TEAM SPEEDWAY RETURNS TO THE ISLAND

Isle of Wight Wightlink Warriors 33 – Cradley Heathens 57 - Vince Mapley trophy 1^st leg

The Wightlink Warriors speedway team managed to beat the wet weather on Tuesday evening, but were no match for a rampant Cradley Heath side, in the first leg of the Vince Mapley Trophy in front of a bumper crowd at Smallbrook.

The home team weakened by the loss of skipper Arran Butcher (broken arm) and free scoring Ben Morley who was stuck on the mainland with work commitments were really up against it, although in fairness Cradley minus Conner Coles and Tom Spencer also had team issues.

Heat one showed nothing of what was to come as Darryl Ritchings stormed to victory for his first of six unbeaten races, that heat was split 3 a piece, but heat two was a different ball game as former Warrior Danno Verge showed that he still knows a fast way around the Smallbrook, track romping to victory, whist the home side tucked in behind him, however Heathens Charlie Wood (back from an arm injury), was determined not to stay too long at the back, picking off first Henning Loof and then Charlie Southwick in style to put the visitors 4-8 in front.

That lead was extended when 15 year old Ryan Ingram won the third with Nathan Hargrave who

was himself returning from injured taking third. Ritchings Made no mistake in the 4^th, but again

it was a shared heat with Parker and then Wood again picking off Loof. Verge and Wood then added to the home side issues with another 1-5 to open the gap to ten at 10-20.

The Warriors then started a fight back with Ritchings and Freeman taking a 4-2 off of Ingram and then Ritchings again this time with Loof taking a excellent 5-1 off of the previously unbeaten Verge (who was off of a 15 metre handicap) and Parker to bring the scores back to 19-23,

Wood and Verge then took a 2-4 before Ingram and Hargrave, and then Ingram again and Parker slammed home two successive 1-5’s to put the visitors well and truly in the driving seat at 23-37.

Ritchings stemmed the tide taking the tenth but with Wood and Verge taking the minor positions, the heat was again split.

Ingram was nominated to go off a 15 metre handicap in the 12^th, but with Hoof going through the tapes, he too was forced off of the 15 metre marker. When the race did start Hargrave shot into the lead with Morgan Williams in second and Loof third, Ingram first picked off the German and then Williams to join his team mate up front for a comfortable 1-5 and seal the match, for Loof though it was to be a forgettable time as he came down on the last lap after a chain brake.

Parker won the thirteenth with ease, with Hargrave who fell and remounted his machine taking third, this after taking a 15 metre handicap having failed to meet the 2 minute rule.

The penultimate heat saw Parker and Verge rub salt into the gaping wounds of the home side with another 1-5, before Ritchings had the final say taking the last to complete a superb six ride maximum.

Scorers Warriors; Ritchings 18, Freeman 5, Loof 4+1, Southwick 4, Williams 2.

Heathens; Parker 13+1, Wood 12+3, Verge 10+1, Ingram 13+3, Hargrave 9+1

In the Flat Trackers summer Championship, it was Jack Nobel who went through the card with 4 unbeaten rides with Anthony Brown taking the runners up spot.

Barry Bishop the Island promoter despite the result was gracious in defeat stating. "Despite the weather at the start of the meeting all of the riders put on a great show for the fans - I was particularly proud of the youngsters before the meeting who went out in rain - what an induction. 

The Heathens were just too strong for the Warriors on the night and deserved their win. We did have some bright moments with Darryl unbeaten, Southwick finding some form towards the end of the meeting and young Freemans getting amongst it. Hopefully when Ben and Arran return for the second leg the result will be a different story. 

The flat track riders put in a sterling job despite their bike really not built for wet track. However once the dirt had moved and the track dried we saw some excellent performances from them

Thanks to every volunteer who makes it happen, our sponsors and Wightlink who help bring our riders and staff over the Solent "

There is more track action next Tuesday when the Warriors take on teams from Weymouth and Cradley in a 3 team event for the much missed  Warriors team manager, Steve Piper who sadly passed away during the winter,  the main event has a 7pm start.

Ken Burnett

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