1956 Speedway National League Division Two

British motorcycle speedway season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1956 was the final season of the Speedway National League Division Two.[1]

LeagueNational League Division Two
No. of competitors7
National Trophy
(Div 2 final)
Southampton Saints
Quick facts League, No. of competitors ...
1956 Speedway National League Division Two
LeagueNational League Division Two
No. of competitors7
ChampionsSwindon Robins
National Trophy
(Div 2 final)
Southampton Saints
Highest averagePer Olof Söderman
Division/s aboveNational League (Div 1)
Division/s belowSouthern League
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Summary

With the number of sides competing at national level diminishing from 37 at the start of 1951 to just 14 in 1956, only a single national division would be in existence by 1957. Poole Pirates had been promoted to Division One and Exeter Falcons had closed leaving seven entrants.[2][3]

Swindon Robins captured the title by a single point.[4][5]

Southampton's 34-year-old captain Ernie Rawlins died in Southampton Hospital on 22 September 1956, following an accident in the match against Birmingham on 18 September.[6]

Final table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team M W D L Pts
1 Swindon Robins 24 16 0 8 32
2 Southampton Saints 24 15 1 8 31
3 Rayleigh Rockets 24 14 1 9 29
4 Ipswich Witches 24 13 0 11 26
5 Coventry Bees 24 12 0 12 24
6 Leicester Hunters 24 6 1 17 13
7 Oxford Cheetahs 24 6 1 17 13
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Fixtures & results

A Fixtures

More information Home \ Away, COV ...
Home \ Away COV IPS LEI OX RAY SOT SWI
Coventry 51–44 53–43 71–25 54–42 63–33 43–53
Ipswich 51–45 56–40 65–30 49–46 57–39 47–49
Leicester 45–51 55–41 58–38 40–56 47–49 45–51
Oxford 54–42 55–41 47–49 48–48 38–58 47–49
Rayleigh 64–32 55–41 69–27 63–33 67–29 64–32
Southampton 60–36 54–42 48–48 63–33 60–36 59–37
Swindon 53–41 56–40 50–46 55–41 52–44 57–39
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Source: [7]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

B Fixtures

More information Home \ Away, COV ...
Home \ Away COV IPS LEI OX RAY SOT SWI
Coventry 46–50 49–47 56–40 56–40 51–42 51–45
Ipswich 54–42 57–39 63–32 51–45 53–43 47–49
Leicester 43–52 47–49 66–30 62–34 41–55 53–43
Oxford 59–37 45–51 50–46 48–47 45–51 51–45
Rayleigh 54–42 68–28 55–41 58–38 62–34 49–47
Southampton 50–46 53–43 70–26 66–30 63–33 57–39
Swindon 55–40 65–31 61–34 56–39 46–49 51–45
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Source: [8]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top Five Riders (League only)

More information Rider, Nat ...
Rider Nat Team C.M.A.
1 Per Olof Söderman Sweden Coventry 11.74
2 Ken McKinlay Scotland Leicester 10.25
3 Dick Bradley England Southampton 10.22
4 Bob Roger England Swindon 9.53
5 Ian Williams Wales Swindon 9.52
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National Trophy Stage One

The 1956 National Trophy was the 19th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of two stages; stage one was for the second-tier clubs, stage two was for the top-tier clubs. Southampton won stage one and qualified for second and final stage.[9]

Division Two First round

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
21/04Coventry55-53Ipswich
21/04Rayleigh74-34Oxford
21/04Swindon65-43Leicester
20/04Leicester65-43Swindon
19/04Ipswich68-40Coventry
19/04Oxford40-68Rayleigh
05/05
replay
Swindon51-56Leicester
04/05
replay
Leicester76-32Swindon
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Division Two semifinals

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
26/05Rayleigh68-39Southampton
25/05Leicester67-40Ipswich
22/05Southampton69-39Rayleigh
21/05Ipswich46-62Leicester
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Division Two final

First leg

More information Southampton SaintsDick Bradley 15Brian Hanham 13Ernie Rawlins 12Johnny Hole 7Frank Bettis 6Alby Golden 5Maurie Mattingley 4Ron Sharp 2, 64 – 43 ...
Southampton Saints
Dick Bradley 15
Brian Hanham 13
Ernie Rawlins 12
Johnny Hole 7
Frank Bettis 6
Alby Golden 5
Maurie Mattingley 4
Ron Sharp 2
64 – 43Leicester Lions
Ken McKinlay 14
Ron Phillips 11
Charlie Barsby 5
Len Williams 5
Bryan Elliott 3
Barrie East 3
Gordon McGregor 2
Ivor Brown 0
[10]
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Second leg

More information Leicester LionsLen Williams 12Ken McKinlay 9Ron Phillips 8Gordon McGregor 7Charlie Barsby 6Barrie East 4Ivor Brown 4Dennis Parker 4, 54 – 54 ...
Leicester Lions
Len Williams 12
Ken McKinlay 9
Ron Phillips 8
Gordon McGregor 7
Charlie Barsby 6
Barrie East 4
Ivor Brown 4
Dennis Parker 4
54 – 54Southampton Saints
Ernie Rawlins 14
Dick Bradley 13
Brian Hanham 9
Maurie Mattingley 7
Alby Golden 5
Johnny Hole 2
Frank Bettis 2
Ron Sharp 2
[10][11]
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Riders & final averages

Coventry

Ipswich

Leicester

Oxford

Rayleigh

Southampton

Swindon

See also

References

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