MATCH REPORT: Hull claim win in Yorkshire Derby

Hull Cycle Speedway

Hull were at full strength as they entertained Sheffield Stars in a Northern League Two match at the Hessle Raceway. The newly crowned Yorkshire League champions were confident of the victory required to strengthen their grip on a third place finish. Especially as Sheffield arrived with a scratch team, holidays, illness and the World Championships keeping some Stars away. Sheffield promoted the Balfours from the Division Three team to support Rob Mawhood and Chris Bingham (the Stars announcer donning a Sheffield jersey for the first time in seven years).
Sheffield scored a surprise 7-2 in heat one. Jack Lister excluded after falling and bringing down Rob Mawhood. In the re-run Dan Teal clipped the outside kerb on lap two, losing all momentum, with Mawhood holding on to join Kielan Burton for the maximum. Niamh Morton was out of the start quickly in heat two, only for Matt Eglen and Frank Auffret to pass for a Hull maximum seven points. David Cooper moved at the tapes in heat three, Sheffield gaining a 6-3 from another Burton race win. Morton again made the start in heat 4, this time Teal and Lister making the passes. Eglen fell in heat 5 on lap one, but remounted and managed to haul in and pass Chris Bingham. Heat six was another drawn heat, Barry Ashton and Mawhood passing and re-passing each other. The half time scores were level at 29 each, Sheffield profiting from all of Hull’s errors. A half time team talk from Andy Angell paid immediate dividends for Hull, Lister and Cooper with a 7-3 over Morton.
Hull continued to score heat advantages in the remaining races to run out winners by 67-51. Highlights being a 7-3 from Frank Auffret and Cooper over Burton in heat 9 and a brilliant ride from 10 year old Edward Balfour to split Ashton and Will Alvey in the very last race.
Hull are now in clear control of third place, a top two finish is out of reach (Fife Revolution and Astley and Tyldesley are out of reach) but third will be secured if they defeat Edinburgh Falcons in their final fixture of 2019.

Scorers

Hull – Dan Teal 7+1, Jack Lister 16, Matt Eglen 10+1, David Cooper 10+2, Andy Knowles 5, Frank Auffret 12+1, Will Alvey 2, Barry Ashton 5.

Sheffield Stars – Kielan Burton 20, Rob Mawhood 7+2, Edward Balfour 6, Niamh Morton 12, Chris Bingham 5, Erin Balfour 1.

Referee Andy Schofield

The Division Three match saw Hull win by 42-28 to move up to second spot in the table. Kacey Bennett won twice for Hull, with Sheffield riders winning the other six races. Edward Balfour was unbeaten in his four, while Erin Balfour had two race wins as she put together four of her best races in Sheffield colours.

Scorers

Hull – Kacey Bennett 14, Raylan Durkin 10, Tyler Mills 10, Morgan Mobbs 8.

Sheffield Stars – Edward Balfour 16, Erin Balfour 12.

Referee Andy Schofield