Post by Genghis on Sept 15, 2007 14:20:06 GMT
Friday, September 14, 2007
OXFORD LCD PUBLISHING CHEETAHS 47 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 45
(Conference League)
Oxford Cheetahs inflicted only the second league defeat of the season on the mighty Scunthorpe Scorpions, after an absorbing contest. This meeting promised to be an absolute belter, and didn't disappoint.
Joe Haines was fastest away in Heat 1, but Lee Smethills blasted past him on the second turn. Auty came through into second and pushed Smethills hard in the closing stages, but the Oxford captain held on and the evening started with a shared heat (3-3).
Dakota North (in for the unavailable Scott Campos) and Brendan Johnson briefly held a 5-1 in Heat 2, but Byron Bekker was soon past Johnson into second place. North went on to win his debut ride at Oxford by an impressive margin, while Johnson made sure that Bekker couldn't relax (7-5).
Sam Martin & Andrew Bargh hit the front in Heat 3, but Bargh - on his return from a dislocated ankle - looked a little uneasy, and Auty gradually reeled him in. Just when it looked that Bargh might have done enough, Auty came steaming around the outside coming off the final bend and snatched second place by a whisker (11-7).
Danny Betson - another returnee from injury - was a convincing winner of Heat 4 ahead of Richie Dennis. Third-placed Bekker came under attack from North, but North got a little too close to his opponent entering the third bend of lap 3 and slid off. North earned the praise of referee Phil Griffin for quickly getting off the track to allow the race to reach its conculsion (14-10).
In Heat 5, Martin blasted around the outside of Auty on the back straight to take the lead. However, showing a real turn of speed, Auty dashed back inside Martin with a lap remaining to become Scunthorpe's first heat winner of the evening. Bargh took a comfortable third ahead of Haines (17-13).
Kyle Hughes and Smethills gated in Heat 6 and blasted to a 5-1 ahead of Dennis (22-14), while Heat 7 had to be brought back after a ragged start that left James Cockle and Johnson at the tapes. Betson was warned for moving early, but he then won the re-run in style, with Cockle and Dennis packing into second and third (25-17).
Haines and Bekker had the edge into the first turn in Heat 8, but Hughes quickly got into second place to restrict the Scorpions to a 4-2. Meanwhile, fourth-placed North took an excursion across the centre on the second bend, then continued for a couple of laps, before noticing that his blue exclusion light was on and he then pulled onto the centre green (27-21).
Bargh led Heat 9, ahead of Dennis and Scott Richardson, with Martin trailing. However, Martin closed in on Richardson and swept around him on the second bend of the third lap. Moments later, Dennis spluttered to a halt and he lost second place, as Martin came through to join Bargh for a 5-1 (32-22).
Smethills won Heat 10 ahead of Cockle, while Haines held onto third place, despite a determined effort by Hughes on the final lap (35-25).
Josh Auty was nominated as a tactical ride in Heat 11, which turned out to be a classic. Auty missed the start, but was third into the first bend just ahead of Johnson. Johnson came back at him and momentarily edged back past, and it wasn't until the third bend that Auty managed to shake off his 15-year-old opponent. Meanwhile, Betson had swept inside Haines on the back straight to take the lead. Auty soon got past his team-mate into second place and then reeled in Betson. Betson drifted slightly wide out of the second bend of lap 3, and it was all Auty needed, as Auty switched lines to chop under Betson down the back straight. However, Betson kept the throttle on, came back at Auty around the outside and for over half a lap they were side-by-side, until Betson took the advantage out of the second bend of the final lap. Betson took the chequered flag after a race in which both he and Auty had shown great skill - it was a race which would not have been out of place in a Grand Prix round. Fantastic stuff. With Auty's points doubled, the Scorpions took a 5-3, but Oxford still seemed well in control of the meeting (38-30).
But the Scorpions have strength all the way down their side and this was illustrated when Cockle and Bekker got the drop in Heat 12. Bargh tried everything to get by, before he slid off on the entry of the third bend of lap 3 while trying to overcome Bekker, while North coming through to take the third-placed point (39-35).
The Scunthorpe revival continued in Heat 13. Betson led, but Auty flew around him on the fourth bend and won convincingly. Meanwhile, Dennis held on to third place, as Smethills finished last at Oxford for the first time since signing for the Cheetahs, illustrating what a tower of strength he has been for the Cheetahs around Sandy Lane (41-39).
The Cheetahs needed a big ride from Martin in Heat 14 - and that's what he produced. Headed by Cockle from the tapes, Martin used the outside line to expert effect around the opening bends and blasted past Cockle down the back straight to take a priceless heat win for the homesters. But with Bekker and Cockle in second and third, it meant it would all go down to the final race (44-42).
Betson & Smethills were first to show in Heat 15, but Auty was unstoppable by this stage and he blasted around the Oxford pair on the opening half lap to move from third to first, and he completed the four laps well ahead in a time of 62.13, very quick for Heat 15! But Betson and Smethills knew what they needed, and they made sure they stayed ahead of fourth-placed Haines to clinch the match for the Cheetahs (47-45).
The Bert Harkins Bronze Helmet match-race turned out to be an anti-climax, with holder Richie Dennis failing to appear on track, leaving Danny Betson to complete four laps by himself to become the new holder.
OXFORD LCD PUBLISHING CHEETAHS 47
Lee Smethills 3 2* 3 0 1* (9+2)
Kyle Hughes 0 3 2 0 (5)
Andrew Bargh 1 1* 3 F (5+1)
Sam Martin 3 2 2* 3 (10+1)
Danny Betson 3 3 3 2 2 (13)
Brendan Johnson 1 0 0 0 (1)
Dakota North 3 F X 1 (4)
Team manager: Peter Oakes
SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS
Josh Auty 2 2 3 4! 3 3 (17)
Joe Haines 1* 0 3 1* 1* 0 (6+3)
Rider replacement - Tai Woffinden
James Cockle 0 2 2 3 1* (8+1)
Richie Dennis 2 1 1* R 1 (5+1)
Scott Richardson 0 0 1 (1)
Byron Bekker 2 1* 1 2* 2 (8+2)
Team manager: Kenny Smith
Referee: Phil Griffin
! = tactical ride
HEAT DETAILS:
1: Smethills (O), Auty (S), Haines (S), Hughes (O), 61.60 (3-3).
2: North (O), Bekker (S), Johnson (O), Richardson (S), 62.71 (7-5).
3: Martin (O), Auty (S), Bargh (O), Cockle (S), 62.84 (11-7).
4: Betson (O), Dennis (S), Bekker (S), Norton (O) (fell), 61.87 (14-10).
5: Auty (S), Martin (O), Bargh (O), Haines (S), 62.50 (17-13).
6: Hughes (O) Smethills (O), Dennis (S), Richardson (S), 62.78 (22-14).
7: (Re-run) Betson (O), Cockle (S), Dennis (S), Johnson (O), 63.13 (25-17).
8: Haines (S), Hughes (O), Bekker (S), North (O) (excluded, left track), 62.97 (27-21).
9: Bargh (O), Martin (O), Richardson (S), Dennis (S) (ret), 63.34 (32-22).
10: Smethills (O), Cockle (S), Haines (S), Hughes (O), 63.56 (35-25).
11: Betson (O), Auty (S) (tactical ride), Haines (S), Johnson (O), 62.59 (38-30).
12: Cockle (S), Bekker (S), North (O), Bargh (O) (fell), 63.62 (39-35).
13: Auty (S), Betson (O), Dennis (S), Smethills (O), 62.44 (41-39).
14: Martin (O), Bekker (S), Cockle (S), Johnson (O), 62.34 (44-42).
15: Auty (S), Betson (O), Smethills (O), Haines (S), 62.13 (47-45).
BRONZE HELMET:
Betson beat Dennis (non-starter), 66.47.
REPORT: ROB PEASLEY
OXFORD LCD PUBLISHING CHEETAHS 47 SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS 45
(Conference League)
Oxford Cheetahs inflicted only the second league defeat of the season on the mighty Scunthorpe Scorpions, after an absorbing contest. This meeting promised to be an absolute belter, and didn't disappoint.
Joe Haines was fastest away in Heat 1, but Lee Smethills blasted past him on the second turn. Auty came through into second and pushed Smethills hard in the closing stages, but the Oxford captain held on and the evening started with a shared heat (3-3).
Dakota North (in for the unavailable Scott Campos) and Brendan Johnson briefly held a 5-1 in Heat 2, but Byron Bekker was soon past Johnson into second place. North went on to win his debut ride at Oxford by an impressive margin, while Johnson made sure that Bekker couldn't relax (7-5).
Sam Martin & Andrew Bargh hit the front in Heat 3, but Bargh - on his return from a dislocated ankle - looked a little uneasy, and Auty gradually reeled him in. Just when it looked that Bargh might have done enough, Auty came steaming around the outside coming off the final bend and snatched second place by a whisker (11-7).
Danny Betson - another returnee from injury - was a convincing winner of Heat 4 ahead of Richie Dennis. Third-placed Bekker came under attack from North, but North got a little too close to his opponent entering the third bend of lap 3 and slid off. North earned the praise of referee Phil Griffin for quickly getting off the track to allow the race to reach its conculsion (14-10).
In Heat 5, Martin blasted around the outside of Auty on the back straight to take the lead. However, showing a real turn of speed, Auty dashed back inside Martin with a lap remaining to become Scunthorpe's first heat winner of the evening. Bargh took a comfortable third ahead of Haines (17-13).
Kyle Hughes and Smethills gated in Heat 6 and blasted to a 5-1 ahead of Dennis (22-14), while Heat 7 had to be brought back after a ragged start that left James Cockle and Johnson at the tapes. Betson was warned for moving early, but he then won the re-run in style, with Cockle and Dennis packing into second and third (25-17).
Haines and Bekker had the edge into the first turn in Heat 8, but Hughes quickly got into second place to restrict the Scorpions to a 4-2. Meanwhile, fourth-placed North took an excursion across the centre on the second bend, then continued for a couple of laps, before noticing that his blue exclusion light was on and he then pulled onto the centre green (27-21).
Bargh led Heat 9, ahead of Dennis and Scott Richardson, with Martin trailing. However, Martin closed in on Richardson and swept around him on the second bend of the third lap. Moments later, Dennis spluttered to a halt and he lost second place, as Martin came through to join Bargh for a 5-1 (32-22).
Smethills won Heat 10 ahead of Cockle, while Haines held onto third place, despite a determined effort by Hughes on the final lap (35-25).
Josh Auty was nominated as a tactical ride in Heat 11, which turned out to be a classic. Auty missed the start, but was third into the first bend just ahead of Johnson. Johnson came back at him and momentarily edged back past, and it wasn't until the third bend that Auty managed to shake off his 15-year-old opponent. Meanwhile, Betson had swept inside Haines on the back straight to take the lead. Auty soon got past his team-mate into second place and then reeled in Betson. Betson drifted slightly wide out of the second bend of lap 3, and it was all Auty needed, as Auty switched lines to chop under Betson down the back straight. However, Betson kept the throttle on, came back at Auty around the outside and for over half a lap they were side-by-side, until Betson took the advantage out of the second bend of the final lap. Betson took the chequered flag after a race in which both he and Auty had shown great skill - it was a race which would not have been out of place in a Grand Prix round. Fantastic stuff. With Auty's points doubled, the Scorpions took a 5-3, but Oxford still seemed well in control of the meeting (38-30).
But the Scorpions have strength all the way down their side and this was illustrated when Cockle and Bekker got the drop in Heat 12. Bargh tried everything to get by, before he slid off on the entry of the third bend of lap 3 while trying to overcome Bekker, while North coming through to take the third-placed point (39-35).
The Scunthorpe revival continued in Heat 13. Betson led, but Auty flew around him on the fourth bend and won convincingly. Meanwhile, Dennis held on to third place, as Smethills finished last at Oxford for the first time since signing for the Cheetahs, illustrating what a tower of strength he has been for the Cheetahs around Sandy Lane (41-39).
The Cheetahs needed a big ride from Martin in Heat 14 - and that's what he produced. Headed by Cockle from the tapes, Martin used the outside line to expert effect around the opening bends and blasted past Cockle down the back straight to take a priceless heat win for the homesters. But with Bekker and Cockle in second and third, it meant it would all go down to the final race (44-42).
Betson & Smethills were first to show in Heat 15, but Auty was unstoppable by this stage and he blasted around the Oxford pair on the opening half lap to move from third to first, and he completed the four laps well ahead in a time of 62.13, very quick for Heat 15! But Betson and Smethills knew what they needed, and they made sure they stayed ahead of fourth-placed Haines to clinch the match for the Cheetahs (47-45).
The Bert Harkins Bronze Helmet match-race turned out to be an anti-climax, with holder Richie Dennis failing to appear on track, leaving Danny Betson to complete four laps by himself to become the new holder.
OXFORD LCD PUBLISHING CHEETAHS 47
Lee Smethills 3 2* 3 0 1* (9+2)
Kyle Hughes 0 3 2 0 (5)
Andrew Bargh 1 1* 3 F (5+1)
Sam Martin 3 2 2* 3 (10+1)
Danny Betson 3 3 3 2 2 (13)
Brendan Johnson 1 0 0 0 (1)
Dakota North 3 F X 1 (4)
Team manager: Peter Oakes
SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS
Josh Auty 2 2 3 4! 3 3 (17)
Joe Haines 1* 0 3 1* 1* 0 (6+3)
Rider replacement - Tai Woffinden
James Cockle 0 2 2 3 1* (8+1)
Richie Dennis 2 1 1* R 1 (5+1)
Scott Richardson 0 0 1 (1)
Byron Bekker 2 1* 1 2* 2 (8+2)
Team manager: Kenny Smith
Referee: Phil Griffin
! = tactical ride
HEAT DETAILS:
1: Smethills (O), Auty (S), Haines (S), Hughes (O), 61.60 (3-3).
2: North (O), Bekker (S), Johnson (O), Richardson (S), 62.71 (7-5).
3: Martin (O), Auty (S), Bargh (O), Cockle (S), 62.84 (11-7).
4: Betson (O), Dennis (S), Bekker (S), Norton (O) (fell), 61.87 (14-10).
5: Auty (S), Martin (O), Bargh (O), Haines (S), 62.50 (17-13).
6: Hughes (O) Smethills (O), Dennis (S), Richardson (S), 62.78 (22-14).
7: (Re-run) Betson (O), Cockle (S), Dennis (S), Johnson (O), 63.13 (25-17).
8: Haines (S), Hughes (O), Bekker (S), North (O) (excluded, left track), 62.97 (27-21).
9: Bargh (O), Martin (O), Richardson (S), Dennis (S) (ret), 63.34 (32-22).
10: Smethills (O), Cockle (S), Haines (S), Hughes (O), 63.56 (35-25).
11: Betson (O), Auty (S) (tactical ride), Haines (S), Johnson (O), 62.59 (38-30).
12: Cockle (S), Bekker (S), North (O), Bargh (O) (fell), 63.62 (39-35).
13: Auty (S), Betson (O), Dennis (S), Smethills (O), 62.44 (41-39).
14: Martin (O), Bekker (S), Cockle (S), Johnson (O), 62.34 (44-42).
15: Auty (S), Betson (O), Smethills (O), Haines (S), 62.13 (47-45).
BRONZE HELMET:
Betson beat Dennis (non-starter), 66.47.
REPORT: ROB PEASLEY
