MATCH REPORT: Hawks complete double win over the Eagles
Hethersett Hawks/Swinton & Co completed a double over Ipswich Eagles in South East League Division 1 to ensure they will finish runners-up in the League.
Despite being below full-strength, as indeed were Ipswich, the Hawks were cautious in the first half and trailed by four at the break. That deficit was wiped out straight after the interval when Lee Grange and Olly Riley worked a good 7-3 win. Ipswich came straight back with their own 7-3 and the match swung like that until the critical heat 15 when Ipswich’s Dan Knights fell while in front bringing down Dan Chambers, The subsequent rerun without Knights was a 7-2 to the Hawks and a rousing 7-3 from the Riley sister/brother pairing sealed the match. Olly Riley and Dan Chambers were outstanding but the whole team rode with plenty of spirit and control which has been lacking in recent performances.
The Combination and Youth Division matches were disappointing for the Hawks in that they did not put out full teams due to unavailability and late call-offs. At one point the four-rider Combination team looked set to win their match with maximums from Dave Adams and Harley Hamill but a heavy fall for Danni Riley in a clash with Alex Harvey. The rerun was an away 7-2 victory and the chance was lost for Hethersett to overcome the handicap points for scorers in the first-team. The Youth team also started with four riders but were soon reduced to three when one did not even make it to his first race, falling exiting the pits and taking no further part. The vastly improved Beth Allen cheered the home side with three gallant second places to ensure there was no whitewash.
DIVISION 1 – HETHERSETT 91 (+15) =106 IPSWICH EAGLES 88
O.Riley 20 D.Chambers 20 L.Grange 14 O.Buxton 11 D.Adams 10 H.Hamill 8 D.Riley 8
COMBINATION DIVISION – HETHERSETT 60 (+18) = 86 IPSWICH 57 (+26) = 83
D.Adams 19 H.Hamill 19 K.Adams 14 D.Riley 12
YOUTH DIVISION – HETHERSETT 30 IPSWICH 88
B.Allen 13 A.Nixon 9 G.Awbery 8
This coming Sunday three Hethersett riders should be in the Eastern Region Ladies team in Sheffield while other members will be at Kesgrave in the final South-East Grand Prix of the season.