National Trophy winners Isle of Wight Islanders make their second visit to Central Park on Monday 6.30pm this time round it's KO Cup action against the CTA Fire Kings. Following on from Tuesday's visit to the Island the Kings will be looking to forget the 63-31 defeat and bounce back from that meeting.
Apart from an opening heat advantage from Boxall and Woods the Islanders took the lead from and Ellis and Freemantle 5-1 and never looked back. Kirby suffered falls in heat 2 and in heat 4 where he was second at the time with Compton third. Compton was able to miss the fallen Kirby but Islanders Freemantle didn't catching Kirby on his left knee, thankfully for the young King nothing is broken and he is just suffering from soft tissue damage after withdrawing from the meeting.
After losing Kirby and with Morley having an off night Boxall top scored with 14 points including a heat 11 tactical ride win with Compton his only real back up with 8 points. A massive pay day for the Smallbrook side with guest Wright topping the charts with 15 and reserve Ellis 14+3. In fact the lowest score was from Stoneman on his swift return from injury although Stoneman is back on the injured list after falling on a dual carriageway layby on route back to his Devon home breaking his tibia. The rider replacement rule will be operated on Monday for the unfortunate youngster.
A change from team racing takes place at Central Park Stadium on Monday 1st July which is the first of an annual event, an individual event, The Kent Laurels. The Laurels title comes via the Cearns family connection with Wimbledon where the Laurels were staged for many years and it is hoped that the Kent Laurels will continue with the same success.
In addition to the Kings own riders acceptances have been received by Lewis Kerr, Steve Worrall, Ben Hopwood and Kasper Lykke for the Kent Laurels.
The first big event in the National League calendar, The National League Pairs takes place the day before the Kent Laurels. Steve Boxall and Ben Morley represent the CTA Fire Kings at Mildenhall, they have been drawn in Group B alongside Coventry, Mildenhall and Buxton. The meeting starts in Suffolk at 4.30pm.
NATIONAL LEAGUE PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP Group A Kings Lynn Young Stars – Darren Mallett and Lewis Rose Dudley Heathens – Ashley Morris and Lewis Blackbird Isle of Wight Islanders – Tom Perry and Ben Hopwood Stoke Potters – Lee Smart and Luke Priest
Group B Kent Kings – Steve Boxall and Ben Morley Coventry Storm – Robert Branford and James Sarjeant Mildenhall Fen Tigers – Stefan Nielsen and Dan Halsey Buxton Hitmen – Charles Wright and Adam McKinna
Prior to the Pairs and Laurels an added attraction on Monday 24th June in the home KO Cup clash against title favourites Isle of Wight Islanders, who in their ranks have the current Bronze Helmet holder Tom Perry. Perry will face a challenge for the title from Kings skipper Steve Boxall on the night.
Probably the toughest test for any side in this year's National league, the Islanders will be tough to crack. The Kings will need to be 100% for this encounter following the Islanders previous visit last month which was cut short after heat 11 due to rain, with the visitors running out massive winners 22-44. The visiting skipper Ben Hopwood was unbeaten in the curtailed meeting showing his liking early on for the new circuit, certainly one of the favourites for the Laurels the following week.
Team manager John Sampford said, "This is already a very tough match for our in-experienced second strings and reserves, any further weakening because of injuries would have been disastrous for us. Now the team are settling in to the new track, I am expecting better performances, but the Islanders with Adam Ellis a heat leader standard rider at reserve this will be a real test for the Kings."
Teams for Monday 24th June at Central Park from: KENT CTA FIRE KINGS from: Sam Woods, Steve Boxall (C), Adam Kirby, tbc, Connor Coles, Ben Morley, Benji Compton, Team manager: John Sampford.
ISLE OF WIGHT ISLANDERS from: Ben Hopwood (C), Darryl Ritchings, Tom Perry, Brandon Freemantle, Tom Young, Adam Ellis, Danny Stoneman RR, Team managers: Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd. REFEREE: Dale Entwistle
ISLE OF WIGHT ISLANDERS 63 KENT CTA FIRE KINGS 31 (NT) Tuesday 18th June 2013
ISLE OF WIGHT ISLANDERS 63 1. Charles Wright (G) 2, 3, 3, 3, 1, 3, = 15 2. Danny Stoneman R, R, N2, 2', = 2+1 3. Ben Hopwood (C) 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, = 14 4. Darryl Ritchings 2', 1', 1, 2, 3, = 9+2 5. Tom Young RR 6. Adam Ellis 3, 2', 3, 1', 3, 2', = 14+3 7. Brandon Freemantle 2', 1, 2', 2', 2', = 9+4 Team manager: Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd
KENT CTA FIRE KINGS 31 1. Steve Boxall (C) 3, 3, 6^, 2, R, = 14 2. Sam Woods 1, 0, 1, 0, = 2 3. Ben Morley FX, 1, FX, 1, = 2 4. Connor Coles 1, 0, 1, 1, = 3 5. Benji Compton 2, 2, 4^, R, F, = 8 6. Niall Strudwick 1, 1, R, 0, R, 0, = 2 7. Adam Kirby FX, FX, = 0 withdrawn Team manager: John Sampford
