry Bees | 30 | 40 | 70 |
Home team scores are in bold
Overall aggregate scores are in red
28 September | [10] | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 61–29 | Kent Kings | West Row Arena Referee(s): Darren Hartley |
1 October | [11] | Kent Kings | 44–46 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | Central Park Stadium Referee(s): Paul Carrington |
17 October | [12] | Eastbourne Eagles | 60–30 | Coventry Bees | Arlington Stadium Referee(s): Christina Turnball |
20 October | [13] | Coventry Bees | 40–50 | Eastbourne Eagles | Beaumont Park Stadium Referee(s): Tony Steele |
21 October | [14] | Eastbourne Eagles Georgie Wood 13 Mark Baseby 12 Tom Brennan 10 Jason Edwards 6 Ethan Spiller 6 Charlie Brooks 5 Charley Powell 2 |
54–35 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers Drew Kemp 11 Josh Bailey 9 Ryan Kinsley 9 Matt Mason 6 Sam Bebee 0 Kelsey Dugard 0 Jordan Jenkins R/R |
Arlington Stadium Referee(s): Ronnie Allan |
25 October | [15] | Mildenhall Fen Tigers Drew Kemp 13 Josh Bailey 10 Ryan Kinsley 10 Nathan Stoneman (guest) 6 Matt Mason 5 Sam Bebee 2 Jordan Jenkins R/R |
46–44 | Eastbourne Eagles Georgie Wood 11 Mark Baseby 10 Tom Brennan 7 Charlie Brooks 7 Jason Edwards 5 Ethan Spiller 3 Charley Powell 1 |
West Row Arena Referee(s): Paul Carrington |
The 2018 National League Knockout Cup was the 21st edition of the Knockout Cup for tier three teams.[16]
Preliminary rounds | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Belle Vue Colts | 58 | 54 | 112 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Buxton Hitmen | 32 | 36 | 68 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Belle Vue Colts | 25 | 43 | 68 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 65 | 47 | 112 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Birmingham Brummies | 37 | 41 | 78 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 34 | 49 | 83 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 52 | 32 | 84 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eastbourne Eagles | 38 | 58 | 96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coventry Bees | 46 | 36 | 82 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eastbourne Eagles | 44 | 54 | 98 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eastbourne Eagles | 60 | 48 | 108 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Isle of Wight Warriors | 30 | 42 | 72 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eastbourne Eagles | 45 | 52 | 97 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kent Kings | 45 | 38 | 83 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plymouth Devils | 34 | 39 | 73 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kent Kings | 38 | 51 | 89 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kent Kings | 56 | 57 | 113 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stoke Potters | 34 | 31 | 65 |
Home team scores are in bold
Overall aggregate scores are in red
First round
20 April | [17] | Belle Vue Colts | 58–32 | Buxton Hitmen | National Speedway Stadium Referee(s): Darren Hartley |
22 April | [18] | Buxton Hitmen | 36–54 | Belle Vue Colts | Hi-Edge Raceway Referee(s): Phil Griffin |
4 June | [19] | Kent Kings | 56–34 | Stoke Potters | Central Park Stadium Referee(s): Graham Reeve |
14 July | [20] | Stoke Potters | 37–51 | Kent Kings | Loomer Road Stadium Referee(s): Craig Ackroyd |
Quarter-finals
20 April | [21] | Belle Vue Colts | 58–32 | Buxton Hitmen | National Speedway Stadium Referee(s): Darren Hartley |
22 April | [22] | Buxton Hitmen | 36–54 | Belle Vue Colts | Hi-Edge Raceway Referee(s): Phil Griffin |
9 May | [23] | Birmingham Brummies | 37–34 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | Perry Barr Stadium Referee(s): Ronnie Allan |
17 June | [24] | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 49–41 | Birmingham Brummies | West Row Arena Referee(s): Craig Ackroyd |
26 April | [25] | Isle of Wight Warriors | 42–48 | Eastbourne Eagles | Smallbrook Stadium Referee(s): Craig Ackroyd |
13 May | [26] | Coventry Bees | 46–44 | Eastbourne Eagles | Beaumont Park Stadium Referee(s): Peter Clarke |
20 July | [27] | Plymouth Devils | 34–38 | Kent Kings | St. Boniface Arena Referee(s): Margaret Vardy |
6 August | [28] | Kent Kings | 51–39 | Plymouth Devils | Central Park Stadium Referee(s): Paul Carrington |
Semi-finals
19 August | [29] | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 64–25 | Belle Vue Colts | West Row Arena Referee(s): Darren Hartley |
14 September | [30] | Belle Vue Colts | 43–47 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | National Speedway Stadium Referee(s): Graham Flint |
24 September | [31] | Kent Kings | 45–45 | Eastbourne Eagles | Central Park Stadium Referee(s): Graham Reeve |
29 September | [32] | Eastbourne Eagles | 52–38 | Kent Kings | Arlington Stadium Referee(s): Paul Carrington |
Grand Final
12 October | [33] | Mildenhall Fen Tigers Drew Kemp 15 Josh Bailey 12 Ryan Kinsley 9 Jordan Jenkins 7 Sam Bebee 6 Matt Marson 3 Danny Ayres R/R |
52–38 | Eastbourne Eagles Tom Brennan 11 Georgie Wood 9 Mark Baseby 9 Charlie Brooks 4 Jason Edwards 3 Ethan Spiller 2 Charley Powell 0 |
West Row Arena Referee(s): Chris Gay |
13 October | [34] | Eastbourne Eagles Tom Brennan 13 Georgie Wood 12 Ethan Spiller 9 Mark Baseby 7 Charlie Brooks 7 Jason Edwards 6 Charley Powell 4 |
58–32 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers Drew Kemp 13 Josh Bailey 6 Ryan Kinsley 6 Matt Marson 6 Jordan Jenkins 1 Sam Bebee 0 Danny Ayres R/R |
Arlington Stadium Referee(s): Dave Robinson |
Northern Section
Fixtures
Teams face each other two times: once home and once away.
Table
National Trophy Northern Section Table Up to And Including Wednesday 1 August
Pos. | Club | M | Home | Away | F | A | Pts | +/− | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | D | L | 4W | 3W | D | 1L | L | |||||||
1 | Cradley Heathens | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 407 | 276 | 23 | +131 |
2 | Birmingham Brummies | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 418 | 301 | 21 | +117 |
3 | Coventry Bees | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 279 | 259 | 11 | +20 |
4 | Stoke Potters | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 259 | 337 | 7 | -78 |
5 | Buxton Hitmen | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 219 | 409 | 0 | +190 |
Southern Section
Fixtures
Teams face each other two times: once home and once away.
Table
Final National Trophy Southern Section Table
Pos. | Club | M | Home | Away | F | A | Pts | +/− | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | D | L | 4W | 3W | D | 1L | L | |||||||
1 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 450 | 267 | 23 | +133 |
2 | Eastbourne Eagles | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 397 | 321 | 20 | +76 |
3 | Kent Kings | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 346 | 368 | 14 | -22 |
4 | Plymouth Devils | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 329 | 388 | 10 | -59 |
5 | Isle of Wight Warriors | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 270 | 448 | 0 | -178 |
Grand Final
11 September | [36] | Cradley Heathens Richard Andrews 13 Jason Edwards 7 Kyle Bickley 6 Alfie Bowtell 5 Jack Smith (guest) 5 Ellis Perks 2 James Chattin 1 |
39–51 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers Max Clegg (guest) 15 Drew Kemp 15 Ryan Kinsley 8 Jordan Jenkins 6 Matt Marson 4 Sam Bebee 3 Josh Bailey R/R |
Monmore Green Referee(s): David Watters |
16 September | [37] | Mildenhall Fen Tigers Ben Morley (guest) 9 Drew Kemp 9 Jordan Jenkins 9 Ryan Kinsley 7 Matt Marson 7 Sam Bebee 6 Josh Bailey 2 |
49–41 | Cradley Heathens Nathan Stoneman (guest) 14 Alfie Bowtell 10 Jason Edwards 7 Tom Brennan (guest) 6 Richard Andrews 3 James Chattin 1 Ellis Perks R/R |
West Row Arena Referee(s): David Watters |
Rider | Team | Average |
---|---|---|
Tom Bacon | Birmingham | 10.54 |
James Shanes | Birmingham | 10.38 |
Connor Mountain | Coventry | 10.18 |
Luke Bowen | Kent | 10.10 |
Drew Kemp | Mildenhall | 9.59 |
Ben Morley won the Riders' Championship for the second time. The final was held on 30 September at Beaumont Park Stadium.[38]
Pos. | Rider | Points | Total |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Ben Morley | 3 2 3 3 3 | 14+3 |
2 | Alfie Bowtell | 3 3 2 3 3 | 14+2 |
3 | Connor Mountain | 3 3 3 3 1 | 13 |
4 | Jack Thomas | 1 1 3 3 2 | 10 |
5 | Max Clegg | E 3 3 2 0 | 8 |
6 | Tom Perry | 0 1 2 2 3 | 8 |
7 | Mark Baseby | XD 3 2 1 2 | 8 |
8 | Georgie Wood | 3 2 1 1 1 | 8 |
9 | Ryan Kinsley | 2 2 0 2 1 | 7 |
10 | Nathan Stoneman | F 1 2 0 3 | 6 |
11 | Jon Armstrong | 2 0 1 2 1 | 6 |
12 | Tom Woolley | 2 1 0 0 2 | 5 |
13 | Kyle Bickley | 2 0 1 1 0 | 4 |
14 | Henry Atkins | 1 2 0 1 0 | 4 |
15 | Dan Gilkes (res) | 1 2 | 3 |
16 | Sheldon Davies | 1 0 0 0 0 | 1 |
17 | Ben Woodhull (res) | 0 0 | 0 |
18 | Drew Kemp | R FD - - - | 0 |
Belle Vue Colts
Birmingham Brummies
Buxton Hitmen
Coventry Bees
Cradley Heathens
The Cradley team only took part in the National Trophy competition
Eastbourne Eagles
Isle of Wight Warriors
Kent Kings
Mildenhall Fen Tigers
Plymouth Devils
Stoke Potters
Pos | team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Peterborough | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
2 | Belle Vue Colts | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
3 | Birmingham | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
4 | Carmarthen Dragons | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
5 | Milton Keynes | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
Pos | team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Berwick | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
2 | Peterborough | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 16 |
3 | Ashfield | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 11 |
4 | Newcastle | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
5 | Workington | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 8 |
6 | Redcar | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
7 | Edinburgh | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 6 |
Pos | team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kent | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
2 | Reading | 8 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
3 | Exeter | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
4 | Isle of Wight | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
5 | Weymouth | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |