Three points for the Vortex Hammers

The Vortex Hammers collected all three league points in an exciting victory over King’s Lynn Stars on Friday evening.

Needing a second place to avoid conceding a 5-1 that would have given their play-off rivals a vital point. But with Davey Watt slotting into second place ahead of Richie Worrall, the home side could celebrate safe in the knowledge of the much needed points haul.

Racing was close and competitive throughout, with the early heats in particular providing plenty of action for the fans to savour. It was the visiting Niels Kristian Iversen who set the early pace, coming from behind to pass Lewis Bridger in the opening race.

Piotr Swiderski took to the stage in heat three, finding the speed to overhaul former Hammer Richie Worrall on the final turn to edge victory by the closest of margins. And it was the turn of skiper Davey Watt to show his skills in the next heat as he glided majestically past the whole field to take the eventual win from Rory Schlein in race number four.

There was some controversy in the fifth heat when Swiderski tumbled under pressure from Iversen, the Pole being excluded and team mate Seb Ulamek – who was on a 5-1 with his fellow countryman – being awarded victory.

The shared heat deadlock continued until the turn when Bridger and Richard Lawson took a from-the-back 5-1 over Lasse Bjerre and Morten Risager. The home side repeated the dose in heat nine with a Swiderski/Ulamek 5-1 the the vein continued until Iversen took a winning tactical ride win in heat eleven.

A 5-1 from Ulamek and Lawson in race twelve put the Hammers firmly in the driving seat before a series of 4-2’s left the final race result up for grabs.

Lakeside Hammers = 50
1. Peter Karlsson 3, 2, 1*, 0 = 6+1
 2. Lewis Bridger 0, 1*, 3, 2 = 6+1
 3. Sebastian Ulamek 0, 3, 3, 3, 0 = 9
 4. Piotr Swiderski 3, 0, 2*, F = 5+1
 5. Davey Watt 3, 3, 2, 2, 2 = 12
 6. Kevin Doolan 2*, 0, 1*, 2 = 5+2
 7. Richard Lawson 3, 0, 2*, 2* = 7+2
Kings Lynn Stars = 43
1. Niels-Kristian Iversen 2, 2, 6^, 3, 3 =16
 2. Lasse Bjerre 1*, 1*, 0, 0 = 2+2
 3. Mads Korneliussen 1*, 2, 0, 0 = 3+1
 4. Richie Worrall 2, 1*, 3, 3, 1 = 10+1
 5. Rory Schlein 2, 3, 1, 1 = 7
 6. Leigh Lanham (G) 1, 0, 0 = 1
 7. Morten Risager (G) 0, 1*, 1, 1, 1 = 4+1
Heat Results
Heat 01: Karlsson, Iversen, Bjerre, Bridger 3-3 3-3 58.6
 Heat 02: Lawson, Doolan, Lanham, Risager 5-1 8-4 59.7
 Heat 03: Swiderski, Worrall, Korneliussen, Ulamek 3-3 11-7 59.2
 Heat 04: Watt, Schlein, Risager, Lawson 3-3 14-10 58.9
 Heat 05: Ulamek, Iversen, Bjerre, Swiderski (fell exc) 3-3 17-13
 Heat 06: Schlein, Karlsson, Bridger, Lanham 3-3 20-16 59.3
 Heat 07: Watt, Korneliussen, Worrall, Doolan 3-3 23-19 58.7
 Heat 08: Bridger, Lawson, Risager, Bjerre 5-1 28-20 59.8
 Heat 09: Ulamek, Swiderski, Schlein, Lanham 5-1 33-21 59.2
 Heat 10: Worrall, Bridger, Karlsson, Korneliussen 3-3 36-24 58.9
 Heat 11: Iversen, Watt, Doolan, Bjerre 3-6 39-30 58.3
 Heat 12: Ulamek, Lawson, Risager, Korneliussen 5-1 44-31 59.6
 Heat 13: Iversen, Watt, Schlein, Karlsson 2-4 46-35 58.9
 Heat 14: Worrall, Doolan, Risager, Swiderski (fell) 2-4 48-39 59.7
 Heat 15: Iversen, Watt, Worrall, Ulamek 2-4 50-43 59.3

Picture: Lewis Bridger (Rob Newell/TGSPHOTO)