1952 Speedway Southern League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

LeagueSouthern League
Season1952
No. of competitors10
ChampionsRayleigh Rockets
1952 Speedway Southern League
LeagueSouthern League
Season1952
No. of competitors10
ChampionsRayleigh Rockets
National Trophy
(Southern final)		Plymouth Devils
Highest averageGeorge Wall
Division/s aboveNational League Div 1
National League Div 2

The 1952 Southern League was the first season of the newly created regional third tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom for Southern British teams. From the defunct National League Division Three of the previous season, only Poole Pirates did not join the new league. Ipswich Witches and Southampton Saints were new entrants.[1]

Rayleigh Rockets were champions whilst.[2] George Wall of Plymouth topped the averages.[3][4]

Long Eaton Archers withdrew mid-season after experiencing financial difficulties. They closed down after their 31 July fixture.[5][6]

Pos Team PL W D L Pts
1 Rayleigh Rockets 36 28 0 8 56
2 Cardiff Dragons 36 23 0 13 46
3 Plymouth Devils 36 20 1 15 41
4 Wolverhampton Wasps 36 20 1 15 41
5 Exeter Falcons 36 20 1 15 41
6 Swindon Robins 36 18 0 18 36
7 Aldershot Shots 36 15 1 20 31
8 Ipswich Witches 36 12 0 24 24
9 Southampton Saints 36 11 0 25 22
10 St Austell Gulls 36 11 0 25 22

Withdrawal (Record expunged) : Long Eaton Archers

Fixtures & results

A fixtures

Home \ Away ALD CAR EX IPS LE PLY RAY SA SOT SWI WOL
Aldershot 52–32 58–25 59–25 56–28 42–42 36–48 61–22 47–37 46–38 46–37
Cardiff 63–21 58–26 63–21 63–21 47–37 46–38 59–25 61–23 52.5–31.5 66–18
Exeter 52–29 46–38 54–30 63–20 44–40 40–44 53–30 58–26 49–35 43–41
Ipswich 52–32 48–35 42–41 53–31 35–49 38–45 46–38 55–28 39–45 39–45
Long Eaton 36–47 41–43 53–29 44–40 51–33 42–42 50–34 54–30 n/a 45–39
Plymouth 46–37 53–31 57–27 58–25 64–20 45–39 53–31 59–25 59–25 45–39
Rayleigh 64–20 62–22 49–35 53–31 54–30 45–39 54–30 59–22 46–37 52–32
St Austell 42–41 31–53 29–55 30–54 47–36 45–38 45–39 53–31 45–39 44–40
Southampton 43–38 40–44 39–45 34–47 57–27 49–35 27–56 55–29 41–43 37–47
Swindon 63–21 44–40 48–36 47–37 58–26 41–43 50–34 62–22 65–19 45.5–38.5
Wolverhampton 55–28 54–30 59–25 51–33 59–25 51–31 47–37 48–36 61–23 45–39
Source: [7]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

B fixtures

Home \ Away ALD CAR EX IPS LE PLY RAY SA SOT SWI WOL
Aldershot 52–32 62–22 56–28 n/a 45–39 41–43 54–30 53–31 50–33 39–45
Cardiff 68–16 65–19 59–25 64–20 58–22 53–31 62–22 58–26 53–30 66–17
Exeter 63–21 45–39 55–29 n/a 48–35 33–51 52–31 47–36 39–45 51–33
Ipswich 56–27 40–44 38–46 n/a 32–52 35–49 48–36 55–26 40–44 47–37
Long Eaton n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Plymouth 64–20 51–33 40–44 57–26 n/a 26–58 59–25 58–26 44–39 55–29
Rayleigh 61–23 48–36 52–32 59–25 n/a 44–39 60–24 65–19 60–24 67–17
St Austell 54–30 50–34 41–43 38–46 n/a 39–45 43–40 54–30 47–37 41–43
Southampton 60–24 37–47 62–21 48–35 n/a 44–40 46–38 58–26 46–38 59–25
Swindon 41–43 40–44 49–35 57–27 n/a 54–30 35–49 43–41 48.5–35.5 55–29
Wolverhampton 58–26 53–31 42–42 55–29 n/a 59–25 33–50 62–22 61–23 50–34
Source: [8]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Leading Averages

Rider Team C.M.A.
1 George Wall Plymouth 10.26
2 Alan Smith Plymouth 9.93
3 Pete Lansdale Plymouth 9.46
4 Goog Hoskin Exeter 9.45
5 Jack Unstead Rayleigh 9.33

National Trophy Stage Three

The 1952 National Trophy was the 15th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third-tier clubs, stage two was for the second-tier 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. Plymouth won stage one and therefore qualified for stage two.[9]

Third Division qualifying first round

Date Team one Score Team two
22/04Southampton49-58Cardiff
18/04Wolverhampton74-33Long Eaton
17/04Cardiff75-33Southampton
17/04Long Eaton58-50Wolverhampton

Third Division qualifying second round

Date Team one Score Team two
26/04Swindon52-56Cardiff
25/04Wolverhampton49-59Exeter
24/04Cardiff74-32Swindon
24/04Ipswich50-57Rayleigh
21/04Exeter73-34Wolverhampton
19/04Rayleigh60-48Ipswich
19/04Aldershot48-60Plymouth
17/04Plymouth76-31Aldershot

Third Division qualifying semifinals

Date Team one Score Team two
08/05Cardiff59-48Rayleigh
03/05Rayleigh70-38Cardiff
01/05Plymouth67-41Exeter
28/04Exeter57-51Plymouth

Qualifying final

First leg

Plymouth Devils
Pete Lansdale 17
George Wall 16
Bill Tatcher 14
Alan Smith 11
Brian Hitchcock 5
Denis Hayles 3
Doug Fursey 3
Frank Wheeler 0		69 – 38Rayleigh Rockets
Jack Unstead 10
Peter Clark 8
Julie Benson 6
Ron Howes 5
Tom O'Connor 3
Gerald Jackson 3
Les McGillivray 2
Maurice McDermott 1
[10]

Second leg

Rayleigh Rockets
Jack Unstead 16
Les McGillivray 13
Gerald Jackson 10
Julie Benson 10
Ron Howes 8
Tom O'Connor 5
Peter Clark 5
Maurice McDermott 0		67 – 41Plymouth Devils
George Wall 14
Alan Smith 10
Pete Lansdale 8
Bill Tatcher 4
Brian Hitchcock 3
Johnny Bradford 2
Denis Hayles 1
Frank Wheeler 0
[11][10]

Riders & final averages

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI