Kent Eagles slipped to a 51-38 defeat at Plymouth Centurions Coliseum circuit on Saturday however they were able to clinch the aggregate bonus point by a 5-point margin (92-87) by virtue of their 54-36 victory over Devon outfit at Iwade in mid-June.

With that it would appear that this all important point puts them within sight of claiming the runners up slot in the National Development Trophy table, the Eagles now sit in second place on 9-points with a travelling engagement away at Leicester still to fulfill. They now need to claim the bonus point in that match (currently they lead the Fox Cubs 47-41) to prevent Leicester jumping above them if they are to finish the job.

For much of the meeting there was little to separate the two sides, the scores being deadlocked at 27-points apiece as late as heat nine.

Ben Morley and Vinnie Foord, newly returned to the side combined to score twenty of the Eagles 38-point tally, and while Jacob Clouting, guest Kenzie Cossey and Charlie each enjoying moments to shine for the unfortunate Luke Harris it would prove a night he would rather forget.

For the Centurions, skipper Joe Thompson, who rode unbeaten by an opponent, Ryan Ingram and Ben Trigger did much of the heavy lifting, between them contributing 37 of their 51-points.

They opened with a brace of 4-2’s to establish an early 4-point lead.

The visitors countered with a 4-2 of their own as Morley saw off Trigger in the fourth before a brilliant effort from Clouting and Foord in race five saw them lead Ingram and Charlie Southwick to the chequered flag, the resultant 5-1 seeing the Eagles lead 16-14.

Further 4-2;s to the hosts in heats seven and ten respectively saw them overcome the deficit and turn it into an advantage of their own 31-29 with five races left on the card.

From there the Centurions made home knowledge count as they eased further ahead in the closing stages, finishing strongly with maximum 5-1s in each of the final two races.

As the dust settled stand in Kent Team Manager Emily Humphrey commented, ‘Well done to Plymouth, we gave them a run for their money and for a time we thought that we had them but in the end they proved worthy winners.’

However, we were determined to claim the aggregate bonus point and we did just that so effectively we achieved what we came here to do’. 

Centurions : Joe Thompson 14+1(5), Ryan Ingram 12(5), Ben Trigger 11(5), Eli Meadows 8+1(7), Charlie Southwick 5+1(5), Morgan Williams 1(3), Rider Replacement for Mickie Simpson. – 51

Eagles: Ben Morley 13(6), Vinnie Foord 7+2(5), Jacob Clouting 6+1(6), Kenzie Cossey (Guest for Nathan Hargrave) 5+1(4), Charlie Wood 5(6), Luke Harris 2+1(4), Rider Replacement for Nathan Ablitt – 35