2018 National League speedway season

2018 National League speedway season
LeagueNational League
ChampionsEastbourne Eagles[1]
Knockout CupEastbourne Eagles[2]
National TrophyMildenhall Fen Tigers[3]
IndividualBen Morley
Highest averageTom Bacon[4]
Division/s aboveSGB 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]

Results

Fixtures

Home \ Away BVC BRM BUX COV EAS IOW KK MIL PLY STK
Belle Vue Colts 40–50 57–32 50–40 46–44 58–32 57–33 43–47 55–35 61–29
Birmingham Brummies 53–36 55–34 43–47 54–36 57–37 45–45 44–46 40–50 63–27
Buxton Hitmen 43–46 44–46 38–52 41–49 40–49 32–58 51–39 38–52
Coventry Bees 59–31 53–36 51–39 51–39 51–39 52–38 40–50 59–31 48–42
Eastbourne Eagles 61–29 49–41 60–30 52–32 51–39 56–31 54–36 67–23
Isle of Wight Warriors 48–42 39–51 58–32 50–40 38–52 42–48 37–53 46–44 60–30
Kent Kings 53–36 46–43 58–31 46–44 32–27 57–33 40–50 53–37 64–26
Mildenhall Fen Tigers 50–28 53–37 55–35 51–39 57–33 42–18 52–38 58–32 60–29
Plymouth Devils 46–44 39–50 57–32 46–44 35–55 54–35 47–43 36–54 48–42
Stoke Potters 37–50 47–42 50–39 29–29 41–49 32–27 36–53 36–53 48–41
Source: [8]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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

Table

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

[9]

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.

Play-Offs

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

Semi-finals

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

Grand Final

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

National League Knockout Cup

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

National Trophy

Northern Section

Fixtures

Home \ Away BRM BUX COV CRA STK
Birmingham Brummies 60–30 53–37 45–45 57–33
Buxton Hitmen 29–61 31–59 32–57 41–48
Coventry Bees 42–48 00–00 40–49 52–38
Cradley Heathens 52–37 68–22 40–49 59–29
Stoke Potters 33–57 56–34 00–00 22–37
Source: [8]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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

[35]

Southern Section

Fixtures

Home \ Away EAS IOW KK MIL PLY
Eastbourne Eagles 56–34 68–21 50–39 49–41
Isle of Wight Warriors 37–53 32–56 31–59 43–47
Kent Kings 00–00 00–00 00–00 46–43
Mildenhall Fen Tigers 46–44 57–33 44–45 00–00
Plymouth Devils 44–46 54–36 46–43 29–61
Source: [8]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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

[35]

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

Final leading averages

Rider Team Average
England Tom Bacon Birmingham 10.54
England James Shanes Birmingham 10.38
England Connor Mountain Coventry 10.18
England Luke Bowen Kent 10.10
England Drew Kemp Mildenhall 9.59

Riders' Championship

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

Teams and final averages

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

Development Leagues

Midland Development League

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

Northern Junior League

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

Southern Development League

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

See also

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35781%7Ctitle= Eagles Win NL Title 26 October 2018
  2. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35725%7Ctitle= Eagles Win Cup Again 14 October 2018
  3. ^ http://speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35579%7Ctitle= Trophy Koy For Fen Tigers 17 September 2018
  4. ^ "Final National League Averages" (PDF). 30 November 2018.
  5. ^ "2018 Fixtures" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Depleted Fen Tigers lose final". Suffolk News. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  7. ^ "October 2018 The Eagles". Eastbourne Speedway. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  8. ^ a b c http://www.speedwaygb.co/march18%7Ctitle= March Results
    http://www.speedwaygb.co/april18%7Ctitle- April Results
    http://www.speedwaygb.co/may18%7Ctitle- May Results
    http://speedwaygb.co/june18%7Ctitle- June Results
    http://speedwaygb.co/july18%7Ctitle- July Results
    http://speedwaygb.co/august18%7Ctitle- August Results
    http://speedwaygb.co/september18%7Ctitle- September Results
    http://speedwaygb.co/october18%7Ctitle- October Results
    All British Speedway Result Details Are Retrieved From Official Speedway GB Website http://www.speedwaygb.co
  9. ^ 2018 National League Table Retrieved Form Official Speedway GB Website http://speedwaygb.co.uk/nationalleaguetable18
  10. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/_mobile/news.php?extend.35639%7Ctitle= Big Win For Fen Tigers 29 September 2018
  11. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/_mobile/news.php?extend.35661%7Ctitle= Job Done For Fen Tigers 2 October 2018
  12. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35743%7Ctitle= 30-Point Lead For Eagles 18 October 2018
  13. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35758%7Ctitle= Eagles Into NL Grand Final 21 October 2018
  14. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35764%7Ctitle= Eagles Build Their Advantage 22 October 2018
  15. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35781%7Ctitle= Eagles Win NL Title 26 October 2018
  16. ^ "2018 National League Knockout Cup". Speedway GB.
  17. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.34220%7Ctitle= Colts On Charge 21 April 2018
  18. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.34240%7Ctitle= Colts Through In Cup 23 April 2018
  19. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.34652%7Ctitle= Big Lead For Kngs 5 June 2018
  20. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35017%7Ctitle= Kings Go Through 15 July 2018
  21. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.34220%7Ctitle= Colts On Charge 21 April 2018
  22. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.34240%7Ctitle= Colts Through In Cup 23 April 2018
  23. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.34411%7Ctitle= Davey Hurt In Brum Win 10 May 2018
  24. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.34780%7Ctitle= Fen Tigers Into Semis 18 June 2018
  25. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.34274%7Ctitle= Eagles Make Progress 27 April 2018
  26. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.34451%7Ctitle= Fen Tigers Off To A Win 14 May 2018
  27. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35069%7Ctitle= Kings Win Abandoned Tie 21 July 2018
  28. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35206%7Ctitle= Kings Through But Boxhall Out 7 August 2018
  29. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35321%7Ctitle= Hughe Win For Fen Tigers 20 August 2018
  30. ^ http://speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35555%7Ctitle= Fen Tigers Reach Final 15 September 2018
  31. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/_mobile/news.php?extend.35622%7Ctitle= All Square At Kent 25 September 2018
  32. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/_mobile/news.php?extend.35647%7Ctitle= Saturday Night's Alright For Eagles 30 September 2018
  33. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35722%7Ctitle= Fen Tigers Lead By 13 October 2018
  34. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35725%7Ctitle= Eagles Win Cup Again 14 October 2018
  35. ^ a b 2018 National League Trophy Table Retrieved Form Official Speedway GB Website http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/nationaltrophytable18
  36. ^ http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35538%7Ctitle= Fen Tigers In Charge 12 September 2018
  37. ^ http://speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.35579%7Ctitle= Trophy Koy For Fen Tigers 17 September 2018
  38. ^ "2018 National League Riders' Championship" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 30 June 2023.