Heat by Heat Results - September 1972

Another blank date was filled with a challenge match against Coventry Bees, who arrived without star attraction Nigel Boocock, who had a wrist injury.  The Dukes were missing Greg Kentwell after his crash at Wimbledon, and utilised the services of Bradford's Alan Knapkin, who weighed in with a valuable 4 points.  It was down to Nordin and Boocock to seal the win, with Nordin taking 3 wins, including the final heat 5-1, and Boocock also taking 3 victories having suffered a third place in the opening race.  The Dukes also gave an opportunity to Crewe star John Jackson, and he responded by winning the reserve race.

Halifax threw away a 6 point lead to draw for a second consecutive league match at home to Sheffield.  Gote Nordin and Eric Boocock were well supported by the returning Kentwell, but a strong Tigers side made it hard for the remaining Dukes, with Jay and Titman fading after a promising start, and Hiftle and Mackay struggling.  After recent impressive performances at the Shay, the surprise of the night was the form of Reg Wilson at reserve for the Tigers, who could only register a single point.

Earlier in the season, Halifax exited the Cup at Poole on a traumatic night, and their return in the league didn't go much better.  Malcolm Mackay cried off with flu, and the Dukes brought in Eastbourne's McNeil as a replacement, whilst Alan Jay failed to arrive for the start and missed his first 2 outings.  Otherwise, it was the usual away match pattern, with Halifax 14 points behind early on, and then having to catch up.  Boocock and Nordin both had 2 heat wins, as Halifax drew the final 6 races, but the Dukes had little else to show.  Collins was excluded for Poole in heat 8 as he had already taken his maximum 5 rides.

Eric Boocock put his Wembley disappointment behind him to lead England to victory over Scotland with a dominant 18 point maximum.  Boocock formed a useful partnership with Dukes' team-mate Jay, securing 6 heat wins.  Belle Vue pair Pusey and Collins were also in good form, with Leicester's Jessup also in the points.  Scotland's hopes were hampered by mechanical issues for Charlie Monk, who failed to score.

The final league action of the season at the Shay saw Halifax clinch a victory against Leicester.  Gote Nordin was ill, so the Dukes used rider replacement, whilst the Lions were missing Ray Wilson, on World Team Cup duty - but the chosen guest Kilby had scored two maximums at the Shay recently, so the visitors must have had high hopes.  As it was, a season best for Greg Kentwell, and a paid maximum for Boocock saw Halifax record the win, with Titman scoring 2 heat wins in his 8 points.

In the second meeting of a double header, Halifax went down by 14 points at Blackbird Road.  Forced to use rider replacement for the injured Nordin, the Dukes were largely reliant on Eric Boocock who scored 15 of their 32 points, with Malcolm Mackay impressing with 7 points from 5 outings, scoring each time.  Boocock defeated Ray Wilson in the opening heat, but had no answer to John Boulger who scored a maximum.

The Dukes' first visit to Ipswich saw them go down by 12 points in a lively encounter.  Halifax engaged the services of second division track specialist George Major of Birmingham to cover for the injured Nordin, and he supported Eric Boocock by scoring a solid 8 points.  But superior track knowledge saw the Witches home, with Mackay, Hiftle and Titman all struggling.

Sheffield star Reider Eide took the Autumn Classic Trophy with a stunning 15 point maximum, after a tense heat 19 saw home favourite Boocock break the tapes.  Eide, Boocock and Ray Wilson had all won their first 4 races, and Eide was left to defeat Wilson to take the trophy.  Greg Kentwell scoring a solid 9 points, including 2 late wins, but Alan Jay was off the pace, and John Titman failed to score in a high quality field.