Heat by Heat Results - September 1981

The penultimate month of the season got underway with the long trip to Poole, but after recent optimistic away performances, the Dukes were soundly beaten. Carter and Cartwright scored soundly throughout the match, but Louis had an off-night, managing only 2 points, and beating only 1 home rider all meeting. Unfortunately, the remainder of the Dukes faired little better, as Davis, Autrey and Smith helped the Pirates take a straightforward victory. Both Wyer and Pendlebury had further engine problems which again hampered their contributions.

Without Carter, the Dukes fell to a heavy defeat at Owlerton. Things looked promising when Wyer and Cartwright took maximum points in heat 1 - but the hosts then took heat advantages in 9 of the remaining 12 races to top the 50 point mark. Louis won 2 races, but also failed to finish in 2, and having engine problems, was even subbed out of heat 9! Cartwright and Wyer kept chipping away, but the remaining 3 Dukes all failed to contribute, with Pyszny the only other rider to beat a Tiger. The hosts were solid from top to bottom - their number 1 Shawn Moran was their lowest scorer of the night!

A big difference from 48 hours previously, as Halifax romped to their biggest win of the season! All 7 Dukes were on form, as the Tigers were dismantled. Their plight was not helped by the withdrawal of Shawn Moran after a heat 1 fall, but it is difficult to imagine he could have changed the outcome. Carter scored a paid maximum on his return home after the World Final, and Wyer, Louis and Cartwright all got into double figures, as the Dukes took heat advantages in a staggering 11 of the 13 heats. The only 2 successes for Sheffield, in heats 5 and 9 were due to machine issues for Pendlebury.

With the Cradley fixture needing to be re-arranged, the Swindon Robins agreed to take part in a Challenge match. Although there was nothing at stake but pride, the meeting proved interesting, as the Dukes came from behind after trailing early on. All the Dukes contributed, although Baker had an awkward fall in heat 2. Carter took yet another maximum, and Pyszny only dropped a single point to a visitor. For Swindon, Crump and Gresham had plenty of work, and contributed all but 9 of their team's points.

Led by number 1 Carter, who breezed to another full house, the Dukes fought valiantly at Leicester, eventually going down by 4 points. The Lions' strength at reserve probably proved the difference, with only Carter managing to defeat Jensen, but with Baker and Pyszny off the pace. Carter and Louis managed to keep dragging the Dukes back into the reckoning, but the Lions capitalised on the heats where those two were not involved. Herne, Collins and Titman all scored well, covering for Gramstad who was seriously injured the day after the World Final.

The re-arranged match at Cradley was shrouded by controversy. Carter failed to turn up, having a prior engagement, and the Cradley promotion were unhappy that their crowd were deprived of seeing the Halifax star. Not that their star rider was available either - Penhall also missing! Although the Heathens covered for Penhall with the impressive Jan Andersson, the Dukes used R/R for Carter, but the move back-fired, and netted only 3 points. Louis was ably supported by Wyer, Cartwright and Pyszny, but the Dukes missed their star man. Baker and Trownson both failed to score, whilst the top three Heathens only dropped a single point between them.