Heat by Heat Results -April 1979

The Dukes travelled to Sheffield minus the retired Graham Plant, and suffered an 8 point defeat in what turned out to be a meeting of 2 halves.  The teams were locked together after 6 races, but a 5-1 from the impressive Reg Wilson and Keith Evans in heat 7 over Langli and a struggling Carter gave the Tigers a lead they would not relinquish.  Halifax then failed to get a heat winner or heat advantage until Cartwright and Langli combined in heat 12 - by which time the match was lost.  Langli, Cartwright and Mike Lohmann all managed heat wins, but the rest struggled to make a contribution, with Paul Sheard thrown in at the deep end at reserve. 

An early season set-back, as the Dukes' Northern Trophy hopes were dented by a substantial home defeat to Sheffield.  Mike Lohmann was missing on domestic world championship duty, and brother Klaus was selected for a Danish under-21 side to face Poland - so Halifax drafted in guest Bobby Beaton, and enlisted Merv Janke at reserve - but the Tigers strength in depth saw the visitors in command from the start.  Beaton and Cartwright scored heavily, but with Langli having mechanical issues at the start of heat 3 and then again in his T/S ride, Sheffield eased home - aided by 12 points from former Dukes Broadbelt and Kroeze.

The Dukes slipped to defeat in the first of their back-to-back meetings with the Aces - although this is one they could have won.  The meeting turned in heat 9 - Halifax had opened up a 6 point lead after 4 consecutive 4-2 advantages, but then Cartwright got into difficulties on the 3rd bend, and hit the fence.  His bike collected the following Sheard, who came to grief, and was taken to hospital with a broken collar bone.  Cartwright was shaken, and wrecked his best bike, and was unable to ride in heat 12.  The Aces took advantage with a 5-1 to edge 3 points into the lead, and Chris Morton sealed the win in the final race.  The Dukes were riding under protest at the state of the 3rd bend, which had been affected by a collapsed drain.

A solid performance, with the return of Mike Lohmann, saw the Dukes take a comfortable victory in the return fixture.  The Aces Peter Collins was in a different class - storming to a 15 point maximum, but save for a couple of wins for Chris Morton, had little support.  Lohmann dropped his only points to Collins in heat 1, whilst the rest of the top 5 all chipped in with good scores.  With Klaus Lohmann still away, and Sheard now injured, Halifax again used Merv Janke, and drafted in Middlesbrough star Steve Wilcock - and both weighed in with some important minor places.

The Dukes travelled to Wolverhampton for their first away league fixture, and with the season less than a month old, utilised their 5th different reserve pairing!  Klaus Lohmann was back from Danish duty, but with Sheard injured, and both Wilcock and Janke riding for their National League teams, the Dukes called upon Stoke stalwart Ian Robertson.  Halifax, largely due to the efforts of Mike Lohmann, kept the match close, and actually led after 7 races.  But apart from heat wins for Lohmann and Langli in the latter part of the match, the Dukes squandered the position - Wolves reserve Hasse Danielsson proving the match-winner with 11 points.

Halifax completed a Northern Trophy double over the Hull Vikings thanks to solid scoring from their top 5 - and a very frustrating night for Vikings talisman Ivan Mauger.  Things started badly for the 5-time World Champion, when he was excluded for delaying the start in heat 1 - much to the amusement of the home crowd.  The incident seemed to unsettle Mauger who then ran 2 last places as Langli and McKeon took full advantage.  Ian Cartwright took 3 wins, only headed by Beaton first time out, and capped the win in heat 11 when he crossed the line - with Mauger packing up behind to complete a miserable night, which saw him replaced in his final outing.