MATCH REPORT: Full strength Hawks in command in local derby

Hethersett Hawks/Myhill Decorators tracked a full-strength team for the first time this season and duly saw off the challenge of local rivals Norwich Stars in the South-East League at Eaton Park.

A solid and tactically perfect first eight heats put the Hawks 12 points ahead until an exclusion gave Norwich their first race win.

Dan Chambers and Leigh Cossey completed maximums with solid support from Olly Buxton and Lee Smith, but team manager Chambers was a bit critical of the side’s second half performance which he described as “a bit sloppy”.

Still they ended with two heat wins with Josh Herring making a good comeback after injury.

NORWICH 72
Alan Parkins 16+1 (5) Lee Grange 14 (5) Jamie Medler 11 (6) Paddy Wenn 9+3 (5) Alex Dyball 7+1 (4) Gary Colby 6+1 (4) Rohan Ewbank 6 (2) Mason Parkins 3 (1)

HETHERSETT 86
Dan Chambers 20 (5) Leigh Cossey 16 (4) Olly Buxton 12+1 (4) Lee Smith 11+1 (4) Harley Hamill 10+1 (5) Josh Herring 6+1 (2) Dan Butler 6 (5) Owen Wells 5 (3)

In the Division 2 match Norwich started the better building a narrow lead by heat 6 but an exclusion let the Hawks in and five races later the Hawks were 11 points up. A late rally narrowed the gap but two 7-3 wins featuring the improving Owen Wells saw Hethersett comfortably over the line. Substitute Harley hamill was unbeaten in his three rides while Glyn Morgan made his first Hawks appearance for over 30 years and won heat 9.

NORWICH B 73
Mason Parkins 19 (5) Jamie Medler 12+1 (6) Scott Colby 11+3 (5) Ciarin Wenn 11 (6) Alex Dyball 10+1 (5) Rohan Ewbank 10 (5)

HETHERSETT B 86
Owen Wells 20 (6) Lee Smith 15+3 (5) Dan Butler 15+2 (5) Harley Hamill 11+1 (3) Roger Carter 11 (4) Glyn Morgan 10 (5) Giles Awbery 4 (4)

Dan Chambers was in good form the previous day in the East Anglian Championships at Ipswich.

In a top-class Senior field, he won his vital final heat against two main contenders, which earned him a race-off for third place on the podium, a race he won by passing home star Richard Fellgett.

In other categories Owen Wells finished 7th in the Under-16s and 5th in the U19s while Glyn Morgan was 7th in the Veterans.

Away from the shale tracks Olly Buxton raced in the infamous Gas Hill Gasp in front of a large crowd in Norwich on Friday night.

He won the Cycle Speedway final and then made a real last “gasp” dive for the line in the Grand Final against the other non-Road Racing category winners.

The Hawks’ next action is at home to Kesgrave on Sunday 17th July.