AFTER three North & Scotland Fours League fixtures and a Yorkshire League match in March and April, Heckmondwike Cycle Speedway Club got their North & Scotland Div2/Div3 campaign underway with a visit to last season's champions Sheffield on Sunday.

First up was the Division three event where Elliott Long and Joseph Green scored 12 and eight points respectively in the Under-13 category.

For the Division Two encounter, both teams were almost at full strength and appeared to be evenly matched. Two falls by Heckmondwike's Daniel Green in the early heats gave Sheffield the early advantage, and Heckmondwike's fortunes were further dented when leading rider Mark Rushby suffered rib injuries in his second ride after being forced into the safety fence and withdrew from the re-run. Rushby valiantly returned to action for Heat eight where team partner Stuart Hardaker helped him to a vital 3rd place.

By Heat ten of the 15-heat match, Sheffield were seven points ahead, and appeared to be relatively safe. With two heats remaining, Heckmondwike were still 5 points behind, when Saints' Justin Naylor and Stuart Hardaker scored a 7-3 maximum heat win from the outside grids to reduce the deficit to one point, thus setting up a last heat deicder.

For the vital final heat, Heckmondwike fielded Rushby and vastly experienced captain/manager/chairmain Darren Kent. Rushby, ignoring the pain from his injury a few heats earlier, stormed away for victory, with the tactically aware Kent comfortably settled into 3rd place, to give Heckmondwike a 6-4 heat advantage, and a 74-73 victory over the stunned reigning champions.

Sheffield 73, Heckmondwike 74

Heckmondwike scorers: -

Mark Rushby 14 (+1 bonus pt), Stuart Hardaker 12(+1), Daniel Green 3, Patrick Beacock 15(+1), Darren Kent 15(+1), Justin Naylor 11(+1), Elliott Long (reserve) 3, Emia Metcalf (reserve) 1.

Heckmondwike Saints next match is on May 21, 1pm at Firth Park Heckmondwike, WF16 OHH, against Manchester’s Astley & Tildesley.