MATCH REPORT: Blakenham keep the pressure on the Eagles
Great Blakenham played host to local rivals Ipswich on Sunday, for what is once again becoming a stand out fixture on the CS calendar.
The action was at a premium right from heat 1. With Richard Williamson out in front, team partner Josh Brooke managed to get round the outside of Ash Hill and then dive up the inside of Richard Fellgett on the same straight to give Blakenham a perfect start with a 7-3.
Adam Peck and Lewis Osborne won the next two heats before ipswich hit back through Hill and Fellgett with a well taken 6-4. Williamson did well to keep livewire Charlie Rumbold at the back in heat 5 for GB’s own 6-4 before an action packed heat 6.
With the race being bunched up on lap 3, Peck was controversially excluded for slowing the race down, when the Ipswich rider Richard Fellgett appeared to lose control while trying to hold off the attentions of Luke Harrison, causing them both to come down in a heap just after the starting gates. Ipswich duly took advantage in the re-run registering a 7-2 and moving into a 1 point lead.
Williamson/Brooke scored another 6-4 to move Blakenham back in front before disaster struck for ipswich in heat 8.
Firstly, young Pierce Bacon was excluded for tangling with Peck and causing both riders to hit the fence, then in the re-run Rumbold was shown his marching orders, possibly rather harshly, for going up the inside curb handing Great Blakenham a 7-0. The Ipswich rider would end up losing his cool and took no further part in the meeting, making the Eagles job that much harder.
The second half started with two 5-5s before Slaughter/Brooke moved the home team further ahead with a 6-4. Ipswich were given hope in heat 14 wen Slaughter was unable to finish giving them a 6-3, before Peck/Williamson made sure of the result in the next with a 6-4.
Ipswich’s reserves kept the score respectable with a 7-3 in the last heat giving Great Blakenham a 80-75.
Great Blakenham showed great discipline and team work to try and work into good positions from the starts and ride to orders. Ipswich on the other hand just weren’t able to provide enough heat winners, taking the chequered flag in only 4 of the 12 heats.
Great Blakenham have a tricky trip to Hellingly next up, which is a must win if they want to keep the pressure on Ipswich.
Great Blakenham 80
Lewis Osborne 19, Josh Brooke 16+1, Adam Peck 16, Richard Williamson 13, Luke Harrison 8+1, Jonjo Slaughter 5, Adam Cooper 2, Keanu Bowers 1
Ipswich 75
Richard Fellgett 15, Ash Hill 12+3, Matt Hill 11+2, Leon Mower 11+1, Pierce Bacon 11+1, Harrison Bacon 6+1, Fraser Harris 5, Charlie Rumbold 4