City of Sheffield look ready for return to Premiership heights

City of Sheffield had a convincing win in the second British League (Division 1) match at their home track, Don Valley, on Saturday. At the halfway stage they head the division by two points over Cardiff AC and are a massive six points clear of the third club. There would have to be a major upset in the remaining two fixtures to prevent them going back into the Premiership next season.

The Sheffield team were particularly strong in the throws. Matt Lambley (66.26) and Simon Bissell (44.13) scored maximum points in the hammer for the second successive time and Jamie Williamson (16.98) and Daniel Brunt (14.78) got full points in the shot. Williamson was also runner up in the discus (47.37) with Bissell winning the B event (54.01). The javelin, too, produced good points for Sheffield, Lee Doran winning for the second successive time with a throw of 67.72 and Roger Skedd third in the B event (52.27).

Skedd also won the 110m hurdles (14.42) and was first in the B long jump with 6.84. With Graeme Matthews winning the A event with a leap of 7.04, the long jump was another maximum point event for Sheffield.

Predictably, Luke Cutts won the pole vault for Sheffield with clearance of 5.20.

On the track, Sam Ellis (1:51.36) and Steve Evison (1:53.16) were runners up in the 800m, the 400 hurdles where Steve Garrett (53.14) and Tom Grantham (55.25) both took second place. Matt Quine was runner up in the 400m (47.91) and Matt Bowser was second in the 5000 (14:52.16) and third in the 1500 (3:52.17).

Leeds City were disappointing in their Division 2 match at Kingston, tailing last. The 1500m was the best event for Leeds, James Wilkinson was runner-up in 3:54.82 and Michael Salter third in the B race (4:04.59). Mauizbian Ali was runner-up for Leeds in the steeplechase (9:27.2) whilst in the field Sam Allen was second in the javelin

Leeds City women's team finished fifth in their second round of the UK League (Division 3) at Tooting Bec yesterday, just 11 points away from the runner-up spot.

Wakefield finished seventh in their UK Women's League (Division 2) match at Stevenage yesterday.