IOW Wightlink Warriors 51 – Cradley Heathens 36

Isle of Wight Wightlink Warriors 51 – Cradley Heathens 36 (84 = 93) 

Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy 2^nd Leg

It was always going to be a tall order for the Wightlink Warriors to snatch the trophy after the first leg beating, but they wanted to regain some pride, and they certainly did that on a warm summers evening at Smallbrook.

With returning skipper Arran Butcher riding with a damaged right hand, the home side looked more of a team with only Henning Loof absent from the initially name squad. The visitors were without Charlie Wood, due to a leg injury picked up here last week, but like a true team member he had travelled over from Kent to support the rest of his team, they also brought in the experience Conner Coles to bolster their top end.

Darryl Ritchings continued his blistering Smallbrook racing with a storming heat 1 victory, Heathens James Shanes whist keeping him honest never really challenged, and with Mark Parker third the heat was shared 3-3. Heat two was also shared as Connor Coles romped to a comfortable victory with Charlie Southwick  second, but a fair few bike lengths behind and with Butcher clearly showing the effects of that hand injury back in third 6-6. The visitors went in front in heat three as Coles again shot from the start to head home Ben Morley and Nathan Hargrave riding exceptionally well to hold off Ryan Ingram. 8 -10. Ritchings won the fourth at a canter in a re-run race after Heathens Shanes was disqualified after crashing into the back of Butcher on bend 3, Parker snatching second from Butcher to split the home pairing. 12-12.

Morley found his winning formula in the fifth and was joined by Ingram for a 5-1 after first Danno Verges bike ground to a halt and then Shanes slowed on the last lap. 17 -13. Ritchings made sure the home side retained their narrow lead taking the sixth from the previously unbeaten Coles with Hargrave again collecting the important third place point. 20-16. Butcher then gained his first win in the seventh, holding off Shanes who was like a wasp swarming all over him, but not able to find a way past, with Southwick taking third the lead was extended to 24-18. That six point lead was stretched to 8, when Morley comfortable won heat eight, Harley Freeman picking up third after Verge again had mechanical issues. 28 – 20.

Coles stopped the Warriors charge taking the ninth from Southwick, Butcher who was nominated to go off of 15 metres by the oppositions team manager taking third after Parker had parted company with his machine. 31-23. The Heathen collected 4 points in heat ten when Shanes chased Ryan Ingram in what was the race of the night, Shanes swooped inside and out before a last gasp blast up the Smallbrook banking saw him fly around the outside to take the chequered flag on the line, Morley this time off of 15 metres retired from the race whilst at the back allowing parker the third place. 33-27. Ritchings was again on fire winning heat eleven, but with Verge and Hargrave behind him, the heat was shared and the destination of the trophy decided. 36-30. Coles gained his fourth win out of five, taking heat 12 from the chasing Southwick with Ingram third after Hargrave had fallen to keep it at six 39-33.

Heat 13 was re-run twice, first Verge was put back 15 metres by the referee for delaying the start and then rolling causing a stoppage and then after Hargrave slid off his machine with Harley Freeman showing the art of laying down his machine to avoid him in excellent style, although the two still bumped into each other, it could have been a lot worse. With Hargrave disqualified, Ingram saw off Verge in the re-run and Freeman who came down and remounted onto his machine, collected the third place point to increase the lead to eight at 43-35. Heat fourteen was something of an oddity as with Butcher withdrawing from the race due to his hand issue and no-one able to take the rider replacement ride for the visitors, there was just two starters Southwick and Parker, Southwick shot in front with the Heathen chasing, but an awkward tumble for Parker saw his race ended leaving the home rider unchallenged for the remained of the heat, giving off an unusual 3-0 result and confirming the home side victory on the night 46-35.

The final heat saw the Unbeaten Ritchings and Ben Morley take on Coles and the spectacular Shames.  It was the home side who made a fast start and raced to a comfortable 5-1 to finish the job in style, much to the delight of the large Smallbrook crowd 51-36.

Scorers;

Warriors; Ritchings 14+1, Freeman 2, Butcher 6+2, Southwick 1-, Morley 11, Ingram 8+2

Heathens; Shanes 8, Parker 6+1, Rider replacement for Wood (7), Verge 4, Coles 15, Hargrave 3+2

In the Essex Driver Training Ltd GT 140 Island Masters powered by One Estates Agents, there was plenty of action and a shock at the end too. In the qualifying heats favourite Edward Kennett and former winner Ian Clark had tied on 11 points each out of 12, Kennett showboating to victory in the first heat which was stopped and awarded after Max Broadhurst crashed heavily on the first turn and was unable to clear the track.

The grand final saw Clark off of gate one and Kennett off of four with Wayne Broadhurst and Steve Newsham the meat in the sandwich. Kennett made a fast start with Clark caught in traffic behind, whilst Kennett showboated and looked like he was having fun out front, Clark was working his way through the field into second place. With just over a lap to go Clark gained ground on the former International Speedway racer storming up the inside to take the lead, Kennett came back at him, but once again Clark twisted his throttle to take victory in fine style, with Wayne Broadhurst taking third position on the podium. It was a fitting end to a great nights entertainment, with some top racing leaving the crowd feeling they had had great value for money.

Promoter Barry Bishop said, It was always going to be an uphill task after the first leg score, but the Warriors restored some pride tonight and that was an excellent win against a very strong side. The was some super racing with the speedway and with the GT 140 Masters producing some great racing too, 25 action packed races, to everyone has gone home happy, there is no doubt that this is the place to be on a Tuesday night.

There is more action at Smallbrook on Tuesday when the Warriors take on the returning Mildenhall Fan-Tigers. 7pm start.

Image courtesy of Sportography.

Ken Burnett

www.T2TVMedia.com