MATCH REPORT: Hawks go down in Blakenham

Hethersett Hawks/Myhill Decorators travelled to Great Blakenham without leading scorer, Dan Chambers, who is out for the rest of the season with a broken wrist sustained in an Elite League outing for Ipswich a month ago.

Blakenham were without their British No.3 Lewis Osborne, who was in a rearranged Elite League match for Horspath, but they did welcome back Adam Peck for a rare appearance.

The first half was fairly uneventful, with the Hawks working hard to share heats, but Blakenham edged to an eight-point interval lead.

Things livened up after the break with Hethersett attacking more and they looked set for a 7-3 win in heat 10, before a dive by Peck led to a totally buckled wheel rim and exploding tube for Leigh Cossey.

After a long delay, a rerun was ordered with all four riders which the Hawks won 6-4.

However, a 5-4 win in the next heat was their only other success, as the home side, well led by Australian Cody Chadwick, eased to victory. Josh Herring again showed good form.

GT BLAKENHAM 87
Cody Chadwick 22+2 (6) Adam Peck 21 (6) Jonjo Slaughter 17 (5) Richard Williamson 14 (5) Steve Johnson 8+1 (5) Adam Cooper 3 (2) Sam Broom 2 (3)

HETHERSETT 72
Josh Herring 15+1 (6) Leigh Cossey 14 (6) Lee Smith 14 (5) Dan Butler 11+2 (5) Harley Hamill 9+2 (5) Olly Buxton 9+2 (5)
Referee – Terry Ashford

The Hawks “B” side again had to call on some tired legs from the first team due to unavailability of others, but their strength was too much for Blakenham’s mixture of veterans and youngsters.

The Hawks’ own veteran competitor, Glyn Morgan, was the star of the show pushed into six rides, two of which he won in style.

The win puts the Hawks in pole position for runners-up spot with one match to go.

GT BLAKENHAM B 69
Sam Broom 14 (5) Jonjo Slaughter 14+1 (5) Simon Turnbull 10 (6) Adam Cooper 9+1 (5) Terry Ashford 8+1 (4) Steve Johnson 8 (3) Gavin Whitehouse 6+1 (4)

HETHERSETT B 90
Lee Smith 19 (5) Olly Buxton 18+4 (6) Glyn Morgan 18 (6) Harley Hamill 15+3 (5) Dan Butler 15+2 (5) Katie Adams 5 (5)
Referee – Dan Chambers

The first team are next in action on September 18th at home to Ipswich Whirlwinds.