CLUB NEWS: Hawks open season with defeat at Kesgrave

HETHERSETT HAWKS / YELLOW BRICK MORTGAGES opened their 2022 League season away at Kesgrave and it was good to start a season in April after two seasons of disrupted programmes due to COVID-19. The disease has not gone away as the youth team were one down due to family isolation.

It was a busy day for the Hawks as Kesgrave have two teams in the Youth League so three matches in all. The young Hawks took on one of the youth teams first and took quite a while to find the best lines on the track. Matthew Sideel finally gave them something to cheer about with a fantastic win in heat 5 with Lola Martin making it a 6-4 win. Aiesha Musa also recorded a win in heat 10 but, despite plenty of promising rides, the scorecard was dominated by Kesgrave.

KESGRAVE YOUTH “i” 86 HETHERSETT YOUTH 44

(Aiesha Musa 9, Matthew Sidell 9, Luca El Labany 8, Lola Martin 6, Austin Brailey 5, Jamal Musa 4, Oscar Copelaand 3)

Next up were the Hawks’ first team who have opted for Division 2 this season because of uncertainty over the availability of older members. They faced Kesgrave B who included two restricted riders, thereby conceding 30 penalty points.

The start was dramatic with two riders getting lapped and a 4-3 to Hethersett but Kesgrave started to dominate races apart from those involving stalwart Hawk Leigh Cossey. He won two races and the only remaining heat winner was Lola Martin in a consolation nominated riders race after Kesgrave had clawed back the penalty by heat 13.

KESGRAVE B 95 HETHERSETT (60+30) 90

(Leigh Cossey 16+1, Mason Martin 10, Dave Martin 9, Paul Delaiche 7+1, Rod Burke 6, Lola Martin 6, Nigel Longlands 5, Austin Brailey 1)

Finally the Youth team were back on track and were bolstered by the inclusion of Mason Martin who won three races. The Hawks put up a much better performance although at times Kesgrave looked like they had plenty in reserve if needed. Matthew Sidell certainly showed what a better rider he has become on decent equipment.


KESGRAVE YOUTH “ii” 70 HETHERSETT YOUTH 60

(Mason Martin 14, Matthew Sidell 13, Aiesha Musa 9, Austin Brailey 6, Lola Martin 5, Luca El Labany ,5 Jamal Musa 4+2, Oscar Copelansd 4+1)

Delayed construction work at the Memorial Playing Field track will mean the Hawks are on the road agin next Sunday, their fixture with Ipswich having been reversed. It also means the the first British Youth & Junior League round, coupled with the South East Grand Prix, on Saturday has been switched to Eaton Park.