Buxton Hitmen 60 Newport Mavericks 29
(Conference League ~ October 10th)
After all of the acrimony over the Cup semi-final, Newport finally arrived for the League encounter. Buxton had to make changes for the match as they were without Neil Painter and had Dean Garrod at No 1 in his place. Newport tracked just two of their five Premier League riders in a line-up more in keeping with the Conference ethos.
| HITMEN | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | Total | BP | | MAVERICKS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | | Total | BP |
| Dean GARROD | 2' | 2' | E | 1 | | | 5 | 2 | | Chris COURAGE | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | 14 | |
| Mark STEEL | 3 | 3 | F | 3 | | | 9 | | | Rob FINLOW | 0 | 0 | 1' | 0 | 1 | | | | 2 | 1 |
| Aiden COLLINS | X | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | 8 | | | Nick SIMMONS | 2 | F | M | | | | | | 2 | |
| Paul BURNETT | 3 | 1' | 1 | 3 | | | 8 | 1 | | Darren HATTON | F | 0 | 1' | 0 | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Adam ALLOTT | 3 | 2' | 2 | 3 | 1 | | 11 | 1 | | Rider Replacement | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee SMETHILLS | 3 | 3 | 1' | 2' | 3 | | 12 | 2 | | Steve ASTON | 1' | 1 | X | 0 | 0 | | | | 2 | 1 |
| James MANN | X | 2' | 3 | 2' | | | 7 | 2 | | Jamie HOLMES | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | | 8 | |
Heat 1 ~ Steel, Garrod, Courage, Finlow (5-1) [5-1]
Garrod made a good start from the inside gate and pushed Courage off line and Steel took advantage to cut back under them off the first turn.
Heat 2 ~ Smethills, Holmes, Aston, Mann (Ex-Fell) (3-3) [8-4]
Mann went too wide on the first turn and was third. He was over-eager as he dived under Holmes as they entered the third turn and fell. Smethills won the re-run easily.
Heat 3 ~ Burnett, Simmons, Hatton (Fell), Collins (Ex) (3-2) [11-6]
Collins was chasing Simmons for second when he came under the Newport rider into the first turn of the second lap. Simmons stood his ground and Collins tried not to collide with him but did and Simmons fell. Burnett made the start in the re-run and was pressured all of the way by Simmons, whose partner Hatton fell on the second lap.
Heat 4 ~ Allott, Mann, (r/r)Courage, Holmes (5-1) [16-7]
Allott led all the way with Mann following to put Buxton firmly in command.
Heat 5 ~ Courage, Collins, Burnett, Finlow (3-3) [19-10]
Courage got the drop on the Buxton pair and had to withstand 4 laps of pressure from Collins. Finlow fell on the fourth turn of the first lap but remounted.
Heat 6 ~ Steel, Garrod, Aston, (r/r)Simmons (Fell) (5-1) [24-11]
Steel led with Simmons in pursuit. Simmons fell awkwardly on the first turn of lap 3 to hand the Hitmen another 5-1.
Heat 7 ~ Smethills, Allott, (res)Holmes, Hatton Simmons (Ex-2 mins) (5-1) [29-12]
The match was over at this point as Simmons failed to appear after his fall in the previous race. Holmes pushed Allott wide in the first turn and the Hitman took a lap to settle. When he did, he soon passed Hatton and then caught and passed Holmes.
Heat 8 ~ Mann, Holmes, Finlow, Steel (Ex-Fell) (3-3) [32-15]
Buxton were racing to an easy 5-1 when Steel inexplicably fell on the last turn without a Mavericks in sight.
Heat 9 ~ Collins, (t/s)Courage, Burnett, Aston (Ex-Fell) (4-2) [36-17]
Collins made the start and was joined by Burnett who passed Courage on the outside along the back straight. Aston fell on the third turn and the race was stopped. In th re-run, Courage pushed Burnett wide on the first turn but Collins came under them to lead. Burnett again passed Courage on the outside along the back straight but Courage got through to second as they entered the last lap.
Heat 10 ~ Steel, (t/s)Holmes, Hatton, Garrod (EF) (3-3) [39-20]
Holmes took Simmons' ride as he couldn't continue. The Hitmen were on for another 5-1 until Garrod's throttle cable broke on the third turn of the last lap and allowed the two Mavericks passed.
Heat 11 ~ Courage, Allott, Smethills, Finlow (3-3) [42-23]
Courage was away but Smethills held Allott up. Once he was through, he chased Courage and almost caught him on the line.
Heat 12 ~ Collins, Mann, (t/s)Finlow, Aston (5-1) [47-24]
Easy for the two Hitmen.
Heat 13 ~ Allott, Courage, Garrod, (r/r)Aston (4-2) [51-26]
Allott got his revenge on Courage for being denied in their previous race.
Heat 14 ~ Burnett, Smethills, Holmes, Hatton (5-1) [56-27]
Another 5-1 set Buxton up for their biggest home win of the season.
Heat 15 ~ Smethills, Courage, Allott, Holmes (4-2) [60-29]
Smethills assured himself of a crack at the Bronze Helmet as he won and Allott couldn't find a way passed Courage.
Bronze Helmet ~ Smethills beat Courage
Smethills won the toss and chose the inside and held Courage off to the first turn and the race was over. Justice for the young Hitman as he only lost the title because he was away when he was to defend it, so was stripped of the Helmet.
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