MATCH REPORT: Sheffield still unbeaten in NL2

The Sheffield CRA/Rockets faced Glasgow in a Northern League 2 match with the Yorkshire side hoping to maintain their unbeaten record in 2014.

The visitors had an early departure time to travel for a 12.30 start time, so that the match would be finished prior to the Elite match between the Stars and Newport. With the Newport team arriving early, the match had a better crowd than the usual one man and his dog. Glasgow drew first blood as they took the first heat with a 6-4. Andy Macdougal the winner with super Vet Chic Mackie (age 75) getting the better of Jack Brownell (age 9). Chic had spent some time in hospital after feeling unwell after his last match at Bury at the beginning of the season, and had been giving strict instructions to just ‘Tootle round’.

Successive 7-3’s followed for the Rockets, with Sean Webster falling heavily when trying to pass Rebecca Davies in heat 3. Macdougal recorded his second race win in a drawn heat 4, to leave the visitors trailing by 6. Webster took another heavy fall in heat 6 as he chased down Luke Morton. With Sheffield continuing a run of 7-3’s in heat 8 as James Bunting and Niall Morton gave a first defeat to Macdougal. The half time scores Sheffield 50 Glasgow 30.

The second half continued as the first had finished, with Sheffield posting four 7-3 wins to finish winners by 95-50. The run of maximum scores broken by Macdougal (with a second in heat 11 and his third race win in heat 14), and when Jim Alexander got a second place in heat 9. With only one re-run race, the match was completed in 40 minutes, giving plenty of time to prepare the track for the Elite fixture. For Sheffield Vicky Brown and James Bunting were unbeaten in four races, with Niall Morton and Matt Parrott both unbeaten in two rides as they were preparing for the Elite Combination. Andy Macdougal was quick and competitive but lacked any real support, though Sean Webster looked especially fast in a straight line (the tight Graves circuit catching him out). Maybe at Sheffield’s Cookson circuit he would have been a different proposition.

SCORERS
SHEFFIELD – Vicky Brown 16(4), Luke Morton16+3(5), James Bunting 14+2(4), Ed Morton 13+1(4), Rebecca Davies 12+1(4),Jack Brownell 11+1(5),Matt Parrott 7+1(2),Niall Morton 6+2(2).

GLASGOW – Andy Macdougal 17(5), Jim Alexander 10(5),Colin Gray 8(5), Sean Webster 8(5), Charlie Cottam (Guest) 6(5), Chic Mackie 6(5).