Monthly Archives: September 2017

Lakeside will take a 16-point lead to Belle Vue for the second leg of their National League play-off semi-final after a hard-fought 53-37 victory at the Arena-Essex Raceway.

Star man Ben Morley struck a stunning 15-point maximum to lead the determined Vortex Hammers to an excellent victory.

But it was a determined team effort from Kelvin Tatum’s side which leaves their hopes of reaching the final hanging on a knife edge ahead of the second leg in Manchester next Friday, October 6 (7.30).

And Tatum was fairly satisfied with the result – although he believes it could have been more if not for some misfortune.

“It was a reasonable result,” Tatum said. “In reality I think we were hoping for a little bit more, and we could’ve had it if not for a bit of bad luck.

“We had Paul Hurry looking after young Jason Edwards in heat 12 when his cut-out got caught on his race jacket, and if not for dropping those points we could’ve had a 20-point advantage.

“But we’ve done all we can now, and I can’t fault the effort from the team. There were some impressive performances, and we’ve given ourselves a chance going into the second leg next week.”

Guesting No.1 Max Clegg won his opening three races in the No.1 spot, whilst flying middle order man Alfie Bowtell was beaten just once in his four outings.

Hammers guest Max Clegg

Teenage racer Jason Edwards enjoyed a dream debut, notching paid double figures at reserve, plus Paul Hurry chipped in with a solid score to contribute to a powerful performance.

Martin Hagon with Jason Edwards

NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY OFF SEMI FINAL, 1st leg
LAKESIDE 53:

Ben Morley 15, Max Clegg 11, Jason Edwards 9+1, Alfie Bowtell 8+1, Paul Hurry 7+1, Jamie Couzins 2, Nick Laurence 1.

BELLE VUE 37:

Liam Carr 12+1, Andy Mellish 8+2, Kyle Bickley 8+1, Jon Armstrong 7, Connor Coles 2+2, Luke Woodhull 0, Lee Payne r/r.

Main image: Ben Morley Credit Anticlockwise Photography

Heat Results:

Lakeside Hammers = 53

1. Max Clegg (G) – 3, 3, 3, 1, 1 = 11
2. Nick Laurence – 0, 0, 1, (JE – 1) = 1
3. Paul Hurry – 3, 2, 2′, 0 = 7+1
4. Alfie Bowtell – 2′, 0, 3, 3 = 8+1
5. Ben Morley – 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 15
6. Jason Edwards (G) – 3, 0, 1, (JC – 0), 3, 2′ = 9+1
7. Jamie Couzins – 1, 1, 0, 0, (JE – 3) = 4+1

Belle Vue Colts = 37

1. Liam Carr (G) – 1′, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2 = 12+1
2. Kyle Bickley – 2, 1, 1, 3, 1′, 0 = 8+1
3. R/R for Lee Payne – (KB – 1, LC – 2, JA – 2, CC – 1′ = 6+1)
4. Connor Coles (G) – 0, 1′, 0, 1′, (AM – 1) = 2+2
5. Jon Armstrong (G) – 2, 2, 1, 2, 0 = 7
6. Andy Mellish – 2, 1′, 2′, (LW – 0), 2, 1 = 8+2
7. Luke Woodhull – 0, 0, (AM – 2′), 0, 0 = 0

Gates: Lakeside take gates 2+4 in Heat 1. Belle Vue choose in Heat 15.
SCB Referee: Paul Carrington

Heat Results

Heat 01: Clegg, Bickley, Carr, Laurence 3-3 60.6
Heat 02 Edwards, Couzins, Mellish, Woodhull 4-2 (7-5) 62.5
Heat 03: Hurry, Bowtell, Bickley, Coles 5-1 (12-6) 62.6
Heat 04: Morley, Armstrong, Couzins, Woodhull 4-2 (16-8) 61.3
Heat 05: Carr, Hurry, Bickley, Bowtell 2-4 (18-12) 60.7
Heat 06: Clegg, Armstrong, Mellish, Laurence 3-3 (21-15) 60.5
Heat 07: Morley, Carr, Coles, Edwards 3-3 (24-18) 61.0
Heat 08: Bickley, Mellish, Laurence, Couzins – Fell, remounted 1-5 (25-23) 61.9
Heat 09: Bowtell, Hurry, Armstrong, Woodhull 5-1 (30-24) 61.3
Heat 10: Clegg, Armstrong, Edwards, Coles 4-2 (34-26) 60.4
Heat 11: Morley, Carr, Bickley, Couzins 3-3 (37-29) 60.8
Heat 12: Edwards, Mellish, Coles, Hurry 3-3 (40-32) 63.1
Heat 13: Morley, Clegg, Carr, Armstrong 4-2 (44-34) 60.6
Heat 14: Bowtell, Edwards, Mellish, Woodhull 5-1 (49-35) 62.8
Heat 15: Morley, Carr, Clegg, Bickley 4-2 (53-37) 61.0s