MATCH REPORT: Unlucky break for Haines as Sheffield take the points

The Northern League One Yorkshire derby between Sheffield CRA Rockets and Heckmondwike carried extra importance, as the winners would move into a position of mid-table security. Both teams fielded weakened teams, Sheffield were without Hudson, Gamble, Morton and Brown. Heckmondwike had no Idziorek, Kent or Wood.

A fine day, with intermittent sun, was great for the spectators, while heavy rain on Saturday made for a perfect racing surface for the riders. Sheffield managed to hang on to a crucial 77-71 victory, after losing the services of youngster Sam Haines, following a crash in heat 10 in which he broke his left arm.

Heat 1 was tied 5-5, Jason Burke taking the win while Adam Watson/Mick Knowles relegated Matt Parrott to the back after he had led to the third turn of lap 1. Sheffield edged into the lead in heat 2 with a 6-4 from Ed Morton/Sam Haines, both riders having to make passes. The first maximum came in heat 3 with Joe Twigg racing away from the tapes and joined by Kyle Holland, after a forceful pass on Richard Wells.

Knowles and Laura Watson ensured another drawn heat for race 4, keeping Parrott in last place. Heat 5 had the first of three fantastic races between Adam Watson and Holland. Watson showing his liking for the Cookson circuit with a hard work for pass on lap 3, the heat was another drawn one with Haines coming through with an excellent pass on Justin Naylor. Richard Wells won heat 6, riding perfect lines to keep Burke at bay, with Will Naylor in third place as the visitors reduced the arrears with a 6-4. The teams the swapped 7-3 wins, Sheffield taking heat 7 through the Twigg/Holland pairing, with Heckmondwike hitting straight back through Adam Watson/Knowles.

Interval score had the Rockets in front by 42-38. Heat 9 had Parrott take a crashing fall in an attempt to pass Laura Watson/Tom Whitwam round the outside of turn 1 on lap 3, Heckmondwike getting a 5-4 as the unlucky Sheffield rider was lapped. Heat 10 started with the Heckmondwike pair of Wells/Justin Naylor sprinting into a lead over Burke/Haines. Burke waited patiently before passing both on lap 2, Haines was perfectly placed to follow into third place. It then all went wrong for the Sheffield youngster on the next turn as he lost his front wheel while attempting to switch back under Naylor. As he hit the track he was run over by Wells, who had no time to take any avoiding action. It was clear that Sam was in trouble. The emergency services were called, and responded magnificently (the paramedic arriving within 5 minutes). The Ambulance arrived a few minutes later, with Sam whisked off to hospital within 30 minutes of the accident.

In the re-run the Heckmondwike pair again sprinted clear from the start line, Burke making an audacious move to ride between the two entering turn three on the first lap. The race win reducing the heat loss to a minimum 4-5 as Sheffield’s lead was reduced to two. Adam Watson won heat 11, but Twigg/Holland ensured a drawn heat. The Rockets then moved four points clear as Ed Morton made a lightening quick start in heat 12 to defeat Wells, Luke Morton (in for Haines) making sure of a 6-4. Parrott’s luck eventually changed in heat 13 as he sprinted to the win, Burke taking second for a Sheffield 7-3 and a lead by 68-60. Heckmondwike hit straight back with their second 7-3 in the penultimate heat, with an expertly ridden race from Knowles as he kept Twigg at bay for Will Naylor to win the race. The final race brought another 6-4 for Sheffield, Burke taking his third race win while Adam Watson and Holland had another titanic scrap behind (Watson going 3 for 3 in their head to head).

A great match with tremendous racing, just soured by the unfortunate injury to Sam Haines.
All the races were expertly filmed by Peter Smith and can be found under visitors posts on the Sheffield Stars Facebook account.

Scorers
Sheffield 77 – Jason Burke 18+1 (5), Kyle Holland 15+1(5), Joe Twigg 15+2(5), Ed Morton 14(4), Matt Parrott 6(4), Sam Haines 5+1(4), Jack Brownell 2(2), Luke Morton 2(1).
Heckmondwike 71 – Adam Watson 17+1(5), Richard Wells 13(5), Mick Knowles 12+3(5), Laura Watson 12+1(5), Will Naylor 7(3), Justin Naylor 6+1(5), Tom Whitwam 4(2).

The under 13’s match (Northern league 3) saw Sheffield come out victorious by 57-51, the Rockets one rider advantage playing a significant part in the win. Will Naylor went through the card unbeaten for Heckmondwike. Team-mate Tom Whitwam losing out only to Will. Jack Brownell had two race wins for Sheffield, and was unlucky to not make it three. He led Tom Whitwam in heat three until they became locked together, literally, on lap 3. The referee stopping the race and ordering all three riders (they were three rider races) back for a re-run. Jack then moved at the tapes and was given a five metre handicap, from where he could only finish third. Joe Brownell (2) and Kielan Burton (1) were also race winners for Sheffield.

Scorers

Sheffield 57 – Jack Brownell 13, Joe Brownell 13, Kielan Burton 13, KD Gittens 10, Lewis Bemrose 8.
Heckmondwike 51 – Will Naylor 16, Tom Whitwam 15, Bella Naylor 10, Harvey Wells 10.