The Kent Eagles take to the road once again on Wednesday evening as they prepare to face one of their toughest tests of the 2025 National Development Trophy campaign.
The Adrian Flux Arena, home of the King’s Lynn Young Stars, is the destination where they are set to do battle with the team who have so far proved the competition’s pace setters.
Following on from last Monday’s clash at Perry Barr against the Birmingham Bulls, a bitter sweet occasion that saw the Iwade outfit claim a match point courtesy of a 44-44 from the main contest but then feel they were potentially denied a further point in the super heat in bizarre circumstances, they know only too well that they will need to demonstrate every ounce of that dash, and then some, if they are to wrest any reward from their visit to Norfolk.
The Eagles will again enter the fray missing the talents of number one Nathan Ablitt who is still suffering with a wrist injury but once more Belle Vue Colts Freddy Hodder, who more than put in a shift on their behalf against the Bulls will again deputise as a guest.
Nathan Hargrave and Charlie Wood will also be absent, the former still feeling the effects of heavy falls suffered at Perry Barr, the latter being unfortunately unavailable. The Eagles will utilise the Rider Replacement facility in place of Hargrave while Plymouth’s Ryan Ingram steps in to guest in place of Wood.
The King’s Lynn Young Stars have certainly presented themselves as the team to beat so far in the National Development Trophy competition in 2025.
Jody Scott and Cooper Rushen, the latter having raised eyebrows in Kent Eagles opening fixture as he set a new track record at the Old Gun Site, form a powerful twin spearhead and together with Luke Harrison they have proved a dominant heat leader trio for the Young Stars that is certain to test the Kent outfit to the max.
Both have shown sensational form so far this term Scott earning a deserved call up from Redcar thanks to his early season exploits with the Norfolk side while Rushen has gone from strength to strength, a string of high scoring performances both for King’s Lynn and as a guest in addition to a hugely successful SGP3 campaign.
They head up a potent back-up cast that includes Max Perry, Arran Butcher, Harrison Rogers and Callum Mitchell, a septet than can produce points from any quarter.
The Young Stars began their season with a home and away success against Birmingham, winning 48-41 in the Midlands before following it up with a 52-38 success back at the Adrian Flux Arena.
They did likewise against the Leicester Fox Cubs, a 53-31 triumph on the road preceding a commanding 54-36 victory back in Norfolk.
A chink in their armour presented itself however as the Plymouth Centurions, Kent’s most recent visitors handed them their first defeat of the season by a 47-40 margin at the St Boniface Coliseum Arena in the last week.
This chink or indeed ray of hope will be a potential weakness that the Eagles will be looking to exploit as they endeavour to prevent their hosts from getting back to winning ways on Wednesday.
The Current standings see the Young Stars sit proudly of top of the National Development Trophy table with 10-points from the five matches so far contested while the Kent battlers lie in third, behind second placed Birmingham (7-points from 7 meetings) with 5-points from their three outings to date.
With Vinnie Foord, skipper Ben Morley and Hodder leading the charge they will feel confident that they can run the Young Stars close on their home shale. If both Jamie Etheringon and Luke Harris display similar dash as displayed at Perry Barr and should Ingram also come up trumps at reserve who knows? Any outcome is surely possible.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, the club’s management team, said: “The Kent Eagles, are eagerly anticipating what promises to be our toughest test of the season as we travel away to take on the highly talented Young Stars. With strength and skill evident throughout their lineup, this encounter will be a real measure of our squad’s determination and form.
“We’re under no illusions about the challenge that lies ahead, but it’s one we are relishing. Led by captain Ben Morley—fresh off an impressive showing at Birmingham—the team is brimming with focus and intent. He’ll be joined by the ever-consistent Vinnie Foord, and we welcome Freddy Hodder as a guest in place of Nathan Ablitt for this fixture.
“This match could well come down to a battle of the heat leaders, but we have every confidence in our second-string riders, who have consistently shown they are more than capable of scoring valuable points when it matters most.
“While securing an away win will be a tall order, keeping the scores tight could be crucial, with the potential for a bonus point on offer when the return leg is held at Iwade on Sunday, 10th August. Both legs will be hard-fought, and every point will count.
“We look forward to a competitive evening of racing and know the Kent riders will give it everything as we continue to push for success this season”.
Teams: (in alphabetical order)
King’s Lynn Young Stars: Jody Scott, Arran Butcher, Cooper Rushen, Max Perry, Luke Harrison, Harrison Rogers. Callum Mitchell
Kent Eagles: Freddy Hodder (Guest for Nathan Ablitt), Rider Replacement for Nathan Hargrave, Vinnie Foord, Luke Harris, Ben Morley, Jamie Etherington, Ryan Ingram (Guest for Charlie Wood)
Images courtesy of Tiffani Graveling