| Leicester 'Lions' v Sheffield 'Tigers' |
British League |
20th July 1971 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Tot+Bp |
| 1. Ray Wilson © | ef | 2' | 3 | 3 | 8+1 | |||||||||
| 2. Norman Storer | 1 | 3 | tps | 0 | 4 | |||||||||
| 3. Graham Plant | 3 | (1)2 | 1 | 1 | (6)7 | |||||||||
| 4. Malcolm Brown | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||
| 5. John Boulger | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | |||||||||
| 6. Alan Cowland | (2) | (1) | (3) | (1) | (7) | |||||||||
| 7. Tom Leadbitter | (0)1 | (0)1 | 0 | (0)2 | ||||||||||
| Vic White | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Leicester 'Lions' | 1 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 34 | 38 | |
| Sheffield 'Tigers' | 5 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 21 | 26 | 27 | 30 | 35 | 38 | 40 | |
| Terry Thornhill | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| 1. Jim Airey © | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | ||||||||
| 2. Doug Wyer | 2' | 0 | 2' | 2' | 6+3 | |||||||||
| 3. Bengt Larsson | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1' | 2 | 6+1 | ||||||||
| 4. Bob Valentine | 0 | (0)1 | - | 0 | (0)1 | |||||||||
| 5. Arnold Haley | 1 | (2)3 | 2 | 1' | (6)7+1 | |||||||||
| 6. Bob Paulson | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||
| 7. Brian Maxted | (1)2' | (0)1' | - | (1)3+2 | ||||||||||
| Track record = 65.2 Ray Wilson, June/July '71 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 67.6 | 67.6 | 68.0 | 66.8 | 68.0 | 67.6 | 68.6 | 68.6 | 69.2 | 66.8 | 68.0 | 67.2 | 68.0 |
(Speedway Star & News Vol.20 No.18) Sheffield certainly gave the Lions a fright
and provided a keener match than many expected. With skipper Ray Wilson having to pull
out of the opening heat with a slipping clutch, the Lions were on the receiving end
of a 5-1. The Tigers then went further ahead in the next heat to lead 9-3.
Fighting rides by Boulger, Brown, Plant and Cowland over the next two heats saw the scores level. Then the Lions began to pull away, but still Sheffield hit back bringing in Airey as a tactical substitute to join Wyer in a 5-1 and reducing the gap to four points at the end of heat 8.
And although the Lions pulled away again, Airey and Wyer kept the Tigers in the hunt with another 5-1 leaving the scores standing at 35-31 with two heats remaining. Though Wilson won the 12th heat, points were shared, and the Tigers were left with the chance of at least one league point. But though Airey and Valentine tried hard, John Boulger tore home to complete his maximum and Plant held on to third spot as the Lions heaved a sigh of relief! (by Bill Cooper)
The Leicester riders averages from the last 6 meetings (used for team building purposes) clearly showed that Alan Cowland's average (1.13 = cma 4.53) had climbed above that of Norman Storer (0.89 = cma 3.56) and therefore he should not have been named at reserve.Following an official protest his points were removed and re-allocated to the riders he had beaten the score line changed from a 42-36 home win to a 40-38 away win for the Tigers. (Corrected scores in red.) Ironically this means the Tigers two tactical rides which helped win the match were both made when the scores were in fact level!
Co-Director Ron Wilson's programme notes following their recent narrow win in Manchester included;
... I have always been under the impression that Speedway supporters wanted to see good close racing above all else. I can only surmise that as far as Belle Vue is concerned, big home wins are the food for their appetite. At Leicester we shall continue to provide a well prepared track that all riders can produce good racing on, and if a team comes and gives us a good match or even beats us now and again I hope the Leicester folk will continue to give then a well-deserved hand of applause and appreciation.
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