Another win for Stags

SCUNTHORPE STAGS 19
BELLE VUE COLTS 16
MIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE, SUNDAY 3rd JULY

THE Stags just came out on top in this eventful MDL match against a depleted Belle Vue side to record their fourth win in a row.

Joe Lawlor had been forced out earlier with machine problems and with his replacement, Luke McKenna, suffering an engine failure while warming his bike up before the start of the match, the Colts were reduced to only three riders before a wheel had even been turned so the Stags should have have run out easy winners but they threw away quite a few points and the remaining Colts pushed us all the way.

A bizarre incident in Heat 1 saw the Stags George Rothery fall for no apparent reason while leading and his partner Luke Whitehead, with no time to take avoiding action, collided with his bike and also fell heavily, turning a comfortable 5-1 into a 3-3 drawn heat. The next Heat was also shared with the very impressive Chris Hay taking the first of his three wins, ahead of the battling duo, Andy Mellish and Sam Woolley.

Heat 3 saw Mellish slide off whilst in second place causing team-mate Sean Phillips lay his bike down to avoid him. In doing so, Phillips fell awkwardly, injuring his arm and ruling him out of the rest of the meeting.
The Colts were now down to just two riders with only Mellish and Woolley left to carry on the fight. And they did the Colts proud, actually outscoring the Stags by 9 points to 8 over the last three heats, aided by Rothery suffering an engine failure whilst on a 5-1 with Hay in Heat 6.

Chris Hay lead the Stags with an impeccable 3-ride maximum, well supported by Luke Whitehead with a win and a paid-win. George Rothery looked like he could have gone unbeaten if not for the fall in his first race and engine failure in his last, while Sam Chapman had a quiet day by his own standards but is sure to come back strong again next time.

With Buxton also winning at home today, this win maintains the Stags slender lead at the top of MDL Group A.

SCUNTHORPE STAGS 19
1. George Rothery – F,3,R, = 3
2. Luke Whitehead – 3,2+1,0, = 5+1
3. Chris Hay – 3,3,3, – 9 (MAXIMUM)
4. Sam Chapman – R,1,1, – 2

BELLE VUE COLTS 16
1. Sean Phillips – 1+1,1,NS,NS, = 2+1
2. Sam Woolley – 2,1+1,2+1,2, = 7+2
3. Andy Mellish – 2,FX,3,2, – 7
4. Luke McKenna – DNR

Ht1 – Whitehead, Woolley, Phillips, Rothery (FX), 3-3 (3-3) A
Ht2 – Hay, Mellish, Woolley, Chapman (R), 3-3 (6-6) 59.19
Ht3 – Rothery, Whitehead, Phillips, Mellish (FX), 5-1 (11-7) A
Ht4 – Hay, Woolley, Chapman, (Phillips NS), 4-2 (15-9) 59.02
Ht5 – Mellish, Woolley, Chapman, Whitehead, 1-5 (16-14) 61.18
Ht6 – Hay, Mellish, Rothery (R) (Phillips NS), 3-2 (19-16) 61.49