Weymouth Wildcats 61
J. Armstrong ………. 2* 3 3 3 - - - 11+1
B. Johnson ……….... 3 2* 3 1 - - - 9+1
L. Priest ………….... 2* X 3 2* 3 - - 10+2
K. Mason ………….. 3 3 2* 3 - - - 11+1
J. Herne ………….... 3 2 3 2* - - - 10+1
T. Webster ………… 3 1* 2* F - - - 6+2
K. Newman ……….. 0 XF XF 3 1 - - 4
Team Manager: Jem Dicken
Sittingbourne Crusaders 31
D. Felton …………. 0 2 0 1 - - - 3
H. Cook ………….. 1 1* 2 1 2 - - 7+1
A. Cunningham …... 0 0 0 - - - - 0
J. Hart ………….… 1 6^ 2 2 XF - - 11
A. Cross ………….. XF 1 1 - - - - 2
D. Berwick ……….. 2 0 0 0 - - - 2
A. Baseby ………… 1* 2 1* 1 1* - - 6+3
Team Manager: Chris Hunt
Referee: Christina Turnball
Heat Results
1. (re-run) Johnson, Armstrong, Cook, Felton, 54.2 5-1
2. Webster, Berwick, Baseby, Newman, 53.2 3-3 (8-4)
3. Mason, Priest, Hart, Cunningham, 53.9 5-1 (13-5)
4. (re-run) Herne, Baseby, Cross (f.exc), Newman (f.exc), 54.9 3-3 (16-7)
5. (awarded) Mason, Felton, Cook, Priest (exc) no time 3-3 (19-10)
6. Armstrong, Johnson, Cross, Berwick, 53.4 5-1 (24-11)
7. Hart (tact), Herne, Webster, Cunningham (f), 53.6 3-6 (27-17)
8. (awarded) Johnson, Cook, Baseby, Newman (f) no time 3-3 (30-20)
9. Priest, Mason, Cross, Berwick, 55.0 5-1 (35-21)
10. Armstrong, Hart, Johnson, Cunningham, 53.1 4-2 (39-23)
11. Herne, Webster, Cook, Felton, 53.5 5-1 (44-24)
12. Newman, Priest, r/c Baseby, Berwick, 54.7 5-1 (49-25)
13. Armstrong, Herne, Felton, r/c Berwick, 53.6 5-1 (54-26)
14. Mason, Hart, Baseby, Webster (f), 54.3 3-3 (57-29)
15. (re-run) Priest, Cook, Newman, Hart (f.exc), 55.2 4-2 (61-31)
In front of a large crowd on a warm May evening at the Wessex Stadium the Wildcats turned up the heat on the Crusaders in their most impressive outing yet. With all the home riders scoring well they took the lead from heat one and proceeded to open a 30 point gap on the visitors to take the win 61-31.
Jerran Hart looked impressive for the Crusaders after a disappointing first ride he donned the black and white colours in heat 7 in an attempt to close the thirteen point deficit. After coming out of the first bend third he proceeded to take Tim Webster down the home straight as they started the second lap then surprised Jay Herne going into turn one to hit the front. Herne pushed hard but was unable to reclaim the place giving Jerran a double points tactical victory but with the Cats packing in behind him he only managed to close the gap by 3 points. That was the only heat advantage the visitors achieved all night.
Jon Armstrong and Karl Mason both claimed paid maximums each dropping just one point to fellow team members. Luke Priest was also on for a paid 5 ride maximum had it not been for a questionable exclusion in heat five when the race was stopped after he passed Dean Felton up the inside in turn one running wide to block the opposing rider, the referee claiming unfair riding and excluded him.
Kyle Newman made a return to the Wessex after breaking his collar bone recently at the Isle of Wight and after three disappointing rides where he fell in all he claimed an impressive win in heat twelve leading from the gate backed up by team mate Luke Priest.
With the team now starting to gel well and the early season disappointments and mechanical gremlins well behind them, the Wildcats are now looking like a force to be reckoned with.
By Nick White
