EVERGREEN Lakeside star Peter Karlsson denied the Buildbase Bees an away win at Purfleet – but a battling effort from the visitors was rewarded with an Elite League point.
Karlsson, at the age of 42, was the quickest rider on show by a distance, and scored 17 points from a possible 18 to see his play-off chasing side to a narrow victory.
But the Bees deserve credit for the way in which they clawed their way back into the meeting after conceding two 5-1s in the opening three races to find themselves eight points down, and they deserved to take something at the start of a busy week.
Gate positions played a part in the early deficit with the outside starting position proving particularly unfavourable, but Bees quickly produced a series of heat wins with Scott Nicholls pulling off a number of clever manoeuvres on the tight Purfleet circuit.
Guest Jan Graversen was the Bees’ first winner before Nicholls worked his way from third to first in Heat 4, but skipper Chris Harris had been baulked in the opening race and Edward Kennett was the victim of first-bend bunching in Heat 3 before coming down again in the re-run.
Nicholls’ smart second-bend move on Davey Watt in Heat 6 instilled some belief into the Bees, and 4-2s followed in the next three races as they trimmed the gap to just two points with Karlsson suffering his only defeat in Heat 9 at the hands of Nicholls – the Swede having had to start from 15 metres back after exceeding the time allowance due to bike problems.
But Lakeside’s misfortune in that race, which also included a stoppage for Stuart Robson, was paid back in the next when Kenni Larsen fell on the final turn just when Bees looked set to level the scores with a second win of the night for Kennett.
They then refused to allow the Hammers to pull away, even after a Lakeside 4-2 in Heat 12, as skipper Harris took a fine win over Watt in Heat 13, with Nicholls third to leave it at 40-38, but the introduction of Robert Mear into Heat 14 helped the Hammers to a 4-2 and a four-point advantage.
With Harris and Nicholls out again in Heat 15 and off the favoured gates one and three, their hopes of snatching a draw were raised when they made good starts, but the wily Karlsson was quickly onto a fast line around the outside, and he surged into bend three ahead to secure victory on the night for his side.
That gave Lakeside two points towards their play-off challenge with the Buildbase Bees taking one for staying within six on the night.
Boss Blayne Scroggins said: “We’re pleased with the performance on a very slick track where you had to get out of the gate. The boys all dug deep and once they got their set-ups right, we did okay.
“Everyone chipped in and we have to be happy with the point. It’s also pleasing to see that the team spirit is pretty good at the moment considering what’s happened over the last few weeks, and the riders are working well together.
“It’s important that we have a good finish to the season in the league, and then concentrate on the Knockout Cup.â€
LAKESIDE 47: Peter Karlsson 17, Davey Watt 9, Robert Mear 8, Kim Nilsson 6+3, Stuart Robson 5+1, Justin Sedgmen 2+2, Jonas Davidsson r/r.
BUILDBASE BEES 43: Scott Nicholls 11+1, Chris Harris 10, Edward Kennett 8, Aaron Summers 5+2, Kenni Larsen 4, Jan Graversen 4, Michal Szczepaniak 1.
LAKESIDE 47 Davey Watt 3 2 2 2 0 = 9 Kim Nilsson 2* 1* 2 1* 0 = 6+3 Peter Karlsson 3 3 2 3 3 3 = 17 Stuart Rohson 2* 0 2 R 1 = 5+1 Jonas Davidsson Rider Replacement Justin Sedgmen 1* 1* 0 0 = 2+2 Robert Mear 2 2 0 1 3 = 8
BUILDBASE BEES 43 Chris Harris 1 2 2 3 2 = 10 Aaron Summers 0 1* 3 1* = 5+2 Edward Kennett R 3 3 2 = 8 Kenni Larsen 1 1 0 2 = 4 Scott Nicholls 3 3 3 1 1* = 11+1 Jan Graversen 3 0 1 0 = 4 Michal Szczepaniak 0 0 1 F = 1
