MATCH REPORT: Angell & Everett lead Hull to victory

Nathan Everett raced unbeaten by an opponent as Hull were victors in the opening round of the Yorkshire League at the Hessle Raceway. Hull finished on 59, Heckmondwike Saints taking runners up spot with 53, while Sheffield Stars scored 44.
The experimental formula had pairs racing from heats 1 to 12, with four additional individual races added.
Hull provided the race winner in each of the eight races in the pairs racing, securing the maximum 7 points on three occasions, two from the Everett/Cooper pairing. Andy Angell was unbeaten until the extra races, when he lost out to Darren Kent when on a borrowed club bike.
Heckmondwike were indebted to guests Niall Morton and Adam Watson, both having two race wins. Morton teamed up with Darren Kent for a maximum 7 point score for the Saints in heat 2. The extra races saw Justin Naylor, Kent and Watson all take the chequered flag first as they pulled back two points on Hull, it would have been more but Morton fell on turn one on lap three when trying to keep Everett at bay in the final race (for the teams top scorers). Sheffield were unable to provide a race winner. Kielan Burton was closest, when leading Watson for three laps in heat 8. Niamh Morton was making some quick starts, teaming up with GB Women’s teammate Laura Watson for drawn races in heats 5 and 12 when they relegated Justin Naylor and Frank Auffret to last places.

Scorers

Hull 59 – Nathan Everett 18+2, Andy Angell 18+1, David Cooper 14, Frank Auffret 7, Will Alvey 2.

Heckmondwike Saints 53 – Niall Morton 15+1, Adam Watson 14, Darren Kent 13+2, Justin Naylor 11.

Sheffield Stars 44 – Kielan Burton 14, Niamh Morton 11, Laura Watson 10+2, Luke Morton 9+3.

Referee – Andy Schofield.

If the racing provided at Round 1 continues into the next rounds (round 2 is at Cookson Park, Sheffield on 5th June) then it looks like a valuable addition to the racing calendar for the White Rose clubs.