BULLS BEAT CHAMPIONS FOR FIRST LEAGUE WIN

BUXTON ‘Ductair’ Bulls gained their first win of the season and their first league points since their return to the sport as they defeated league Champions Oxford Chargers 51-38 in the National Development League at Hi-Edge Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

The Bulls went ahead in heat three as Luke Harris and Arran Butcher combined for a 4-2 over Ashton Vale. They and extended their lead in heat four,  as guest Ben Whalley and Jack Roberts took a 5-1 heat advantage to give the home side a 15-9 lead.

A couple of 4-2 advantages for the Bulls opened up a ten-point lead for the Bulls.as Alfie Bowtell and Jack Shimelt combined to beat Darryl Ritchings before Whalley and Will Boraston gained their 4-2 advantage over Vale. The visitors were reduced to five riders after Harry Fletcher withdrew from the meeting after a fall at the first attempt to run heat seven.

Heat nine saw the Chargers gain a 3-2 advantage as Ritchings beat Harris, after Butcher fell for the Bulls and Emerson Betty fell for the visitors, leaving as the Bulls leading 31-22.

Buxton gained a further 4-2 in heat ten as Bowtell got the better of Vale with Roberts finishing third.

Oxford hit back in heat eleven as Jody Scott and Max Broadhurst returned the compliment, with Whalley splitting the visitors pairing.

A maximum 5-1 from Harris and Roberts over Vale virtually assured victory for the Bulls with three heats remaining, as the home side lead 42-29.

Chargers number one Scott inflicted Alfie Bowtell’s first defeat of the afternoon in heat thirteen as he and partner Ritchings gained a 4-2 for the visitors, this was quickly countered as Roberts and Butcher took a 4-2 for Buxton and in the final race Bowtell got his revenge on Scott as he took the chequered flag in the final race as the Bulls recorded their first win since they returned to the track.

Bulls’ stand-in skipper Alfie Bowtell commented “We are delighted to get our first win under our belts. We, we went close the other week at King’s Lynn and just fell short, but this afternoon, once we went in front, I felt we continued to push on, and not look back, and built on the early lead.

“I do feel that we are capable of now pushing forward and we will be looking to continue this performance next week against King’s Lynn.”

Team manager Laurence Rogers could not hide his delight, saying: “This was a very much- needed win, for us and we continued our improvement from King’s Lynn a few weeks back.

“Everybody deserved this win from the lads, supporters, track staff and everyone else that works behind the scenes.”

WSRA NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
BUXTON 51: Jack Roberts 14+2, Alfie Bowtell 14, Luke Harris 10, Ben Whalley 8, Arran Butcher 3+1, Jack Shimelt 1, Will Boraston 1.
OXFORD 38: Jody Scott 13, Ashton Vale 11, Darryl Ritchings 9+2, Max Broadhurst 3+2, Emerson Betty 2, Harry Fletcher 0, Senna Summers R/R.