Heat by Heat Results - September 1970

Halifax produced one of their poorest performances of the season as the crashed to a 16 point reverse at Sheffield.  The Dukes kept it close early on, and levelled the scores after 5 heats, courtesy of a 4-2 from Boocock and Lee - but the Tigers then took control, with Airey, Haley, Paulson and Dews all scoring heavily to move the hosts clear.  Aside from Boocock, Jay and Younghusband, the Dukes had little to offer, with Jay fading in the second half of the match.  Guest Roy Trigg was hampered by mechanical issues all night and failed to contribute what was hoped for.

48 hours on from the Sheffield disappointment, the Dukes destroyed the outgoing league champions Poole with their biggest win of the season.  Alan Jay scored a full maximum, with Eric Boocock also unbeaten by a Pirate, as Halifax rain in seven 5-1s and three 4-2s in a rout.  Fossengen scored a rare win in heat 8 to inflict McKee's only defeat, whilst Younghusband's maximum hopes were spoiled by Mudge in the final race - but the result was decided a long time before that.

Not for the first time in 1970, the Dukes went down narrowly on their travels, this time a last-heat decider under the twin towers at Wembley.  In a close contest, Halifax never held the lead, but amazingly went into the final race only 2 points adrift.  But they were left to rue two tapes exclusions for Dave Younghusband, and a disappointing night for guest Howard Cole as they came up short.  Boocock and Jay were the stars of the show, whilst Terry Lee had an encouraging 6 points with three second places.

Halifax moved back up to 6th in the league with a comfortable win against local rivals Sheffield, who lacked support for their top 2 Airey and Haley.  Eric Boocock carried on from his Sheffield triumph on the Thursday night with another full-house, with good back up from Kentwell, Jay and guest, West Ham's Tony Clarke.  Colin McKee had a poor night, only beating one Tiger on the track, whilst the visitors gave an outing to young Doug Wyer, who had been seen in the second half rides at the Shay in recent weeks.

Another away defeat, another loss by 2 points, another last heat decider.  The story of Halifax's 1970 season moved onto East London, where the Hawks were the latest team to deny the Dukes an improbable away win.  Halifax really will feel this was one that got away - level after 11 heats, and with the unbeaten Younghusband to come in heat 12, but the Dukes suffered a 5-1 defeat.  The Dukes included Crewe's Paul O'Neal at reserve, and he impressed with 6 points, but was powerless to salvage the draw in the final race, despite holding off Etheridge for a point.

Halifax saw off a spirited challenge from Wembley, eventually pulling away in the latter stages.  Terry Lee and young Dave Jessup couldn't be separated on the line in heat 2 for a rare dead heat, but a series of 4-2s to the Dukes saw them take control.  Boocock and Younghusband both scored maximums, whilst Jay missed out to the impressive Eide in his final outing.  Halifax used Malcolm Mackay at reserve, and he was unlucky to come up against tactical substitutes in 2 of his 3 outings.

Halifax saw out September with a hard-fought win over a Glasgow side, led by the inspired Jimmy McMillan.  The Dukes used Dave Durham instead of a guest, and the move looked to have back-fired as they struggled to weare the visitors down.  McMillan and Monk reduced the slim Dukes lead to a mere 2 points after Alan Jay fell in heat 9, and Halifax were hanging on.  But Dave Younghusband and Jay made no mistake in the final race, with Monk running a surprising second consecutive last place.