Thanks to Bryn for this update from the speedway team, the Wightlink Islanders. Ed
The Wightlink Islanders go into tomorrow (Tuesday) night’s National Trophy match against Mildenhall at Smallbrook (start time 7pm) determined to gain revenge for the narrow 47-42 defeat they suffered in the away match up in Suffolk yesterday.
Having had their colours lowered for the first time this year, skipper Ben Hopwood and the rest of our team fully intend to make our visitors tomorrow pay for that by getting back to winning ways in style and sending the Mildenhall Fen Tigers back home with their tails very much between their legs and co-promoter Kevin Shepherd firmly believes that will happen.
He said,
“Ben and the boys fully intend to put yesterday’s disappointment behind them by chalking up another home win, and both myself and Chris (Hunt) are confident they will do just that.
“Under the National Trophy points scoring system we gained another point by running them so close in yesterday’s match and are now seven points clear at the top of the table having already won away against Buxton and Kent and that lead will be increased to ten providing we get maximum points from tomorrow’s match to put us very much on course to win the competition.
“We do have one or two riders carrying minor knocks but, being speedway riders, they won’t let that bother them at all so my message to everyone here on the Isle of Wight is get along to Smallbrook Stadium in Ashey Road, Ryde tomorrow and see the team, YOUR team, that’s taking the National League by storm!”
Mildenhall will be looking to ex-Islander Aaron Baseby the vastly experienced Jon Armstrong and the in-form youngster Stefan Nielsen for the bulk of their points scoring and all three hit the ground running tomorrow, then we could be in for a close match.
Having said that, it’s a match the seven Wightlink Islanders are very much looking forward too especially after what happened yesterday and it’s a match NOT to be missed.
Beaten in a last heat decider
The Wightlink Islanders’ unbeaten record so far this season finally came to an end yesterday (Sunday) at Mildenhall when a Fen Tigers maximum 5-1 advantage in the fifteenth and final race of a close enthralling match saw them clinch a 47-42 victory.
Nevertheless it was a fightlng performance fro skipper Ben Hopwood and the side who may well have held onto that unbeaten record but for a series of machinery problems encountered by two or three in the team, a shoulder injury picked up by Adam Ellis that prevented him from taking his maximum quota of rides and a nastily cut arm sustained by Darryl Ritchings when he was brought down unfairly in his second ride.
Wightlink Islanders co-promoter Chris Hunt, said,
“Yes we’re disappointed that we didn’t win, but given the problems we encountered as the meeting progressed, to come away with another National Trophy point to add to our total was something of an achievement really.
“Mildenhall is not an easy circuit to ride for visiting riders so whilst we’ve now been beaten for the first time this season, we can still take a lot of positives out of today’s match.”
Match details
National Trophy – Sunday May 19
Mildenhall 47: Jon Armstrong 13+1, Stefan Nielsen 11+1, Aaron Baseby 7+1, Josh Bates 6+1, Liam Rumsey 5+1, Dan Halsey 4+1, Nathan Stoneman 1+1.
IOW 42: Adam Ellis 12+2, Tom Young 9, Ben Hopwood 8, Tom Perry 6, Brandon Freemantle 5+2, Darryl Ritchings 2+1, Danny Stoneman 0.
Tom takes the bronze helmet
Prior to yesterday’s National Trophy match, our No.1 Tom Perry defeated Mildenhall’s No.1 Stefan Nielsen to relieve the latter of the coveted Bronze Helmet match race title. Tom won the toss for gate positions, chose the outside grid and led the four laps from start to finish.
Image: Lee Jordan under CC BY 2.0
