Heat by Heat Results - May 1976

Halifax kicked off the month of May with a morale-boosting victory over Reading.  With Kroeze away in a World Championship qualifier in Germany, the Dukes called up Doug Wyer to guest, and the Sheffield star inflicted the only defeat on new Reading number one Jessup in heat 9.  But it was Ian Cartwright who stole the show, as he scored his first paid maximum for the Dukes, after winning the reserve race, and then teaming up with Wyer for three 5-1s.  There was a welcome return from injury for Charlie Monk, although he was clearly rusty.

With only a four point lead to defend, the Dukes stood little chance of making the next round of the Cup - but in a dogged display, Halifax secured a draw on the road at Leicester to win on aggregate.  Andy Cusworth was the hero, as his 11 points from reserve saw the Dukes level after 10 races, and when Pusey and Monk edged the Dukes into the lead in heat 11, the Lions were in trouble.  Halifax could even afford an off-night for returning ex-Lion Plant, whilst Lohmann failed to score on his first visit to another new track.

The Dukes failed to follow up their performance at Leicester as they were comfortably beaten at Wimbledon.  Chris Pusey fought a largely lone-battle to keep Halifax in contention, with Plant blowing an engine after his first ride and withdrawing from the meeting, and Finch taking a heavy fall in heat 2, although he bravely continued.  Pusey and Monk took advantage of a stoppage for Jansson in the opening race to put the Dukes 5-1 in front, but that was the only bright spot, as the solid-scoring Dons took control.

Track specialist Dave Morton scored a stunning 17 points for the Hawks, but was powerless to stop the Dukes from ending a busy week with a convincing victory.  Graham Plant was back to his best with a new engine, although he was excluded for taking down Plech in heat 9, with the Pole unable to continue.  Henny Kroeze joined Plant on 9 points, his only defeat coming at the hands of the ultra-fast Morton, but apart from Plant's exclusion, and a stoppage for Pusey, the Dukes didn't run a last place all night.

Newport had never been a happy hunting ground for the Dukes, with injuries marring recent visits.  But the result this time around plumbed new depths, as Halifax were dismantled.  Pusey, Lohmann and Plant all failed to beat a home rider, with Monk scoring their only win in heat 3, but fading thereafter.  Cartwright and Cusworth both managed a token second place, but there was otherwise nothing to cheer, apart from the Dukes getting out of South Wales in one piece.

Halifax returned to winning ways, and gained some small revenge over the Dons for the defeat the previous week, eventually defeating WImbledon by 8 points.  Graham Plant roared to a full 15 point maximum, with Henny Kroeze away in World Championship action, and Chris Pusey also had a good night's work with paid 13.  The result was still in the balance with two races to go, but Pusey and Finch secured the 4-2 to make the points safe.

Halifax went down to another heavy defeat on the road, fading badly after the first 5 races at Monmore Green.  Cartwright, Plant and Monk won three of the first 4 heats, but things went rapidly downhill, with Scottish duo McMillan and Hunter scoring more points that the entire Dukes team combined, and ex-Dukes number 8 Jackson rubbing salt into the wound with eight points - the same as Halifax's top scorer Pusey, who failed to win a race. Andy Cusworth had a night to forget, whilst Mike Lohmann's learning curve continued.

League Champions Ipswich showed their class with a victory at the Shay, as Halifax lost their unbeaten home league record.  With Kroeze away again on continental commitments, and with Finch, Cusworth and Newton all unavailable, Halifax had to draft in Frank Auffret as guest, plus Scunthorpe's Keith Evans, but with Louis, Sanders and Davey in irresistible form, the Dukes always had their work cut out.  Pusey, Plant and the two loanees won a race each, but the presence of the Witches' big 3 in each of the last 5 races cost the Dukes dear.

The Dukes secured a straightforward win over King's Lynn, coming good in the second half of the match.  Chris Pusey and Graham Plant took seven heat wins between them, with only Terry Betts and Ian Turner offering much opposition.  Young Michael Lee started off with 5 points, but blew his engine in heat 9, as the Dukes took advantage.  Henny Kroeze was still away, taking part in the Continental Semi-Final in Germany, and Mike Lohmann was also back in Denmark for a domestic fixture, so the availability of Andy Cusworth, and his 6 points, was welcomed.

Halifax saw off a spirited challenge from Cradley, with Chris Pusey scoring a paid maximum.  Charlie Monk had his highest score since opening night, whilst Cartwright, Cusworth and Plant were all in the points.  Cradley included guest Billy Sanders in place of Bernt Persson, the Swede having walked out on his team, citing the value of the pound making it no longer viable to race in the UK.  But Sanders, unusually, failed to win a race, with Cradley dependent on John Boulger to keep them in the tie.