Heat by Heat Results - April 1974

Halifax's first visit to Hull saw them come away with a draw in a thrilling Northern Trophy encounter.  Eric Boocock opted not to travel to rest his arm following a hectic start to the season, and with Charlie Monk not yet back in the country, the Dukes looked to John Jackson and Graham Drury to deputise - which they did magnificently.  Drury top scored with an impressive 9 points, whilst reserve Gatenby linked up with a fellow Duke twice to score a 5-1.  Mike Hiftle was unlucky to be excluded for tape-breaking in heat 3, when it was clearly Dave Gifford who was the cause. The Vikings had Jimmy McMillan and Bobby Beaton to thank for saving them from a home defeat.

The arrival of Charlie Monk back into the country heralded the Dukes fielding their full-strength team, and they quickly recorded back-to-back victories over the Vikings.  Rick France was impressive, scoring 11 points, whilst Graham Plant was unlucky - an engine failure whilst leading heat 6 denying him of a maximum.  Gatenby was unbeaten at reserve, with Boocock happy to take a back seat role.  And Henny Kroeze proved spectacular, his paid 10 points including a pass of Beaton in heat 6.  The Dukes had scored over 50 points in their first two home fixtures for the first time, and hopes were now high...

Halifax travelled to Swindon for a Good Friday encounter, and should have come away with both points.  The Dukes led from the time Boocock and Gatenby hit the front in the reserve race, but lost Mike Hiftle to a foot injury in heat 7.  Boocock and France combined to put the Dukes 6 point up after 9 races, and that proved their undoing, as the Robins were able to use Hunter as a tactical substitute. Three successive 4-2s levelled the match with a race to go, and Hunter and Stangeland blocked Plant in the decider to keep honours even.

Superior gating and some dubious refereeing left the Dukes second best to a powerful Tigers team in the Northern Trophy.  With Mike Hiftle sidelined, Halifax gave a debut to junior Jim Wells, but the rest of the top five were not at the races, with Boocock and Gatenby at reserve the only bright spot.  The Dukes were unhappy about several unsatisfactory starts which were allowed to stand, and the decision to exclude Graham Plant in heat 12 which guaranteed Sheffield the win.

The Dukes returned to winning ways with an Easter Monday victory over the Aces to complete their Northern Trophy fixtures.  With Henny Kroeze absent due to a continental commitment, Halifax retained Jim Wells, and brought in Graham Drury to fill in.  Eric Boocock top-scored, expressing his desire to move back into the team before the next match. The lack of heat winners for the Dukes kept the scores close, and Halifax secured the win in bizarre fashion in the final race when neither visitor completed the race.

The Dukes secured a famous victory on the road at Leicester, albeit with the Lions under-strength.  Rick France and Graham Plant showed why the Dukes had moved for their services with double-figures scores, whilst Boocock and Kroeze also weighed in.  There was a debut for Eddie Argall at reserve, and he sensationally linked up with France in heat 9 to secure a shock 5-1 to send Halifax 8 points clear.  Dave Jessup fought a lone battle for the Lions, as the Dukes wrapped up the victory with France's victory in heat 12.

Eric Boocock returned to the number one race-jacket to score a 12 point maximum - but the Dukes slipped to a surprise draw against Newport.  Boocock equalled the track record in heat one, but mechanical issues for his team-mates ultimately cost Halifax the win.  Kroeze was down on power all night, and both France and Plant had engine failures whilst in scoring positions - Plant seizing his engine solid on the run to the flag in heat 9 when in second place, turning a shared heat into a 4-2 for the Wasps.  

Halifax secured a win over the powerful Ivan Mauger-led Falcons in a last heat decider.  With Eric Boocock struggling with his arm injury and down on power, and Henny Kroeze away on World Championship business, the Dukes were indebted to guest Billy Sanders and a return to form from Charlie Monk to keep them in contention.  Sanders and Plant combined for a vital 5-1 in heat 9 to put the Dukes 6 in front, however Sanders and Boocock were on the receiving end of the same score in heat 12, which gave Exeter a chance of salvaging something.  But France and Plant were content to fill in behind Mauger in the decider to guarantee the victory.