Stags go down fighting

SCUNTHORPE STAGS 13…….LONG EATON 23
MDL, SUNDAY 17th JULY

The Stags were unable to match the Invaders spearhead of Layne Cupitt and Jamie Halder who, between them, won all six races with relative ease. Cupitt looked a class apart with a four-ride maximum, while Halder was even able to limp across the line a fraction ahead of Sam Chapman in Heat 3 despite suffering engine problems on the last lap, which then prevented him taking his third ride. They were well supported by Stephen Whitehouse who scored in each of his four rides but the unlucky Kyle Roberts fell while well placed in his first ride and sustained a hand injury which ruled him out of the rest of the meeting.

Despite the score, there were plenty of positives in this match for the Stags, Luke Whitehead rode as fast and aggressively as he has ever done to register three hard-earned second places and Sam Chapman was back to his best again with 5+1 from his three rides. Ditchy couldn’t find his gating this week but once going looked to be on the pace, while 15 year-old Sheldon Davies, who’s only been riding a 500cc machine for a couple of months, got better with each race and showed great potential.

With Buxton winning their match against Belle Vue earlier in the afternoon, the Stags lead at the top of the Group has been cut to just a single point.

SCUNTHORPE STAGS 13
1. Sam Chapman – 2,2,1+1, = 5+1
2. Lloyd Ditchburn – 1+1,0,0, = 1+1
3. Luke Whitehead – 2,2,2, = 6
4. Sheldon Davies – 0,0,1, = 1

LONG EATON INVADERS 23
1. Layne Cupitt – 3,3,3,3, = 12 (MAX)
2. Kyle Roberts – F (WITHDRAWN) = 0
3. Jamie Halder – 3,3,NS, = 6
4. Stephen Whitehouse – 1,1,1,2, = 5

Ht1. Cupitt, Chapman, Ditchburn, Roberts(F,W), 3-3 (3-3)
Ht2. Halder, Whitehead, Whitehouse, Davies, 2-4 (5-7)
Ht3. Halder, Chapman, Whitehouse, Ditchburn, 2-4 (7-11)
Ht4. Cupitt, Whitehead, Whitehouse, Davies, 2-4 (9-15)
Ht5. Cupitt, Whitehouse, Davies, Ditchburn (F/Rem) 1-5 (10-20)
Ht6. Cupitt, Whitehead, Chapman, (Halder N/S) 3-3 (13-23)