MATCH REPORT: Stars keep championship hopes alive

Report by Rob Mawhood

Sheffield Stars stayed in the North and Scotland Division One title hunt with a 94-85 away victory against Fife Revolution at the ExxonMobil Fastbowl.
The opening three heats ended all square at 5-5 following race wins for Kyle Holland, Kielan Burton and Kayden Davidson. Sheffield edged ahead with a 6-4 in heat 4, Kielan Burton with his second race win with the responsibility of being captain for the day. Fife hit back with 6-4’s in heats five and seven. The Revolution now led 36-34. Half time scores were level at 40 each, after a heat eight 6-4 from Sheffield.
Sheffield took hold of the match with successive race advantages in heats 9 and 10, a 6-4 and 6-3 (following an exclusion for Dougie Morgan). Four of the next five races ended level 5-5’s. The one difference being a Fife 6-4 in heat 13.
Just three points separated the teams as they entered the final three nominated heats. Kielan recorded his fourth race win in heat 16, the race ended as a 5-5 so the difference was still three points.
Fife riders were now coming to the end of their second match, they lost earlier in the day by 82.5 – 97.5 against Bury Comets, and their twelfth races of the day.
Sheffield took full advantage with a heat 17, 6-4 from Niall and Niamh Morton (Kayden Davidson with is only last place in the match) and a final heat 7-3 (The only maximum score in the 18 heats) from Kyle Holland and Luke Morton in the very last race.
Scorers
Fife Revolution – Harris Alsop 16+1, Victor Hill 15+2, Kayden Davidson 19, Harry Langdale 11, Danny Peoples 6+2, Lewis Alsop 16, Dougie Morgan 2.

Sheffield Stars – Kyle Holland 18+1, Luke Morton 13+2, Niamh Morton 8, Kielan Burton 22, Niall Morton 23, Sam Stansfield 10+1.

Fife have one last chance to gain a league win in 2022 when the visit Hull for their last match of the season. Sheffield’s next Division 1 match is the title decider against Astley & Tyldesley at the Graves on September 25th