Heat by Heat Results - September 1971

The Dukes moved into the penultimate month of the season hoping to be able to salvage something from a disappointing campaign.  A hard-fought win over Coventry was a good way to start, once again the fixture coming down to a battle of the Boococks.  It was honours-even on the track, with Nigel inflicting Eric's only defeat in heat 1, but Eric gaining his revenge in heat 10.  Halifax pulled away in the second half, largely due to solid support from Kentwell and Jay, whilst number 8 Knapkin, on loan from Bradford, chipped in with 3 vital points, including defeats of Lomas and Simensen.

Halifax made the trip to West Ham and were unlucky to go down by 6 points, in one of their better away performances of the season.  Bailey and Hiftle sent the Dukes into an early lead, until an unlikely 5-1 from Sage and Rosenkilde in heat 8 drew the scores level.  In the end, the Hammers were able to pull away, as Halifax ran out of steam, and the hosts provided 7 heat winners in a row.  Both O'Neal and Kentwell struggled to make an impact, although Alan Jay gave his skipper good support.

A night on from the World Final, the Dukes scraped over the line to defeat a determined Swindon Robins, inspired by their heat-leader trio of Briggs, Keen and Ashby.  The absence of Dave Younghusband was now starting to show, with the decision to run rider-replacement netting only 4 points, and with Boocock having a difficult night after travelling back from Sweden, it was down to Paul O'Neal to keep them in front with a vital win in heat 12.  Jay and Kentwell were able to shut out Broadbank in the final heat to see Halifax home.  Both Hiftle and Bailey in the reserve berths continued to show improved form.

Halifax took a convincing win over a weakened Wembley side, with Eric Boocock back to his best.  The Dukes were unable to book a guest for Dave Younghusband, but were denied being able to use rider replacement as the Lions had two heat leaders missing - so one for each side cancelled each other out.  But Halifax were not affected, as Malcolm Mackay scored a solid 6 points, and with Jay and Kentwell both scoring 9 points in support of Boocock.  Wembley were over-dependent on the scoring of Harrfeldt and Clarke, who received no support whatsoever from their team-mates.

Halifax went down to another away defeat at local rivals Sheffield.  With both side a top rider missing, each promoted their own junior, and Malcolm Mackay held his own, scoring in each of 5 outings.  But the remainder of the Dukes offered little support for Eric Boocock, who took three of the Dukes' four heat victories on the way to 13 points.  Jim Airey was unbeaten for the Tigers, as Halifax remained without an away win all season, and with time running out for that to change.

With Halifax's season fizzling out, the Dukes Cup challenge ended in disastrous fashion at Waterden Road.  Eric Boocock scored an 18 point maximum, with the remaining five riders scoring only 9 between them, as the Dukes weakness was exposed at the worst time.  Neither reserve managed to score a point, with Bailey breaking the tapes and Hiftle then managing to crash.  Rider replacement for Younghusband netted a mere 3 points (from Boocock) as only Kentwell in heat 7 managed to beat a Hawk on the track apart from Boocock.  To cap a bad night, Garry Middleton finally inflicted a defeat on Boocock to defend his Golden Helmet.

Halifax sank to new lows for the season as their unbeaten home record was shattered by Leicester.  There was no sign of the collapse to come when the Dukes jumped into a 4 point lead early on, but the Lions then took over - after Boocock and Hiftle won the first 2 heats, Boocock provided the only other heat win when used as a tactical substitute in heat 8.  The Dukes had no answer to the Lions' trio of Wilson, Plant and Boulger, with the bottom of the Dukes side again failing to contribute.  The defeat left Halifax in 13th place, and in danger of their worst league finish...

The Dukes shuffled the riding order and returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory over the Stars.  Boocock was twice beaten by Terry Betts, but finally got the better of King's Lynn's number one in the final race.  Alan Jay was good value for his 12 points, and Chris Bailey had his best score of the season, being unbeaten in his three races. Mike Hiftle managed to go four races without slipping off, using his outings to get more race time on the Shay track, and ending on paid 9 points.