MATCH REPORT: Solid victory for the Stars against Poole
Poole arrived to face Sheffield for the first Elite league match to ever be staged at Cookson Park, Elite racing moving there while work takes place at the Graves for this season. Very few of the away riders had ever ridden there before, but if today’s match is anything to go on then it will play host to some exciting racing this season.
The Comets were forced into three changes from the side a Horspath with Kyle Yeatman, Steve Harris and Greg Gluchowski replaced by Ben Donahue, Wil Bristowe & Jay Briggs. The Stars had to make just one change as Richard Hudson came in for the injured Radek Handke, the majority of both teams remaining the same.
Poole headed into an early lead after heat one when Hewitson slid off and couldn’t finish, Grimes taking the win from Smith and Chant. Angell went all the way around Hook in heat two to join Parr behind Morgan to leave that one point difference. However, Sheffield took that point advantage in heat three, Idzioreck winning from Wheeler as Zareba took third ahead of Donahue.
But the away side went back in front with a 7-3 after heat four as Hewitson fell once again, this time attempting to pass Smith, and claiming just the single point, Bristowe holding off the challenge of Watson. The home side hit straight back with a maximum heat advantage of their own to claim the lead with Grimes & Hudson from Chant & Briggs, before extending it with another 7-3, this time Idzioreck & Zareba from Morgan & Hook.
Three drawn heats followed up till the interval to leave the gap at five points, as Wheeler, Smith & Zareba each took the wins as the Hewitson-Grimes, Angell-Parr and Bristowe-Morgan pairings took second and third ahead of Donahue, Chant and Watson respectively: Sheffield on 47, Poole on 42.
The action heated up straight after the interval with an instant exclusion to Bristowe as he brought down Idzioreck with his leg, allowing the Sheffield rider & Hudson to take a 7-2 from Hook, although only after the two Stars were made to pass him. Angell moved at the tapes in heat eleven to leave Parr alone, but the veteran sat for second behind Wheeler to keep Donahue behind and leave the difference at seven.
Morgan took his second win of the afternoon in heat twelve from Hewitson & Grimes, but his partner Hook could only pick up fourth, whilst Poole’s deficit was increased to eleven in heat thirteen with an Idzioreck-Zareba 7-3 from Chant & Smith. Heat fourteen looked likely to be a 5-5 until Parr dived Wheeler to take the lead. However, as Watson tried to follow him through, he caught the Poole rider’s while and both fell, the youngster excluded for the ram. In the restart, Wheeler took the win as Parr kept Briggs at bay for a 6-3 to the away side.
Heat fifteen was a Sheffield 6-4 until Angell flew up Donahue’s inside, the Poole rider bringing him down and receiving an exclusion for use of the leg. Hudson took the four points in the re-run as Angell took second and Bristowe third to extend Sheffield’s lead further, to thirteen. Zareba won from the Smith-Hook pairing as Grimes fell and couldn’t finish in heat sixteen, whilst in heat seventeen, a Poole 6-4 looked on the cards until Parr passed Donahue who fell nastily and was excluded for causing a stoppage, Morgan picking up four points from Parr & Hewitson back out. In the final race, Chant moved at the tapes, so Angell occupied Wheeler and let Idziorek streak away for the win to give Sheffield a final race 6-3 and the match by 94 to 78.
The Stars will be pleased with another strong victory as Pawel Idzioreck took a second maximum in two matches to remain unbeaten in this year’s Elite League, whilst Richard Hudson was also unbeaten in his three rides, Damian Zareba lost only to Gavin Wheeler and Myke Grimes took two good wins. The Comets had a good effort but just didn’t have Sheffield’s strength in depth, Gavin Wheeler (who lost only to Pawel Idzioreck), Aaron Morgan & Aaron Smith struggling for support with Greg Gluchoski and Steve Harris.
Sheffield 94
Mikey Hewitson 9+1 (5), Myke Grimes 12+2 (5), Andy Angell 11+2 (5), Gavin Parr 13+2 (5), Damian Zareba 16+2 (5), Pawel Idzioreck 19+1 (5), Adam Watson 3 (3), Richard Hudson 11+1 (3)
Poole 78
Aaron Smith 15 (5), Hayden Chant 7+1 (5), Aaron Morgan 16+1 (5), Dean Hook 7+1 (5), Gavin Wheeler 18 (5), Ben Donahue 4 (5), Wil Bristowe 8+1 (4), Jay Briggs 3 (2)
Referee: Graham Lush
Pawel Idzioreck beats Aaron Morgan in the Match Race
Elite Combination
Sheffield 81
Simon Gamble 8 (4), Ed Morton 8+1 (4), Richard Hudson 10+2 (4), Adam Watson 12 (5), Kyle Holland 16+1 (5), Matt Parrott 8+1 (4), plus 19 penalty points
Poole 83
Jay Briggs 12+1 (4), Callum Albin 10 (4), Hayden Chant 17+2 (5), Peter Chant 10 (4), Dean Hook 14 (5), Jordan Bradford 5 (4) plus 15 penalty points
Referee: Gavin Parr