Northern Alliance Cup Final at Stockport 27-5-2001
report from John Whiting
With Scotia having to withdraw, a 3 Team 27 Race formula was used. Bury and
Tameside were the obvious contenders. Heckmondwike still struggling, used
the dream pairing of Kent and Carter. Terry Norman took heat 1 with a
fortuitous pass by Paul Dyson levelling the race. Kent/Carter took a 6-4
to give the Yorkshire team a good start. Tameside took 7-3s over the
Wescotts and importantly over Pearce/Rothwell. Good racing from all 3
teams. Rothwell/Pearce recovered the situation with a 6-4 over Kent. After 8
races each, Tameside had a narrow 4 lead. Controversy in the 12th race as
Steve Ward passed both Bury riders via the grass, and brought White through
for a vital 7-3. Uproar, and both Bury and Heckmondwike team managers
confronted the Referee Martin Webster. Tameside Brian Eaton left shaking his head in wonder and gratitude. Carter and Kent took a 6-4 over Norman. It was now becoming easier for Tameside. Race wins to White, Norman and Ward kept up the tempo. Heckmondwike's Carter and Kent took points from both teams, Bury however were not pressurising the leaders enough. Whiting and Steve Mann took their 3rd maximum race win.
Sharples another who rode well and Mark Wylie took race 23. Norman and
returnee Ian Graham made doubly sure with a simple 7-3 over Howarth and
Muff. Dyson slipped to give Kent / Carter a 7-3. With the match well won,
Bury astounded everyone by using one of their unbeaten reserves, gaining a
consolation 5-4.
Whilst matches aren't won in one race , the heat 12 result was disastrous
for Bury. In the context of the meeting, Tameside were better all round. Norman and Sharples lost once with solid support from Ward and White, Ian
Graham scored a good 14 points.
Bury were very inconsistent, the failure to change around a losing team
didn't assist. Heckmondwike's Carter and Kent scored 17 each, taking 5 heat
wins. Credit to the rest of the team who persevered.
TAMESIDE 105, BURY 89, HECKMONDWIKE 72
Chief scorers.
Terry Norman 23+3. Phil Sharples 19, Danny White 20+1.
Neil Howarth 14+1, John Whiting 14+1. F Rothwell 12. Steve Mann 9+3
unbeaten.
Stuart Carter 17; Darren Kent 16+1.
The junior cup final which followed produced some contrasting racing. Bury
had the heat leaders, whilst Tameside kept packing in for the important
seconds and thirds. After 4 races Tameside lead by 1 point. Pearce and
Jarman scored a 7-3 over Mark Wylie. Lee Morgan continued his winning ways
in race 6. A super pass from Tom Doyle in the 7th gave Bury a further 7-3.
Doyle repeated the manoeuvre in race 9 and Bury had gained the initiative.
Stayley, Wylie and Moss continued to race hard, but further wins to all the
Bury big guns made the task very difficult. Bury winning 81-68. Both teams featured new riders, well done both.
Bury had Rob Pearce 20, Lee Morgan 20 and Scott Jarman 19+1, all unbeaten
and Tom Doyle scored important points.
For Tameside, Mark Wylie 13+1 and James Stayley 16 scored well, Chris Eaton
13 also scoring well.
