Mdl -- Scunthorpe 20 Belle Vue 16 Sun 22nd May

[Main Man 222]

STAGS ON A ROLL - 2 WINS IN A ROW**

SCUNTHORPE STAGS 20
BELLE VUE COLTS 16
MIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 22/5/16

The Scunthorpe Stags won their second MDL match in as many days when they overcame a spirited Belle Vue Colts team in another last-heat decider, this time in front of their home crowd at the Eddie Wright Raceway
Things didn't start well for the Stags though. Luke Whitehead suffered engine problems in the pits before the start of the meeting and was unable to take any part, his rides being shared out amongst his team mates.
Ryan Burton was a star guest for the Stags, with a four-ride maximum, although he had to battle in each of his races to keep ahead of either Woods or Rothery, both of who pushed him all the way.
Ryan won the opening heat, and with Ditchy taking third after Ollie Rutter fell, the Stags took a two point advantage which they held on to until a Colts 4-2 in Heat 5 levelled the score going into the final heat.
And what a cracker Heat 6 turned out to be. Ryan gated with Sam Woods in hot pursuit. Behind them Sam, who had completely missed the gate, was chasing down Stephen Whitehouse in third. It was a classic 'two races in one' situation for three and a half laps with Sam Woods all over Ryan up front and Sam Chapman giving it everything to try and make the pass for third. Then on the back straight of the last lap, with Ryan defending the inside line, Sam Woods was unfortunate to just clip his back wheel very slightly but enough to cause Sam to slide off. At the same moment Sam Chapman finally found a way past Whitehouse, which, as they both then passed the stricken Woods, gave him second place and a match winning 5-1 for the Stags. A thrilling end to a very entertaining match which really could have gone either way.

SCUNTHORPE STAGS 20
1. Ryan Burton - 3,3,3,3, = 12
2. Lloyd Ditchburn - 1,0,1+1,0, = 2+1
3. Luke Whitehead - (N/S)
4. Sam Chapman - 0,2,2,2+1, = 6+1

BELLE VUE COLTS 16
1. Sam Woods - 2,3,F, = 5
2. Ollie Rutter - F,0,1, = 1
3. Stephen Whitehouse - 1+1,1+1,1, = 3+2
4. George Rothery - 2,2,3, = 7

Ht1 - Burton, Woods, Ditchburn, Rutter(F), 4-2 (4-2) Awarded
Ht2. - Burton, Rothery, Whitehouse, Chapman, 3-3 (7-5)
Ht3. - Burton, Rothery, Whitehouse, Ditchburn, 3-3 (10-8) 61.06
Ht4. - Woods, Chapman, Ditchburn, Rutter, 3-3 (13-11) 62.00
Ht5. - Rothery, Chapman, Rutter, Ditchburn, 2-4 (15-15) 61.06
Ht6. - Burton, Chapman, Whitehouse, Woods(F), 5-1 (20-16)