Heat by Heat Results - August 1977

With recent form alarming, any sort of win would do - and the Dukes somehow got the victory against a persistent Wimbledon, who were left to rue an engine failure for Jancarz whilst leading heat 11.  Improved scoring from Plant and Pusey, plus a solid return from Cartwright saw the Dukes home, with McKeon and Lohmann both having issues.  The Dukes problem, as before, was a lack of heat winners, with the Dons across the line first in too many races, with Larry Ross bouncing back from a poor first outing to win his last three heats.

An all-round performance provided the Dukes with a comfortable victory over the Robins.  It wasn't the revenge the Dukes would have liked, following their record defeat in Wiltshire earlier in the season, but at least the Dukes had got another win to aid their faltering season.  The top 6 Dukes all scored at least 7 points, with only Pusey failing to win a race.  Ashby and Kilby kept the Robins in the tie, but the outcome was rarely in doubt.

To demonstrate the inconsistency of the side, Halifax contrived to lose at home to Cradley, only 24 hours after their convincing win over Swindon.  Plant, Pusey and Lohmann were all down on points from the previous night, and with  Persson, Bastable and Valentine winning 8 races, the lack of ability to win races again cost Halifax dear.  Guest John Titman recovered after a shaky start to win his last three races and top score, as the Dukes collapsed again.

Leicester would go on to finish bottom of the table, winning only 6 times all season - and this was one of those victories, as they swept away the faltering Dukes.  Chris Pusey managed a heat win in his 10 points, and guest Larry Ross impressed with his double figure score.  But Godal, McKeon and Cartwright were again out of contention, and Graham Plant failed to make it to the start on three occasions - and didn't beat an opponent when he did.

In a match where they never led, it was probably unfair to expect a Dukes win, as they lost in a final race decider to White City, again making a mockery of the rider replacement rule.  The Rebels cause was aided by below par performances from Pusey and Plant, the latter failing to finish a race.  Mike Lohmann and guest Eric Broadbelt were assisted by solid scoring from Ian Cartwright, but the Dukes did not have enough, as Kennett and Cieslak, aided by impressive reserve Niemi got another win for the Rebels, as they stayed top of the league.

Wimbledon eased to a 23 point win over a weakened Dukes, for whom Chris Pusey failed to arrive, and Graham Plant again showed no liking for the fight.  Ross and Jancarz eased to maximums, whilst Mike Lohmann was the pick of the Dukes with 8 points.  Guest Joe Owen scored one of the Dukes two heat wins, whilst Mick McKeon battled hard for his 7 points, but this was another bad night for Halifax.

The Dukes got back to winning ways courtesy of a superb display from Mike Lohmann, and a return to form for Chris Pusey.  Halifax eventually saw off the stern test from the Bulldogs, with Lohmann and Godal's 5-1 in heat 8 edging them into a lead.  Two 5-1s in the final two heats made the scoreline look a little more convincing than the match actually was, and had Phil Crump scored anything like he normally did at the Shay, the outcome may well have been different.

Guest Mitch Graham helped the Dukes to a challenge match win over a weakened Aces, who were without the injured Peter Collins, recovering from a leg injury from a drain cover on the Belle Vue track.  Tom Godal got 2 wins, but the Dukes top order failed to win races, apart from 2 wins for an inconsistent Plant.  Aces guest Beaton scored a useful 9 points, but they were let down by below-par scores from Morton and Wilkinson.  With the World Champion absent, two of Collins' brothers, Les and Phil, rode for Belle Vue.