The latest from the Lakeside Speedway Press Office…
HAMMERS boss Will Pottinger admitted they just “didn’t have enough” to go all the way to the Championship Pairs final.
Richard Lawson and Nick Morris were knocked out at the semi-final stage by eventual winners Sheffield at Somerset on Friday night.
Just like the Fours at Redcar, Hammers just ran out of steam in the latter stages.
But boss Pottinger admits they are getting closer to glory. He said: “We were probably pre-meeting favourites but it’s never that simple.
“We just didn’t have enough in the end. Gate positions became paramount at the end of the meeting and that was vital.
“But we were close here and in the Fours. We are still in the title race for Play-Off places and the Championship Shield and KO Cup.
“The boys need to keep pushing. We just perhaps need a bit more luck along the way and we will pick up a trophy.”
The Hammers always looked likely to go all the way when they landed an opening race maximum over Scunthorpe.
Despite Morris being a tad hot and cold in the heats, with Lawson solid throughout, it was always going to be a tense semi-final.
But it was Howarth and Wright who prevailed with a strong first lap and it was game over for the Hammers stars.
GROUP A:
PETERBOROUGH 21: Michael Palm Toft 15, Scott Nicholls 6
LAKESIDE 21: Richard Lawson 13, Nick Morris 8
EDINBURGH 20: Ricky Wells 12, Erik Riss 8
SCUNTHORPE 14: Jake Allen 9, Josh Auty 5
BERWICK 14: Aaron Summers 9, Kevin Doolan 5
GROUP B:
SHEFFIELD 22: Charles Wright 12, Kyle Howarth 10
WORKINGTON 20: Nicolai Klindt 12, Ty Proctor 8
REDCAR 20: Ben Barker 10, Thomas Jorgensen 10
IPSWICH 19: Rory Schlein 15, Nico Covatti 4
GLASGOW 9: Chris Harris 5, Paul Starke 4
Semi-final 1: Workington beat Peterborough 7-2
Semi-final 2: Sheffield beat Lakeside 7-2
Final: Sheffield beat Workington 5-4
