Stags report from March 20th
STAGS 15 HALIFAX DUKES 21
THREE of the Stags squad were in action on Sunday, March 20th, when Scunthorpe stepped in to race the Halifax Dukes in a challenge match when their original opponents pulled out at short notice. The match was raced under the Northern Junior League format, which means each team comprised of two 500cc riders and two 150cc riders. Scunthorpe brought in Luke Whitehead and Sam Chapman, with Chris Hay, who is part of the Halifax NJL squad as well as the Stags MDL squad, named in the Dukes team. 150cc riders Sheldon Davies and Like Harrison completed the Scunthorpe team.
In the 500 races (Heats 1,3 and 5) the Stags got off to a slow start with the Dukes recording a first heat 5-1, but Luke Whitehead showed significant improvement with each race and was finally rewarded with a well-deserved heat win against the previously unbeaten Joe Lawlor in their last race. Sam Chapman had three solid races which earned him a point in Heat 5. For the Dukes, Chris Hay showed great speed but his scoring was limited by a couple of mistakes in his last two rides after following his partner home in Heat 1.
In the 150cc races, the Dukes Jordan Palin rode to a faultless maximum but Luke Harrison showed amazing skills for his age to record three comfortable second places for Scunthorpe, definitely one to watch for the future! Scunthorpe’s Sheldon Davies and Sam McGurk for Halifax were involved in a match-long battle of their own with Davies just taking the honours, 2 races to 1.
A very entertaining match to open the season, with plenty of positive signs for the Stags riders in their lead up to the forthcoming MDL matches.
SCUNTHORPE STAGS
Luke Whitehead – 1,2,3 = 6
Sam Chapman – 0,0,1 = 1
Sheldon Davies – 1+1,1+1,0 = 2+2
Luke Harrison – 2,2,2 = 6
HALIFAX DUKES
Joe Lawlor – 3,3,2 = 8
Chris Hay – 2+1,1,F = 3+1
Jordan Palin – 3,3,3 = 9 (MAX)
Sam McGurk – 0,R,1 = 1
HEAT 1 – Lawlor, Hay,Whitehead, Chapman. 1-5 (1-5)
HEAT 2 – Palin, Harrison, Davies, McGurk. 3-3 (4-8)
HEAT 3 – Lawlor, Whitehead, Hay, Chapman. 2-4 (6-12)
HEAT 4 – Palin, Harrison, Davies, McGurk. 3-3 (9-15)
HEAT 5 – Whitehead, Lawlor, Chapman, Hay(F). 4-2 (13-17)
HEAT 6 – Palin, Harrison, McGurk, Davies. 2-4 (15-21)
