Slender lead in cup semi-final

The Hammers managed a three point advantage over Belle Vue in this, the first leg of the Elite League knockout cup final.

It was a very similar story to the previous week’s meeting against Eastbourne in the EL play-offs where the Hammers moved into a ten point early on only for a winning tactical ride from the visitors to reverse the trend.

Full credit to Belle Vue, who withstood a 5-1 in the eighth race from Peter Ljung and Kim Nilsson and countered with one of their own in heat eleven before gnawing away at the rest of the deficit to finish the meeting just three points adrift.

The Aces were led by a sparkling display from Grand Prix star Chris Harris, who dropped just a single point – to Lee Richardson – all night. He duly got revenge for this single point blip by passing Richardson for a vital win in the final race.

Ljung was in equally good form for the home team, opening with a dominant race win over Rory Schlein. He was less successful when attempting to pass Harris – nominated for that tactical ride – in heat six, crashing into the Aces star on the third turn of the first lap and being excluded for his exhuberance.

All eyes now look to next Wednesday and the second leg of this encounter in Manchester and whether the Hammers will be lining up in cup final action on 14th October.

Lakeside Hammers = 48
1. Lee Richardson  1, 2, 1, 3, 2 = 9
2. Peter Ljung     3, 2, 3, 3, 0 = 11
3. Stuart Robson   2',1, 1',2, 2 = 8+2
4. Jonas Davidsson 3, 3, 1',1, 2 = 10+1
5. Rider Replacement
6. Robert Mear     2',2, 1',0    = 5+2
7. Kim Nilsson     3, 0, 2',0, 0 = 5+1
Belle Vue Aces = 45
1. Rory Schlein     2, 2, 2', 1' 1   = 8+2
2. Patrick Hougard  0, 0, 1, 3       = 4
3. Jordan Frampton  0, 0, R          = 0
4. Charlie Gjedde   1, 3, 0, 3,      = 7
5. Chris Harris     3, 6^ 3, 2, 3    = 17
6. Ricky Kling      1, 1, 0, 2, 3, 1 = 8
7. Lukasz Jankowski 0, 1, 0          = 1
Heat Results
Heat 01: Ljung, Schlein, Richardson, Hougaard 58.7 (4-2) (4-2)
Heat 02: Nilsson, Mear, Kling, Jankowski 58.9 (5-1) (9-3)
Heat 03: Davidsson, Robson, Gjedde, Frampton 59.2 (5-1) (14-4)
Heat 04: Harris, Ljung, Jankowski, Nilsson 58.5 (2-4) (16-8)
Heat 05: Davidsson, Schlein, Robson, Hougaard 58.3 (4-2) (20-10)
Heat 06: Harris (tactical ride), Richardson, Kling, Ljung (exc) 58.9 (2-7) (22-17)
Heat 07: Gjedde, Mear, Robson, Frampton 59.3 (3-3) (25-20)
Heat 08: Ljung, Nilsson, Hougaard, Janowski 58.7 (5-1) (30-21)
Heat 09: Harris, Robson, Davidsson, Kling 58.3 (3-3) (33-24)
Heat 10: Ljung, Kling, Richardson, Gjedde 58.8 (4-2) (37-26)
Heat 11: Hougard, Schlein, Davidsson, Nilsson 59.2 (1-5) (38-31)
Heat 12: Kling, Robson, Mear, Frampton (ret) 59.7 (3-3) (41-34)
Heat 13: Richardson, Harris, Schlein, Nilsson 58.7 (3-3) (44-37)
Heat 14: Gjedde, Davidsson, Kling, Mear 59.2 (2-4) (46-41)
Heat 15: Harris, Richardson, Schlein, Ljung 59.2 (2-4) (48-45)