Thanks to Bryn from Wightlink Islanders speedway team for this update. Ed
Despite being without both skipper Danny Warwick and teenage reserve Adam Ellis, the Wightlink Islanders put up a brave fight at Buxton yesterday before going down to a 47-43 defeat in their penultimate National Trophy match.
Warwick was unavailable because of a prior commitment, whilst Ellis had returned home to the south of France as he has to be at school today.
Our skipper’s absence was adequately compensated by a 10 point return from guest Lewis Kerr who backed up high scores from both top scorer Paul Starke (13) and reserve Danny Stoneman (12).
Heat 12 sees disqualification for Walter
The pivotal moment came in heat 12 when Wightlink Islanders’ No.7, Ross Walter, was disqualified from the re-start, after being adjudged by referee Margaret Vardy to have brought down Buxton’s Ryan Blacklock on the first lap.
In that re-start the home side scored a maximum 5-1 win with Steve Jones finishing third, leaving us trailing by twelve points at 42-30 with just three races to go and whilst we scored maximum wins in two of them, a 3-3 in heat 14 put the match out of our reach.
“We put up a good fight considering we were without both Danny and Adam,” commented Wightlink Islanders’ co-manager Chris Hunt after the match, “and at least came away from the Derbyshire Dales with a point for our efforts by restricting the home side two a mere four point win. Admittedly all four points for an away win would have been better but fair play to Buxton who beat us on the day.”
Final Score
Buxton Hitmen 47 Wightlink Islanders 43
Our Scorers: Paul Starke 13+1, Danny Stoneman 12, Lewis Kerr (G) 10+2, Ben Hopwood 5+2, Steve Jones 3, Ross Walter 0, rider replacement for Mark Baseby.
Image: Lee Jordan under CC BY 2.0
