Kent Eagles triumphed over the Mildenhall Fen Tigers with a resounding 52-38 victory in the first leg of the Pioneer’s Cup at Iwade’s Old Gun Site on Sunday afternoon.
The return of the man often dubbed Mr. Kent Speedway, Ben Morley was warmly celebrated by another healthy and enthusiastic attendance, and he quickly formed a dominant twin spearhead with Edward Kennett, each rider posting commanding wins in their first four outings.
By no means was this a two man effort however, it proved another solid team performance, Jack Kingston also posted double figures winning each of his final two rides, while the combined efforts of the sides engine room, solid contributions again from Connor King, Alex Chadd and Nathan Hargrave was arguably the factor in which the contest was won and lost.
By now means did the Eagles have things all their own way however, James Shanes, another Iwade favourite, top scored for the visitors with 12-points and he received solid support from Ben Whalley who weighed in with 10-points.
Kennett knew too much for Shanes in heat one, leading him throughout while Hargrave sped past Max Broadhurst in the early part to secure third place and an opening 4-2 for the host side.
Kenzie Cossey and Sam Woods looked set to strike back in race two as they eased clear of both Kingston and King from the start.
For more than three and a half laps, maximum points appeared that it would be the Fen Tigers reward, but Kingston produced a determined effort two bends from home. Cossey duly took the chequered flag, but Kingston had the beating of Woods. No contact was made, plenty of daylight existing but the latter lost control of his machine and fell leaving King clear passage through to snatch a share of the spoils.
It was like he had never been away as Morley seized control of the third. Chadd certainly looked lively moving through into second place down the back straight of lap one. Though Whalley had his measure regaining second heading into lap two, a 4-2 to the Eagles it remained with the progressive scores moving to 11-7.
It was honours even once more in heat four, Shanes producing an all the way win to deny King and Kingston, but the home side move two further points to the good (18-12) in the next as Morley cruised to his second win. Woods followed on in second place, but Chadd kept him honest, the Eagle holding onto the odd point for his sides third 4-2 in the five races so far contested.
That was pretty much the storey of heat six, Kennett powering to victory ahead of Whalley. Behind them Hargrave got the better of Patryk Daniszewski and with that the margin moved to 8-points, 22-14 progressively.
A degree of confusion reigned in heat seven after Shanes took a tumble on the second bend, having appeared to clip Morley’s, who was leading at the time, back wheel. Initial announcements suggested that the Fen Tigers number one had been ruled out of the restart but following discussions with match referee Les Drury, the decision was reversed.
That effectively proved to the benefit of the contest as the rerun witnessed a pulsating four laps of racing with Morley claiming the verdict from Shanes. With Chadd again proving his worth, another third place, this time ahead of Broadhurst secured a third successive 4-2 for Kent and suddenly the difference was in double figures, 10-points (26-16) now separating the sides.
Kennett made it three wins in three as he took command of race eight with a back straight pass of Cossey on lap one. Kennett was by then away and gone but behind him Cossey and Woods filled the minor places ensuring that the difference remained at 10-points, 29-19.
Whalley was improving race upon race and this was evident in the ninth as he posted an impressive gate to flag win at the expense of both Kingston and King but at the rear of the field Daniszewski was unable to land a blow so 10-points (32-22) still separated the teams with two thirds of the match having now elapsed.
Three further 4-2’s in heats ten, eleven and twelve saw the Eagles extend their lead to 16-points (44-28) at that stage and with that victory was secure.
The first of these observed another fine win for Kennett over Shanes, Chadd getting the better of Daniszewski for third place.
Kingston secured the first of his two wins at the expense of Woods in the eleventh while Hargrave saw off the challenge of Broadhurst.
Morley continued to reign supreme in race twelve with Whalley again, his unwitting victim. King had the beating of Cossey for the odd point and with that the match victory was in the bag for the Eagles, the only question that remained being how many points lead would they be taking to Mildenhall for the return on August 15th.
In spite of the scoreline, the visitors had posed stoic resistance throughout the contest and indeed it was at this point that the Tigers began to bare their teeth once again.
Daniszewski, without a point to his name thus far, twice gated, twice led and ultimately won heat thirteen ahead of Hargrave and Chadd.
Kingston seized the win in the penultimate race but Woods and Cossey again filled the minor places, this time ahead of King thus ensuring that the Eagles would not add to their lead.
The race on the card suggested otherwise with Morley and Kennett, each unbeaten with four wins to their names squaring up to the effervescent Shanes and the hard-working Whalley.
Many envisaged a positive outcome for the home side but how wrong they were soon proved to be as it was the Fen Tigers who would have the final word.
The race was a belter with Shanes making the start while Kennett and Morley combined to exert constant pressure.
Shanes wasn’t set to be denied however as he led Kennett to the chequered flag and the final ignominy for the home side was the sight of Whalley’s determined drive that carried him past Morley, condemning to last place and a closing 4-2, their one heat advantage of the afternoon.
With that, the final margin narrowed slightly to 14-points, the Eagles winning out by that 52-28.
That wasn’t the afternoon’s only winner however and the announcement that Alex Chadd had been awarded the Rider of the Afternoon by the Eagles ‘Kids Club’ was one that was warmly, and deservedly celebrated.
Reflecting on another entertaining contest, the closing comments belonged to Kent team manager David Graveling, “What a great day’s racing, our first win and all the riders scored well. And, by way of a bonus we take a 14-point lead we take a 14-point lead to Mildenhall for the second leg of the Pioneer’s Cup on August 15th”.
Scorers:
Eagles: Edward Kennett 14(5), Ben Morley 12(5), Jack Kingston 11+1(5), Connor King 5+2(5), Alex Chadd 5+1(5), Nathan Hargrave 5(5). – 52
Fen Tigers: James Shanes 12(5), Ben Whalley 10(5), Sam Woods 7+1(5), Kenzie Cossey 6+1(5), Patryk Daniszewski 3(5), Max Broadhurst 0(5) – 38
Pictures supplied by Tiffani Graveling.