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Rye House Rockets v Belle Vue Select
Challenge, 30 May 2005
Hoddesdon Stadium, Rye House

Rye House 48
1Stuart Robson32*31*. ..92
2Edward Kennett2*320. ..71
3Brent Werner33031 ..100
4Daniel King1R13. ..50
5Chris Neath11*12. ..51
6Steve BoxallR202*. ..41
7Tommy Allen3311. ..80
Belle Vue Select 47
1Jason Lyons12332* ..111
2Rusty HarrisonR1*32*. ..62
3Joe Screen06^223 ..130
4Krister Marsh2011. ..40
5Simon Stead216^0. ..90
6Ben PowellFM2*F. ..21
7Luke Bowen20000 ..20

* = BP. ^ = TR . ! = TS (15m Handicap). # = TR (Points Not Doubled). & = TS (Points Not Doubled, 15m Handicap).

This entertaining challenge match only came alive when the rain arrived at the end of heat 6. The Rockets had won every heat up to then to lead 24-11and looked set for another easy home win. When racing resumed fifteen minutes later, Belle Vue looked a different team for they won the next five heats by 25-11 to lead by one point ! However, the Rockets steadied the ship and a Daniel King / Steve Boxall 5-1 in heat 14 was enough for victory. Rye House were at full strength. Belle Vue turned up with five riders (unfortunately without Jason Crump) and used two Rye House juniors, Ben Powell and Luke Bowen, at six and seven.

Jason Lyons and Joe Screen were both well beaten in their first races but Simon Stead looked sharp in heat 4 and almost caught Tommy Allen on the line. The Rockets pairing of Brent Werner and Daniel King looked to be heading for a certain 5-1 in heat 5 but King lost it on the second bend and clipped Werner, allowing Jason Lyons and Rusty Harrison to slip past him for a shared heat. A routine 5-1 from Robson and Kennett then put the home side 24-11 ahead and seemingly coasting to an easy win.

Joe Screen finished last in his first race but took a tactical ride in heat 7 against Chris Neath and Steve Boxall. He gated quickly and stayed in front for six points although Boxall, having borrowed Stuart Robson's bike for the race, was never far behind.

Heat 8, on a slippery track, was farcical. Luke Bowen was fastest out the gate (as he was in a few of his races) but tipped over on the second bend, taking Kennett with him. Tommy Allen couldn't miss the pile of bikes on the ground and he too fell off. Only Rusty Harrison, who came out of the gate like a snail, managed to avoid the debris on the track. Kennett blazed off in front in the re-run but couldn't hold his line around the second bend in lap 2 and did well to avoid falling. Rusty Harrison took advantage and won easily.

The gap narrowed to three points after a six-point Simon Stead tactical ride in heat 9 but credit to young Ben Powell for holding off King and Werner to make it an 8-1 to Belle Vue. Rye House have recently bought Powell's contract and this could be a shrewd move by the team management.

Heat 10 saw a belter of a race between Robson and Screen. Robson trailed for almost three laps before taking a wide line around the fourth bend and launching himself past Screen - one of the best moves the home fans have seen this season and they haven't been in short supply. Kennett was not comfortable on the wetter surface and could only follow Krister Marsh home for a shared heat.

Belle Vue moved into the lead after heat 11 thanks to a Lyons / Harrison 5-1, only for the Rockets to regain it in heat 12. Once again, Joe Screen led and looked good for the win but Werner ate up the ground before passing him on the home straight of the third lap.

Heat 13 was tough to call : Robson and Neath against Lyons and Stead. Lyons had looked better with each ride and he won it ahead of the Rye House pair. The Rockets were one point ahead with two heats remaining but a King /Boxall 5-1 did the job for the Rockets. The meeting finished with an exhibition of team riding from Lyons and Screen but the home side had sneaked home by a single point.

Match Report by Candyman