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Craven Shield : Thursday 3rd April 2008
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The Hammers did what was needed on Thursday evening at the East of England Showground by getting the draw against the Peterborough Panthers. That was sufficient to claim top place in their Craven Shield group comprising of the Hammers, the Panthers and the Ipswich Witches.
By winning the group the Hammers proceed into the next stage of the competition, although they will need to wait until after the Belle Vue v Coventry fixture has taken place to find out who they will meet. Poole, like the Hammers, won their group but the third group comprising of Belle Vue, Coventry, and Wolverhampton will be decided when Coventry travel to Belle Vue on Monday 14th April.
The top of the three group winners will go straight through to the Craven Shield Final whilst the other two group winners will met in a semi final with the winner of that tie, raced over home and away legs, going through to meet the top group winner. The Hammers have gained more points in their group than Poole so, at present, are the top winner but they could be overtaken by Coventry if the Bees win at Belle Vue.
If that happens Coventry will go straight into the final with the Hammers meeting the Pirates over two legs in the semi final. However, if the Aces beat the bees it will then all be down to race point difference as to who wins that group. In those circumstances the Hammers will go straight into the final. Belle Vue will need to win by at least 19 points against Coventry to win the group as any win by less than that will put Coventry through.
All Hammers supporters will, no doubt, be keeping an eye on what happens on 14th April up in Manchester.
Back to Thursday evening – It was a great performance from the Hammers at a track which, historically, they have never really done themselves justice. Without AJ is looked likely to be a struggle but, even though their guest, Davey Watt, managed just 6 points and Lubos Tomicek failed to score the team fought for every point. Lubos struggled all evening with his bikes failing to get sufficient drive around the big Showground circuit.
Leigh Lanham was very much on the pace and was only replaced in his final ride as a tactical move by the Hammers Team Manager, Jon Cook.
Ricky Kling had a sensational evening scoring a remarkable 14 points from his 5 rides. That included 3 race wins and was only beaten by home riders Hans Andersen, Kenneth Bjerre and Morten Risager. Kling was well supported by the Hammers captain, Adam Shields, who won 3 of his 5 races, was only headed by Hans Andersen (twice) and Daniel King.
Jonas Davidsson was only beaten by the Panthers captain Hans Andersen in his first 3 rides but was edged out in the important heat 13 by Andersen and King. It was a far improved performance from Joonas Kylmakorpi who is showing signs of getting fully back to race fitness after his injury problems last season. He fought for every point and was involved in some thrilling racing at the pacey East of England Showground raceway.
All in all it was a good team performance that seemed to please the band of Hammers travelling supporters. Everyone will now need to wait to see what happens in the Belle Vue v Coventry match on Monday 14th April before the Club knows whether they will go straight though to the final or have to meet Poole in the semi.
 Related Link: Scorechart
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