Speedway will be back at Iwade this weekend, as Cradley ARH Heathens head to the Old Gun Site for a challenge match.
Sunday afternoon will see the Kent promotion stage not just one but two special challenge matches.
First on the bill over the conventional fifteen heats the Kent Eagles are set to take on the Cradley ARH Heathens.
No doubt that uppermost in the minds of both camps will be the recent history that saw them pitched together a little over a week ago in the final four laps of the NORA Pairs Championship at Mildenhall.
The route to the final had seen both the Eagles and the Heathens head the qualifiers locked together on 19-points apiece. Importantly however it was the Midland side who could claim the initial bragging rights as they claimed a 4-2 over their Kent adversaries, Seth Norman appearing particularly impressive with a trio of wins in the lead up to the final.
As the two pairs lined up in opposition for a second time, momentarily it appeared that the Heathens might repeat the feat as both Luke Harris and Norman lead Ben Morley and Jack Kingston down the back straight. Morley wasn’t to be outdone however, and he swooped through on Norman’s inside and though no contact was evident the latter parted company with his machine. Kingston duly laid down in the hopes of avoiding his stricken opponent, but it appeared that he couldn’t help but run into him.
Confusion reigned as Kingston’s exclusion light ignited, but following a delay as referee John Strong viewed track side footage taken, he saw fit to reverse the decision and Norman was subsequently ruled out.
It would prove a wholly unfortunate end to the meeting for Norman who had up to that point proved one of, if not the star of the night courtesy of those three flying wins. Further misfortune would follow as he was taken to hospital where it was diagnosed that he had sustained a nasty back injury, one that rules him out of this weekend’s forthcoming contest.
Despite suffering a wrist injury, together with machinery woes of his own, Kingston chose to contest the final in which due to the revised scoring system both Eagles merely needed to complete the four laps to take the title. This they duly did though Morley made sure of the victory by leading Harris to the chequered flag to secure a 6-3 advantage in favour of the Kent duo.
That was the unfortunate element of an otherwise superb meeting that all four riders didn’t get to complete the four laps and taken the final to what would have proved an undisputable conclusion.
Whatever the circumstances, Cradley supremo Andy Hawthorne and his band of brothers will undoubtedly feel that there is unfinished business to be attended to.
With Darryl Ritchings, scoring well for Oxford, both in the Championship and in the National League, Ben Whalley and Harry Sadler, each of whom have performed well at Iwade in recent weeks they look to have a side capable of causing the Eagles problems.
Alex Spooner will need no introduction to Kent fans and Ben Phillips also can number many a lap around the Old Gun Site circuit. Their secret weapon could well be Charley Wood however who suffered an injury affected campaign for the Eagles last term but on his day, there is no denying that he knows the fastest lines around the place.
For Kent, Morley makes his return as skipper where he will join Edward Kennett in leading the side. With Kingston absent on National League duty with the King’s Lynn Young Stars, the club’s management have moved to engage the services of the free scoring Ryan Ingram as another worthy heat leader.
As ever Alex Chadd, Nathan Hargrave and Connor King provide the wholly capable back up and with that another absorbing contest is surely in prospect.
Kent Eagles: Edward Kennett, Alex Chadd, Ben Whalley, Nathan Hargrave, Ben Morley, Connor King.
Cradley ARH Heathens : Darryl Ritchings, Ben Phillips, Charley Wood, Ben Whalley, Harry Sadler, Alex Spooner