Summer finally arrived at Sittingbourne for the National Trophy clash with the powerful Mildenhall Fen Tigers at Central Park Stadium this afternoon with a number of incidents the packed Central Park Stadium crowd lapped up the sunshine with the Fen Tigers supporters returning to Suffolk with a 6 point win, 42-48 after a tough fought battle between the two sides.
Heat 1 started off with a Fen Tigers 5-1 for guest Robert Branford standing in for Stefan Nielsen who was otherwise occupied riding for his Premier League club. Backing him up was Aaron Baseby who was overtaken by new Kings skipper Steve Boxall inside exiting turn 4 but again shed a chain the following lap and had to push the bike to the finish line for his point.
Heat 2 was an eventful affair with Adam Kirby carrying on his good form with a win from partner Jack Kingston who fought his way past both Fen Tigers before almost losing it on the final bend but taking 2nd place by half a wheel length to level the scores 6-6.
Heat 3 The Fen Tigers pair Jon Armstrong and Josh Bates powered from the start sealing a 5-1 for the visitors with Ben Morley unable to real in the opponents.
Heat 4 Terry-Daley was excluded under the 2 minute time allowance with Rumsey brought in as a replacement. New signing Benji Compton powered away from the start the Fen Tigers pair tucked in for the minor places while Kingston pressed hard trying the outside line before Rumsey locked mid track turn 4 resulting in his bike snapping round and shooting him onto the centre green where he laid the bike down after doing well to avoid a collision with Rumsey. The race was awarded with the Fen Tigers maintaining the advantage 10-14.
Heat 5 Morley had the better of Branford until a last bend attack on the inside, Branford edged it across the line literally dragging Morley and his bike across the finish line after their machines became locked together, Morley bailed out while Branford came to a stop at the first turn. The Fen Tigers extended their lead to 6 points with Baseby tucked in for 3rd.
Heat 6 Boxall had the beating of the Fen Tigers pairing but all to no avail in the first running as partner Woods slid off and rolled through the 4th turn fence and was duly excluded from the re-run heat. Boxall started off back in front taking the re-run by a good distance from Halsey and Rumsey.
Heat 7 Another re-run after Kirby and Bates became locked together just before the 1st turn, referee Christina Turnbull allowed all 4 riders back for another chance. This didn't last very long, it was the same pair that caused the race to be stopped and awarded following Bates clipping the back wheel of Kirby at the start of the home straight launching himself into the fence 15 metres from the finish line, the Kings deficit now down to 4 points, 19-23.
Heat 8 Kings team manager John Sampford made his first change of the afternoon bringing in Kirby to replace Woods. Kirby obliged with a 2nd place while partner Kingston the early heat leader locked up 4th turn allowing Baseby an easy pass to take the win and eventually rolling in last place after losing his steel shoe, the Fen Tigers again extending their lead to 6 points, 21-27.
Heat 9 Kirby was brought in to replace Woods, and the boy did well flying into the lead and taking the win over Fen Tigers skipper Halsey, while misfortune for Morley who pulled up and retired on the last lap.
Heat 10 Another stoppage caused by Woods taking his 2nd fall of the heat resulted in the race being stopped and awarded to Armstrong with Boxall in 2nd spot wile Bates laid his machine down on the final 3rd turn to avoid a collision.
Heat 11 Re-run after Baseby and Kirby came together 1st bend and debut boy Compton took the honours from Branford his first defeat of the night.
Heat 12 three riders abreast exiting the 2nd turn, Rumsey took the advantage and powered on for the win. Morley who looked to be lacking speed while Kingston took the final scoring place as Bates retired before the end of the first lap.
Heat 13 Super-fast starts from the Kings pair leaving the Fen Tigers behind and closing the gap with the second maximum 5-1 heat advantage of the meeting, the scores were back down to a 4 point deficit for the Kent club, 37-41.
Heat 14 Armstrong made a fast start into the lead while Kirby and Terry-Daley battled for second spot. Entering the second lap Kirby was clearly dumped into the first turn fence after the Fen Tigers rider dived underneath; referee Christina Turnbull declared a re-run without Kirby much to the dismay of the supports!
In the re-run Armstrong stormed away untroubled for his 3rd heat win of the meeting guaranteeing the Fen Tigers victory.
Heat 15 At the second time of asking following an unsatisfactory start Boxall obliged with a tapes to tapes win while the Fen Tigers packed the minor places and the previously unbeaten Compton turned back to the pits retiring on the last lap with the Fen Tigers taking a 6 point win, 42-48.
The CTA Fire Kings face a trip to the Isle of Wight to face the Islanders in KO Cup action at 7.00pm tomorrow evening (Tuesday) at Smallbrook stadium.
KENT CTA FIRE KINGS 1. Steve Boxall (C) 1, 3, 2, 2', 3, = 11+1 2. Sam Woods R, FX, FX, = 0 3. Ben Morley 1, 2, R, 2, = 5 4. Connor Coles 0, 0, 2, = 2 5. Benji Compton 3, 3, 3, 3, R, = 12 6. Adam Kirby 3, 1, 2, 3, 0, FX, = 9 7. Jack Kingston 2', FX, 0, 1', = 3+2 Team manager: John Sampford
MILDENHALL FEN TIGERS 1. Robert Branford (G) 3, 3, 2, 1, 1', = 10+1 2. Aaron Baseby 2', 1, 3, 1', = 7+2 3. Josh Bates 2', FX, 1, R, = 3+1 4. Jon Armstrong 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, = 13 5. Daniel Halsey (C) 2, 2, 2, 0, = 6 6. Liam Rumsey F, 1', 1', 1', 3, = 6+2 7. Ryan Terry-Daley 1, N2, 1, 1, = 3 Team manager: Robert Henry REFEREE: Christina Turnbull
GATE POSITIONS: Fen Tigers won the coin toss and took gates 1 and 3 in heat 1. Kings took gates 1 and 3 in heat 15.
