Kent Eagles were victorious in the South Coast Challenge at the weekend, as they completed a comfortable aggregate victory over Isle of Wight Warriors

The Eagles heat leader trio of Ben Morley, Jack Kingston and Ryan Ingram were all in points hungry mood amassing 40-points and providing all but three of the fifteen race wins between them which in turn offered the visitors sextet very few opportunities to reduce the two-legged deficit.

The hosts opened with a flurry, racing into a 9-3 lead after two races, Ingram providing a classy and rapid win ahead of Mickie Simpson in a very fast time while Alex Chadd worked hard to fend off Harrison Rogers for a first heat 4-2.

A double dose befell the Warriors in race two, Charlie Wood suffering a first bend fall before Seth Norman running into difficulties after being passed by Nathan Hargrave. With Kingston already away and gone, Hargrave followed his partner to the flag for maximum points ahead of the ailing Norman for maximum points.

With the difference standing at 6-points (9-3), the Kent outfit already looked on course for a handsome victory, but the Warriors still worked hard to blunt the Eagles cutting edge filling the minor places in no fewer than five of the next six races to keep things close.

Morley was an all the way winner of heat three, but Ollie Binns and Arran Butcher combined to deny Connor King a way through.

A dramatic fourth race was twice halted following first bend falls, Rogers in particular looking a little second hand following the first of these. Hargrave was judged to have been at fault by the official the second time around, leaving Ingram to fly the flag for the Eagles in the third restart which he did to great effect leading home Simpson and Rogers to set the scoreline at 15-9.

The margin increased to 8-points, 19-11 following heat five 4-2 to the home side, Morley getting the better of Wood while King led Norman home, this proving to be the latter’s final ride of the meeting having aggravated a back injury.

Ingram made it three wins out of three in the sixth, but Binns and Butcher combined to get the better of Chadd and with that the scoreline moved to 22-19 (74-52 on the aggregate standings) in favour of the hosts.

Kingston produced a superb last to first burst around the opening bends to get the better of Simpson and Rogers but with Hargrave pegged at the back the difference (now 25-17) remained at 8-points.

Injury Rider replacement was introduced as cover for the withdrawn Norman but Simpson, taking his outing, was unable catch Morley who recorded his third win. With Wood leading Chadd home however, they did at least maintain the 8-point disparity, one that now stood at 28-20.

Binns finally earned some reward for the visitors hard working efforts, becoming the Warriors first man to the chequered flag in heat nine. Even better for them he shared a 4-2 with Butcher and in the process ended Kingston’s maximum hopes.

Kent would hit back with successive 4-2’s in each of the next three races, however, wrapping up the match and putting to an end any lingering thoughts of a comeback. Morley again beat Simpson with King similarly accounting for Rogers in the tenth.

Kent looked to be on course for a 5-1 in heat eleven as Ingram and Chadd led. Wood never gave up the chase however and finally picked off Chadd on the run into the line.

Further injury woes would strike the Warriors at this point unfortunately, this proving Butchers last outing following a mid-race retirement.

Kingston returned to winning ways seeing off Binns in the twelfth in a three-man race that saw King claim the odd point and the 4-2.

With the scores now standing at 42-30 heading into the nominated races, the visitors refused to give up the fight and finished in Warrior type fashion.

Binns claimed a second win in heat thirteen, this ahead of Hargrave with Rogers following on in third for the visitors second advantage of the match, a 4-2 that reduced the margin to just 10-points, 44-34.

The Eagles responded with maximum points in the penultimate race, Kingston and King recording the 5-1, however their task was made all the easier after Wood suffered a fall earlier on.

Simpson and Binns certainly impressed in the last however, handing out a first defeats to both Morley and Ingram to snatch a closing 4-2 for the visitors.

With that the final score settled at 51-39 to the Kent Eagles and an aggregate two-legged that stood at 103-72.

Scorers:

Eagles: Ben Morley 14(5), Jack Kingston 14(5), Ryan Ingram 12(5), Connor King 5+1(5), Nathan Hargrave 4+1(5), Alex Chadd 2(5). – 51

Warriors: Mickie Simpson 13(6), Ollie Binns 13(6), Charlie Wood 6+1(5), Arran Butcher 3+2(4), Harrison Rogers 3+2(5), Seth Norman 1(2) – 39

Speaking after the victory, Kent Team Manager David Graveling said: “What a great day, another good crowd were given some fantastic racing, lots of passing on a well-prepared track. Another win for the Kent Eagles, we thank the Isle of Wight for bringing their team to Iwade.

Images courtesy of Tiffani Graveling