Heat by Heat Results - August 1972

Eric Boocock inspired the Dukes to a narrow win against the Bees, inflicting the only defeat on brother Nigel, and beating Tony Lomas twice.  Kentwell and Jay backed up their skipper, and there was a solid show from Titman at reserve, although Nordin was off the pace, and withdrew from his final ride after an awkard fall in heat 9.  Mike Hiftle was all-action, but had nothing to show for his efforts - sliding off in heat 2, breaking the tapes in heat 8 and scraping the fence in heats 10 and 13. The win lifted the Dukes to 11th in the table, with a trip to league-leaders Reading next up...

Halifax fell to a 10 point defeat at Reading, with Boocock, Jay and Nordin scoring all but 2 of the Dukes' total.  Boocock led the way with a stunning maximum, defeating home star Michanek on the way, but it was a nightmare for the remaining Dukes, with Kentwell, Hiftle and Titman all failing to beat an opponent, and Mackay scoring his only point against the off-the-pace Roger Johns in heat 11.  The Dukes fell 10 points behind after 6 races, and never looked like being able to reduce the deficit.

Halifax saw off a stern challenge from an Exeter Falcons side inspired by maximum man Bob Kilby.  Consecutive 5-1s from Kentwell/Jay and Titman/Boocock saw the Dukes move clear, after the Falcons threatened to continue the hosts' recent bad run.  Gote Nordin had two heat wins as he top scored, with Eric Boocock failing to seal a heat win.  But even Kilby's maximum couldn't see the visitors steal the win, as only Stangeland and Holden provided him any support.  The sides would quickly meet again in the return fixture...

Halifax grabbed their only away win of the season, and their first for two years with a stunning last 6 heats at Exeter.  The scores were level when Mike Hiftle shocked the home side by winning heat 8, and with Titman being gifted third place, the Dukes were in the lead.  Three further heat wins in the last four races saw Halifax over the line, with Boocock sealing his maximum in the final race.  Bob Kilby, unbeaten for the Falcons on Saturday, suffered an engine failure in his second outing and withdrew from the meeting, which clearly hindered the home side, but solid scoring across the Dukes' side saw them seal the victory.

The Dukes' joy at winning at Exeter was short-lived, as they slipped to their 3rd home defeat in 6 matches in a last-heat decider against the Stars.  Halifax trailed by 2 points for most of the meeting, but set up the tense finish when Boocock and Titman secured a 4-2 in the penultimate race.  But Nordin was outgated in the final race and Jay fell chasing Betts and Turner, as the visitors snatched victory.  The Stars win was founded on the scoring of Betts and the impressive Simmons, whilst recent Shaytona winner John Jackson scored a valuable second place in heat eight to keep the Stars in the lead.

Halifax filled a gap in the calendar by staging a Best Pairs competition, won by home stars Boocock and Kentwell.  The Dukes pair won their final 3 heats with maximums after a shaky start.  Ole Olsen and Mike Hiftle finished 3 points adrift, tied with the unbeaten Bob Kilby and ex-Duke Dennis Gavros.  It was largely an opportunity for some of the Dukes to race with different team-mates, with Shaytona winner Jackson also having a further Shay appearance.

After recent home defeats, and their recent record against the Aces, a Bank Holiday Monday draw against Belle Vue was seen as a positive.  Eric Boocock stole the show, with a maximum, including a win as tactical substitute in heat 7 after the Dukes had slipped 6 behind.  Gote Nordin relegated Mauger to 3rd place in heat 11 which proved critical.  Belle Vue will argue that mechanical issues cost them the win however, with Collins, Sansom and Broadbelt all stopping whilst in the points.  The Aces took the point with Mauger's win in the final race, leaving them hot on the heels of Reading...

August ended with Halifax slipping to defeat on the road at Wimbledon.  The usual away match pattern was followed, as the Dukes fell behind early on, not managing to pick up a heat win until Nordin won heat 8.  Nordin and Boocock won the last 3 races, but received little support apart from a trying 6 points from Alan Jay.  Greg Kentwell took an awkward tumble in heat 5 and did not re-appear, while Titman, Mackay and Hiftle were not competitive.