Heat by Heat Results - August 1980

August got underway at The Shay with the home league match against Leicester Lions.  There was a worry that given the recent challenge match victory for the Lions, the Dukes could have their work cut out - but with Carter back in the side this time, there was never a doubt.  His 15 point maximum was well supported by Pyszny, Cartwright, McKeon and Janke, as Halifax built a 12 point lead after 5 heats, and never looked back.  Former Duke Titman was the main threat for the visitors, although they could only muster 3 victories all night, including a meaningless 5-1 in the last race.

Probably the most frustrating night of the Dukes' season saw them lead by a massive 15 points after heat 8 - and lose!  There was no sign of the drama to come, as the Dukes ran in heat advantages at will, crucially avoiding last places.  But the Hawks' powerful heat-leader trio of Plech, Petersen and Thomsen suddenly clicked into gear - 5-1s in the next 4 races saw them whittle away the Dukes' lead and enter the final race with the smallest of leads.  Pyszny jetted from the start in the decider, but Thomsen and Jankowski shut out Cartwright for a famous win.

With a dressing down from team manager Gavros ringing in their ears, following the Hackney collapse, the Dukes made light work of a poor Sheffield side.  Like the previous week, the home side built up a handy lead after 8 heats - but this time there was no let-up.  Star of the show was Mick McKeon with a glorious 12 point maximum, whilst there were contributions from all.  Pendlebury won 2 races but shed a chain leading heat 3, and then had a puncture leading heat 9. The Tigers failed to win a race or have a heat advantage until heat 11, by which point the match was well out of reach, and the Dukes were back to winning ways.

The Dukes travelled to Champions-elect Reading, and had no answer to the powerful heat-leader trio of Davis, Andersson and Schwartz, who were all unbeaten by a Halifax rider.  Things started badly when Carter was excluded after bringing Martin Ashby crashing down in heat 1, and the Dukes number 1 was off-form for the rest of the night, scoring only 3 points.  With Reading winning most races, it was left to Cartwright & Co to fill in the minor places, their only heat advantage coming in heat 8, courtesy of tactical substitute Cartwright & McKeon.  Reading were missing Stancl, one of their 3 world finalists, but still had plenty in hand, although the final score probably flattered the Racers slightly.

No Saturday night action at The Shay this week, as the Dukes made the trip to Swindon.  The inability to provide heat winners proved the undoing of Halifax here, as Carter aside, they were unable to head the Robins.  The match was close in the first half, the Dukes keeping the deficit to 6 points by heat 8 - but they could not get closer - and their only heat win came in the final race courtesy of Carter and Pendlebury - with the match already lost.  For the home side, Scott Autrey was untouchable, whilst Crump and Mastrup only dropped a single point - to Carter.  A week on from his maximum against Sheffield, McKeon had a frustrating night, failing to trouble the scorers.

The 1980 Warburtons Team Challenge took place over 2 legs on August Bank-Holiday Monday.  First up was the away leg at Belle Vue in the afternoon.  The tie was effectively over by teatime, as the Dukes provided only one race winner, and failed to win a heat.  Carter came to grief in heat 1, and that set the scene for a disappointing afternoon, Halifax being on the receiving end of five 5-1s and four 4-2s. Although Pendlebury won heat 3, he failed to build on that, scoring his only other point when Peter Collins failed to finish.  All back to The Shay...

After the disappointing defeat at Hyde Road, the Dukes looked to salvage some pride in the evening match at The Shay.  Carter set the scene in heat 1, equalling the track record, and with McKeon close behind, the deficit was cut.  Although Halifax led throughout, they were never able to eat into Belle Vue's lead sufficiently, successive victories for Collins in heats 6 and 7 reduced the Dukes' lead to 4 points, and effectively sealed the aggregate win.  Halifax rounded off an 18 point win on the night, with everyone chipping in, but were left to rue the inept performance earlier in the day.

Boasting a team with 2 world-finalists (and another, Jiri Stancl, absent), Reading arrived at the Shay with the league title in their sights.  But in one of the matches of the season, they could only leave with 1 point, after Halifax snatched a remarkable draw! Whilst Carter reeled off 5 straight wins, the visitors all round strength helped them nudge in front by heat 3, and stayed there throughout the meeting.  Guest Kelly Moran was superb for the Racers, but was powerless to help as Carter (in for his R/R outing) and Cartwright grabbed the vital 4-2 in heat 13 to draw the match.  World Finalists Davis and Andersson failed to win a race, presumably with the following weekend in mind...