MATCH REPORT: Dominant Sheffield win at Hull to go top of Division One.

Report by Rob Mawhood, photos by Nicola Banyard

Sheffield dominated this Division One Yorkshire derby at Hull’s Hessle Raceway, restricting the home team to just four race winners, winning by 110 – 69.

Sheffield made one change to the team that won at Fife, Ed Morton replacing the unavailable Kyle Holland. Morton was the perfect replacement, going unbeaten by an opponent.

Sheffield were quickly into their stride, providing the race winner in each of the first six races (two each for Leon Wild and Ed Morton) to open a 36-24 lead, giving Hull the opportunity to take inside grids. Jack Lister won heat 7 to stem the flood of Stars race wins. Heat 8 was another Stars 7 pointer (their third so far) as the opened up a 48-32 lead at half time. The Sheffield juggernaut continued in the second half, five of the next seven races were maximum seven pointers, Lewis Foxley’s race wins in heats 13 and 15 breaking the run. Sheffield led by 93-56 as the teams entered the final three nominated heats. The depleted Hull squad being no match for Sheffield as Aiden Owen/Pawel Idziorek and Niall Morton/Kielan Burton rode to another two maximum heat wins. Hull finished the match with a 7-3 maximum from Foxley/Lister. Sheffield’s victory sending them to top stop in Division One on race points over champions and league leaders Bury, who were not in action.

Scorers

Hull (69) – Lewis Foxley 18+2, Noah Lyon 10+1, Jack Lister 16, Liam Bennett 7, Kacey Bennett 6, Spencer Glenton 9, Ryan Tompkinson 1, Harry Gibson 2.

Sheffield (110) – Leon Wild 19+1, Aiden Owen 14+3, Kielan Burton 14+2, Niall Morton 15+4, Pawel Idziorek 16+2, Ed Morton 19+1, Jack Brownell 6, Kieran Hale 4, Lizzie Rigley 3.

The Division Two match followed in the same vein with Sheffield restricting Hull to just four race winners, all by the impressive Noah Lyon. Sheffield’s 88-61 victory sending them above Astley to top the league table on race points difference. Each of the Sheffield main six recorded at least one race, on assist and reached double figures. Only reserve (9 year old Lincoln Ackroyd) not getting in the scores. Jack Brownell was Sheffields only unbeaten rider, and was the one to defeat Lyon in heat 13 for his only loss.

Scorers

Hull (61) – Noah Lyon 19, Kacey Bennett 6, Harry Gibson 6+1, Spencer Glenton 13, Jayden Bennett 2,

Ryan Tompkinson 5, Jacob 5, Liam Bennett 5+1.

Sheffield (88) – Wil Banyard 12+3, Lacey Ackroyd 14+1, Jack Brownell 14+2, Kieran Hale 17+1, Oliver

Banyard 11+1, Lizzie Rigley 18+1, Lincoln Ackroyd 2.

Hull won the Division Three match by a comfortable 47-29. The defending champions having too much strength for the Sheffield Stars duo, who had Oliver Banyard unbeaten.

Scorers

Hull (47) – Harry Gibson 14, Elwood Harrison 10, Jayden Bennett 9, Sophia Temple 8, Alexis

Woodcock 6.

Sheffield (29) – Oliver Banyard 16, Lincoln Ackroyd 13.

Referee: Nathan Everett