MATCH REPORT: Late Rally snatches win

The North & Scotland Junior riders produced a late match surge to secure a 93-82 win over the Midlands region, gaining their first points of the season. The win also adds to the success that the regions Women’s team (with their Eastern region colleagues) had at Newport, making it a double success day.

The match at Hull’s Hessle Raceway ebbed and flowed in both teams favour until the final three heats, when the sun shone on North and Scotland.

The Midlands led 45-42 at half time, having provided six of the nine race winners. Tom Savage (3) and Cameron Gill (2) were particularly impressive, looking nigh on unbeatable. Twice the N and S team took the maximum 7 points in a race, only for the Midlands to hit straight back with their own maximum 7 score.

The teams swapped 6-4 scores in heats 14 and 15, which left the Midlands leading by 74-73 going into the nominated races. Louis Wright won the first race (Heat 16), with James Foxley taking an important third place which put N and S in front by one (the first time they had led since heat 8). Heat 17 brought an exclusion for Tom Savage as he cut across Kaysar Mohammedi on the home straight. Kaysar easily won the re-run, with Kielan Burton (For the second time in the match) beating Max Wells right on the finish line. The Sheffield riders tenacity took the pressure off Lewis Foxley and Jack Lister in the final race as N and S now led 86-80. Cameron Gill was excluded in the final race, ruining his unbeaten stats. Lewis and Jack taking another 7-2 for the region over Josh Walters (who had held a comfortable lead when the race was first stopped).

A great days racing, with the final score not reflecting the closeness of the racing on the track.

Scorers

North and Scotland – James Foxley 9+1, Louis Wright 21, Kaysar Mohammedi 19+1, Kielan Burton 14+2, Lewis Foxley 14+1, Jack Lister 16+3.

Midlands – Max Wells 12+1, Josh Walters 12+1, Tom Savage 17+1, Kyle Wells 15, Charmaine Wells 7+1, Cameron Gill 19+1.

Referee – Kyle Holland