MDL report from April 24th – Stags vs Buxton

SCUNTHORPE STAGS 15
BUXTON JUNIOR HITMEN 21
Midland Development League

A solid all-round team effort by the Stags was not quite enough to overcome the potent spearhead of the Hitmen in tonights entertaining MDL clash at Scunthorpe. Both Jamie Halder and Joe Lawlor were unbeaten for the Hitmen but an upset looked to be on the cards as early as Heat 1 when Stags No.1, Chris Hay launched from the gate and held off the persistent Halder for three laps before leaving the smallest of gaps exiting turn 2 of the fourth lap, which was all Halder needed to slip past for his first of three wins. The Hitmen opened up a 6 point lead when Hay fell attempting the big blast round the outside of the first turn in Heat 3 having missed the gate, which they held on to with a 3-3 in Heat 4. The Stags were offered a lifeline with a 5-1 in Heat 5, won very impressively from the gate by Sam Chapman, unaware of the events unfolding behind him. William O’Keefe was holding a comfortable second place until his engine expired on the last lap which unsettled his team-mate, Fletcher, following behind him allowing Ditchy to nip through past them both to take second. But with both Halder and Lawlor in the last Heat the Hitmen finally secured the win by a six-point margin.

Sam rode brilliantly to top-score for the Stags with a win and two seconds, whilst Luke and Ditchy provided solid support with 3+2 and 3+1 respectively. Unfortunately Chris was unable to add to his first race second place, suffering a fall and an engine failure.

SCUNTHORPE STAGS 15
Chris Hay – 2,F,R, = 2
Lloyd Ditchburn – 0,1,2+1, = 3+1
Luke Whitehead – 1+1,1+1,1, = 3+2
Sam Chapman – 2,2,3, = 7

BUXTON JUNIOR HITMEN 21
Jamie Halder – 3,3,3, = 9 (MAX)
William O’Keefe – 1,0,R, = 1
Joe Lawlor – 3,3,2+1 = 8+1 (MAX)
Connor Fletcher – 0,2+1,1, = 3+1

Ht 1 – Halder, Hay, O’Keefe, Ditchburn, 2-4 (2-4) 63.07
Ht 2 – Lawlor, Chapman, Whitehead, Fletcher, 3-3 (5-7) 62.46
Ht 3 – Lawlor, Fletcher, Ditchburn, Hay(F), 1-5 (6-12) 61.56
Ht 4 – Halder, Chapman, Whitehead, O’Keefe. 3-3 (9-15) 60.38
Ht 5 – Chapman, Ditchburn, Fletcher, O’Keefe(R), 5-1 (14-16) 65.07
Ht 6 – Halder, Lawlor, Whitehead, Hay(R), 1-5 (15-21) 60.75