MATCH REPORT: Sheffield move clear at the top of the table

Report by Rob Mawhood, photo by Nicola Banyard

A rare midweek match for Sheffield and Hull saw the South Yorkshire team move clear at the top of Northern League Division Two following an 88-61 victory at the Graves track. The re-fixture was due to the torrential rain that the Sheffield area had over the Tramlines festival weekend, that left both Sheffield tracks waterlogged.

Both teams fielded nearly the same squad of riders that drew 75-75 at the Hessle Raceway back in June. The first heat set a pattern that the match would unfold to, Liam Bennett made a fast start but was overhauled and passed by both Jack Brownell and Oliver Banyard. Sheffield going on to provide the race winner in 11 of the 15 races, with each team member getting at least one race win. Richard Gibson (3) and Noah Lyon being the only Hull race winners. Sheffield had five maximum race wins, with Hull gaining just the one race advantage, a 6-3 in the very last heat from Noah Lyon/Will
Hollich, after Laura Watson was excluded for a tapes infringement.

Star of the match was Kieran Hale (pictured below), who recorded his first ever unbeaten match score. Kieran’s improvement is down to new equipment and a training regime that seems him at the Cookson track at least three nights a week. Kieran scored just five points when the teams met in June, his return was a big reason that Sheffield enjoyed a comfortable victory.

Scorers

Sheffield Stars (88) – Jack Brownell 15+2, Oliver Banyard 16, Laura Watson 13, Sam Stansfield 15+3, Kieran Hale 18+2, Joe Brownell 11+1.

Hull (61) – Liam Bennett 7, Harry Gibson 6, Kacey Bennett 7, Richard Gibson 17+1, Noah Lyon 15, Spencer Glenton 6, Will Hollich 3.
Referee – Rob Mawhood