MATCH REPORT: Tight tussle at Hessle

It was third plays second in this re-arranged midweek Northern League One match between Hull and the Sheffield Rockets at the Hessle raceway.  The original match was called off at Sheffield’s request, as the Easter Sunday fixture date was going to leave them without a team. As it was this new date still saw Sheffield without five first team regulars, work commitments and injuries taking their toll. Likewise Hull were missing five first team regulars, the teams on paper looking very evenly balanced. So it proved, with Hull edging a very competitive encounter by 92-87. The first two heats were drawn as Adam Stephenson and Andy Angell took the chequered flag, Sheffield more than happy to claim the minor placings. Heat 3 pushed Hull into the lead as they gained a 6-4 following a brilliant last bend pass from Sam Schofield on Richard Hudson. Stephenson and Rich Pawson were winners of the next two races, but both finished as drawn heats. The Rockets then went into the lead by 31-29 for the one and only time. Kyle Holland performing an excellent pass on Schofield entering turn three on the second lap, the home rider falling as his front wheel clipped Hollands back wheel as he tried to switch back underneath. Hull hit straight back with their own maximum 7 pointer, as Stephenson slowed the race down to allow David Cooper to swoop past Hudson and Mawhood. Niall Morton then held Angell for a lap, the ex-British Champ gliding past the outside with a turbo charged boost. With the pass made, Morton tried to slow the race for his Dad to come from last place. Nathan Everett fell in the process and the ref’s whistle went with Morton disqualified. Bobby McMillan and Holland then got Sheffield’s second seven pointer as half time was reached with the Score 45-44 in favour of Hull. The second half started with the home team extending their lead with a 6-4 from Pawson and Chris Cooke.  Heat 11 saw the first of three match up’s between Sheffield’s Elite riders Angell and McMillan. McMillan made the start but Angell proved home track knowledge was best with a blistering pass to round both Sheffield riders down the home straight on lap two. Holland then inflicted the only defeat on Stephenson in heat 12, the Hull man happy to shield Cooper home for a shared race.  The shared heats kept coming. Heat 13 saw Schofield pass Niall Morton, only for the Sheffield ace to ‘rocket’ past on the very next straight.  Everett took the win in heat 14, with Ed Morton shielding Mawhood from Josh Bellis. The second Angell/McMillan meeting went the way of the Sheffield rider, Hudson taking third place for a Rockets 6-4, with the Hull lead now down to one point.  A strong start from Cooper in heat 16 brought Hull a 7-3, with Schofield sitting in for second place. Hull now led by five and completed the victory with Stephenson and Angell taking heats 17 and 18, Angell again having to pass McMillan after missing the start. A great match on an excellent track, with the surface having recovered well from the pounding it took at Saturdays’ BY & JL.

HULL –  Andy Angell 19(5), Adam Stephenson 17+2 (5), David Cooper 13(5), Sam Schofield 13+1(5), Chris Cooke 9+1(5), Nathan Everett 9(5), Rich Pawson 9(3), Josh Bellis 3(3).

SHEFFIELD – Kyle Holland 17+1(5), Bobby McMillan 16+1(5), Richard Hudson 11+1(5), Matt Parrott 11+2 (5), Luke Morton 10+1(5), Niall Morton 10+3(5), Rob Mawhood 6(3), Ed Morton 6+1(3)

 

The Division 2 match had Sheffield defending an unbeaten record. When several riders were unable to make the trip the Rockets called on veterans Adrian Brownell and Paul Fisher to bolster team strength as they expected a close match up. However Hull fielded a very young and inexperienced team, with their regular division two stars being called on for div one duties. Sheffield riding to a comprehensive 92-57 victory.  Jack Brownell fell in heat one, while challenging for second place, remounting for a drawn heat.  Sheffield the gained seven points in heat 2 from Rob Mawhood/Ed Morton. Another seven points came in heat 3 from Adrian Brownell and Sam Haines, who had to defend against the ever pressing Jack Lister. Heat 4 saw Hull gain their only race win and heat advantage with the unfortunate exclusion of Ed Morton.  Morton was adjudged the culprit, by match referee Bobby McMillan, after David Lister fell when challenging Fisher.  Lister winning the re-run for a 6-3 heat win. Hull drew heat 5, as Jack Lister and Charlie Wade kept Jack Brownell in last place, with the scores 22-27. Sheffield then took the next four races with 7-3 maximums to lead 55-34. The run of 7’s was broken in heat 10 when Wade again got the better of Brownell junior. Luke Morton (twice) and Mawhood then gave up points in the latter stages. Sam Haines continues his rapid improvement for the Rockets and fully deserved his unbeaten score.  Adrian Brownell also finished unbeaten, with Paul Fisher dropping just one point.

HULL – David Lister 12(4), Jack Lister 10(4), Charlie Wade 10+1(5), Katie Greaves 7+2(5), Rich Moulson 7(4), Macie Angell 5(5), Ed Lister 4(2), Josh Bellis 2(1).

SHEFFIELD – Paul Fisher 17+2(5), Sam Haines 17+3(5), Ed Morton 13+3(5), Adrian Brownell 12(3), Jack Brownell 12(5), Luke Morton 8(3), Niall Morton 8(2),Rob Mawhood 5(2).