Heat by Heat Results - July 1972

After a turbulent 10 days, a strange-looking Dukes side returned to winning ways, overcoming a Hackney side who thought they were heading for victory.  Halifax were indebted to the efforts of Alan Jay and Greg Kentwell, who both had their first double-figure scores of the season, whilst Eric Boocock would have had more to show but for a tapes exclusion and a missed start in heat 9.  Malcolm Mackay made his first appearance of the season in place of Roper, and there was a surprise inclusion for Dennis Gavros, who had been riding for Hull in the second division, as number eight.

The new-look Dukes, minus Eric Boocock, on test match duty for England, slumped to a second home defeat, this time to league newcomers Ipswich.  The damage was done in heat 8, when a Witches 5-1 from the impressive Davey and Levai took the visitors into a lead they would not relinquish, largely down to the Dukes' inability to provide heat winners.  New star man Nordin looked rusty on his return to action, and guest McMillan faded after a promising start. The Dukes needed a 5-1 in the final race to secure a dramatic comeback, but Davey and Nygren made no mistake, as Jay was stranded at the back.

Halifax suffered a predictable reverse at Brandon, with Nigel Boocock as usual in top form.  Brother Eric inflicted a rare defeat of Nigel at home in heat one, but then Halifax were subject to a string of heat defeats, as they slipped 20 points in arrears.  Alan Jay and Gote Nordin scored late heat wins, the latter again over Nigel Boocock, but it was too little too late for the Dukes, for whom Kentwell, Mackay, Hiftle and Titman contributed little.

Whilst the Dukes were being beaten at Coventry, the Shay staged the first ever "Shaytona" meeting, comprising of star riders from second division tracks.  The meeting was won by the superb John Jackson of Crewe, who suffered his only defeat to team-mate Dave Morton, who finished as runner-up.  The Dukes would subseqently talk to Jackson about the possibility of a move to Halifax.

Halifax was chosen to stage a round of the re-introduced Inter-Nations Tournament, with Australia meeting England.  Ray Wilson surged to a maximum for the Lions, as they comfortably saw off the challenge, with the Boocock brothers also in the points.  The impressive Garry Middleton kept the Australians in contention, whilst Duke Greg Kentwell scored 3 points from as many starts as reserve.

In a re-arranged fixture following the rain-off earlier in the month, the Dukes went agonisingly close to an away win at Newport.  Halifax had fallen 10 points behind, but thanks to the efforts of Nordin, Jay and Boocock, managed to claw back to 2 points behind after heat 7.  A string of shared heats left the tie in the balance going into the last race, but Tony Clarke, who had struggled all evening, jumped out of the start and Boocock could not pass.  With Plant keeping Kentwell at the back, the Wasps clung on to win.

The final action of July saw the Shay host the annual qualifying round for the Northern Riders Championship.  Sheffield number one Eide took the honours, his first race win over Nordin proving crucial.  The Duke's newest star had his best meeting yet, finishing in second place, with Boocock joining him on the rostrum.  Alan Jay finished in 4th place with 10 points, and there were good scores from Kentwell and Hiftle.