Somersham v East London
29/9/2002 SE1
Somersham needed to win their last South East league match of the season to possibly gain 3rd in the table, but after losing a tight tussle against East London, the Stars could actually finish bottom such is the closeness for the minor placings.
East London made the better start with team riding from Dave Gott and Dave Hughes giving them maximum points in the first race. Somersham's Barry Copping gated well and helped pull a couple of points back, but the home side's best chance came in heat 8 after Hughes was excluded at the tapes. In the rerun Luke Hodgkinson came from the back to join Andy Mittell and the Stars were instantly a point in front.
The gap was maintained for 3 races but in the second half visitors Lee Ridgewell and Kevin Smith suddenly sprang to life and East London regained their lead. A lost chain for Simon Turnbull didn't help pull the points back but Somersham's main downfall was a lack of race winners - just 4 to East London's 14. Only Stars' Richard Williamson was able to mix it consistently, while for the visitors Les Stevens impressed most with a 5 ride maximum.
Somersham 82
R Williamson 14, B Copping 14, A Mittell 12, G Brown 11, S Turnbull 9, P Mittell 8, L Hodgkinson 7, S Copping 6, A Turnbull 1.
East London 96
L Stevens 20, S Woodroof 16, D Hughes 16, D Gott 12, L Ridgewell 12, K Smith 10, A Smith 6, S Harvie 4