MATCH REPORT: Whirlwinds power to big victory

Ipswich Whirlwinds 120 – 89 Hethersett Hawks, South East League, Sunday 13th April 2014

The top two teams met this afternoon at Ipswich. With both teams going into the encounter still unbeaten and both teams giving away fifteen penalty points, a close match was in the offering.

Hawks drew the first heat advantage after a couple of mistakes by the home riders, allowing Grange and Cossey a comfortable 6-4. The home team hit back in formidable style, reeling off seven heats wins on the bounce to dominate their opponents into submission early on. So much so, that they were claiming the inside grids from heat seven onwards and for the rest of the match. This had little effect, as the home team just saw it as another challenge and weren’t in the mood for charity. The Whirlwinds were ruthless when the opposition made any mistakes.

Captain Josh Brooke lead by example and was only beaten by a team mate to rack another maximum, while Leon Mower continued his impressive start to the season with a master class on how to team ride. But it was young Ben Harvey who caught the eye the most and really came of age today. He is starting to believe he does belong in this company. No more so in heat six, when Chambers and Buxton tried to sandwich the young Ipswich rider round the opening bend, but he was having none of that and was able to muscle his way out, then have the mindset to pick up Buxton – sitting him for four laps allowing his team mate, Lewis Roberts, to get away to complete a 6-4 advantage.

Hethersett can of course point to a few absentees this afternoon in Myhill and Williamson, but would they made that much difference to the final outcome? Who knows? As for the home team, Lauren Jacobs rode her first match this season. Clearly still a little rusty at the moment but can be pleased with her performance and will only get stronger as the season progresses.

So it’s Ipswich Whirlwinds, who tonight are looking down on their opponents and on this evidence will take some stopping in their pursuit of that league title.

Ipswich Whirlwinds (105+15) 120
Josh Brooke 23+1 (6), Jamie Chittock 21+1 (6), Lewis Roberts 20 (6),
Leon Mower 18+4 (6), Ben Harvey 13+2 (6), Lauren Jacobs 10 (6)

Hethersett Hawks (74+15 ) 89
Lee Grange 16+1 (6), Dan Chambers 15+1 (6), Leigh Cossey 13 (6),
Oli Riley 12 (6), Oli Buxton 10+1 (6), Danielle Riley 8 (6)

Referee: Bill Brooke

Report by Ipswich Whirlwinds