MATCH REPORT: Rockets crash and burn against Comets

Sheffield CRA Rockets crashed and burned in their final home Northern League fixtures of the 2015 season. Glorious autumn sunshine welcomed the visiting Bury Comets to Cookson Park.

Bury had the perfect start to the league one match, Chris Parish/Will Owens with a 7-3 over Kyle Holland/Joe Twigg. After the teams traded 6-4’s, Sheffield levelled the match as Holland produced a great pass on Parish and created enough space for the returning Simon Gamble (who had last raced in early May) to join him for a 7-3. The Comets went ahead again, with their second 7-3 in heat 7.

James Elston and Danny Taylor keeping Holland/Twigg at bay. Owens was excluded from heat 10, Sheffield taking a 6-3 to reduce the arrears to 3 points. Heat 14 saw two exclusions. First to go was Gamble, who fell on turn one. Then in the re-run Elston was the guilty party after passing Richard Hudson but slowing enough to bring the Sheffield rider down.

With a 6-4 from Jason Burke/Luke Morton in heat 15, the scores were poised at 71-75 with three races remaining. However, Bury put the match beyond doubt in heat 16 as they secured their third maximum win. Gamble having another massive oversteer and crash on turn one. Scranage and Elston went through the formalities of winning the final two races, giving the Comets victory by 92-83.

The win will almost certainly mean runners up position for Bury. Sheffield had just five race winners, which has been a legacy of their season. A rider of heat leader quality is needed if the orange and black are to be pushing for honours in 2016.

Sheffield 83
Jason Burke 14+1(5),Niall Morton 13+3(5), Joe Twigg 12(5), Richard Hudson 11(4), Kyle Holland 10+1(5), Luke Morton 8+2(4), Matt Parrot 8(4), Simon Gamble 7(4).

Bury 92
Chris Parish 18(5), Ben Scranage 15+1(5), Danny Tayloy 15+1(5), Kris Ramsden 13+1(5), James Elston 12(5), Will Owens 12+1(5), Adam Turnbull 4(3), Adam Taylor 3(3).