Buxton Hitmen 43 Newport Mavericks 47
(Conference League Cup Semi-Final ~ September 4th)
Buxton had to make changes for their hardest and biggest test of the season. They were without Young, Smethills & Steel and brought in Paul Macklin with James Mann returning from injury. Newport tracked all four of their Premier League riders and were using Rider Replacement, giving them an extra ride as well. With this, the Mavericks were expected to win fairly comfortably.
| HITMEN | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | | Total | BP | | MAVERICKS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | | Total | BP |
| Neil PAINTER | 2' | 2 | 1' | 1 | 1' | | | | 7 | 3 | | Chris NEATH | X | 2' | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2' | | | 13 | 2 |
| Rider Replacement | | | | | | | | | | | | Nick SIMMONS | 0 | 0 | X | | | | | | 0 | |
| Aidan COLLINS | 2 | 1 | 2' | 2 | 1 | | | | 8 | 1 | | Andy APPLETON | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | 19 | |
| Paul BURNETT | 1' | 0 | 3 | X | 2 | | | | 6 | 1 | | Rider Replacement | | | | | | | | | | |
| Adam ALLOTT | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | | | 12 | | | Bobby ELDRIDGE | 2 | 3 | F | 2' | 0 | | | | 7 | 1 |
| Paul MACKLIN | 1 | X | M | | | | | | 1 | | | Danny SLATER | 0 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | 1 | |
| James MANN | 3 | 0 | 1' | 2 | 1' | 1' | 1' | | 9 | 4 | | Graig GOUGH | 1 | 2 | 1' | 3 | F | 0 | | | 7 | 1 |
Heat 1 ~ Painter, (r/r)Allott, (res)Gough, Neath (Ex-Fell) (5-1) [5-1]
Simmons turned up just in time to miss his first ride. Neath made the start but drifted wide off turn 2. Allott passed him on the inside and Painter went through on turn 3. Neath fell after clipping Painter's back wheel as they went in to turn 1 and was excluded.
Heat 2 ~ Mann, Gough, Macklin, Slater (4-2) [9-3]
Macklin and Slater fell on the first turn causing a re-run. Macklin led from Mann until he went wide on the last turn of lap 3 to let Gough in for 2nd.
Heat 3 ~ Appleton, Collins, Burnett, (r/r)Simmons (3-3) [12-6]
Appleton flew from the gate and scorched to a new lap record. Simmons passed Burnett fro third at the end of the first lap but handed it back when he almost fell on the next lap.
Heat 4 ~ Allott, Eldridge, Gough, Mann (3-3) [15-9]
Allott led all the way. Mann missed the start and couldn't make any impression at the back.
Heat 5 ~ (t/s)Appleton, Neath, Collins, Burnett (1-5) [16-14]
Appleton immediately came in as Tac Sub and was followed home by Neath for a 5-1 to close the gap.
Heat 6 ~ Eldridge, Painter, (r/r)Mann, Slater (3-3) [19-17]
Eldridge won but the home pair picked up the minor places.
Heat 7 ~ (r/r)Neath, Allott, Appleton, Macklin (Ex-Fell) (2-4) [21-21]
Neath led from Macklin, Appleton fell on turn 3 and impeded Allott but the race wasn't stopped. Appleton remounted and gained an unjust third when Macklin fell on turn 2 of the last lap when attacking Neath.
Heat 8 ~ Gough, Mann, (r/r)Painter, Simmons (3-3) [24-24]
Gough made the gate but his partner Simmons fell on the 3rd turn when in third place.
Heat 9 ~ Burnett, Collins, Slater, Eldridge (Fell) (5-1) [29-25]
Eldridge led but made a big mistake on the 4th turn. He went into the first turn of the next lap too hard as he tried to make up for hie error and fell.
Heat 10 ~ Appleton, (r/r)Eldridge, Painter, (r/r)Burnett (Ex-Fell) (1-5) [30-30]
Controversy as Referee Peet handed Newport a 5-1 by awarding the race on the second lap. Appleton led from Eldridge who locked up on the third turn. Burnet was right behind and laid down to avoid a crash but the Ref excluded Burnett for not leaving the track as he didn't stop the race.
Heat 11 ~ Neath, Allott, (res)Mann, Simmons (Ex-Fell) Macklin (Ex-2 mins) (3-3) [33-33]
Referee Peet was at it again in this heat as well as he again controversially awarded the race. Simmons fell awkwardly on the last turn of the second lap and the race was stopped. At the time, Allott was all over Neath and was looking like passing the Newport skipper but the race was not re-run, even though there was a lap and a half of the race to go.
Heat 12 ~ Appleton, Collins, Mann, (res)Gough (3-3) [36-36]
The scores remained level as Appleton won from the two Hitman. Gough fell on the third turn.
Heat 13 ~ Neath, Allott, Painter, Eldridge (3-3) [39-39]
Another drawn heat as Neath won again but Eldridge fell on the second turn of lap2.
Heat 14 ~ (r/r)Appleton, Burnett, (res)Mann, Gough (3-3) [42-42]
Appleton came out for his sixth ride and won from Burnett and Mann to keep the scores tied.
Heat 15 ~ Appleton, Neath, Collins, Allott (1-5) [43-47]
Finally, Buxton's brave effort faltered as the Premier League pair of Appleton and Neath took the final race and gave Newport a four point lead for the second leg. Hardily surprising as 21 out of 30 rides were taken by current Premier League riders.
Bronze Helmet ~ Allott beat Appleton
Although it appears to be against the rules (League matches only), Newport insisted that the Bronze Helmet be raced for. As Holder Lee Smethills was absent, a challenger from each side was nominated. Allott won the toss and also the race to the first turn. He held off Appleton's challenge to keep the Helmet at Buxton.
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