The narrowest of margins in the most unlucky and dramatic of circumstances saw the Kent SLYDE Kings crash to their first Travel Plus National League [TPNL] defeat of the season at King’s Lynn on Wednesday (6/7) – but a valuable bonus point was gained keeping the Sittingbourne-based Speedway side still well in contention for the championship play-offs.
With the SLYDE Kings robbed by injury of no fewer than three of the side which has served them so valiantly in a splendid start to the season, it was always going to be a backs against the wall effort at the Norfolk Arena venue against a strong home septet (with no such worries) to continue the unbeaten run; but in fact going into the last three heats four points ahead. there was no doubt that in the end to finally succumb to defeat was a crushing blow.
Heat 13 after all saw the rider ‘guesting’ at number one, Rob Branford having ridden three times and delivered three immaculate race wins and he was partnered by skipper Danny Ayres himself coming into the race off the back of two successive heat successes. However the jinx which has bedeviled the ‘guesting’ no. 1 for the SLYDE Kings since this facility was triggered to cover for the broken ankle injury victim Luke Bowen reared its head again: the Aussie Branford crashing heavily on the second lap of the crucial heat leader race that is heat 13. Excluded from the rerun left Ayres alone to take on the homesters top two Josh Bailey and Nathan Greaves: a 4-2 for the Young Stars saw the lead down to two points with two to go.
That the meeting was so evenly poised at this antepenultimate stage of proceedings wasn’t in truth a surprise, as there was little more than in the way of a cigarette paper between the sides throughout the meeting. Branford’s previous dominance apart, there had been a certain amount of sharing out of wins among the ‘big guns’. Ayres succumbed to Greaves in his first ride and Bailey in his second, before blasting his side into a four point lead by winning heats 8 & 9 on the spin. James Shanes was disappointingly third behind Ryan Kinsley & Tom Stokes in his opener (a 5-1 in heat 3 which put the hosts ahead) but recorded a crucial win over Greaves in heat 7.
Returning to his home county, Jack Thomas was the busiest rider on view – having seven rides with a win in heat 2 and combining with Ayres for a 5-1 in heat 8 to end with a best ever away total of paid 12. Sadly though, his reserve partner Danno Verge had an evening to forget failing to trouble the scorer and the other ‘guest’ (in for knee ligaments injury victim Luke Clifton), Chris Widman was pointless also going into heat 14.
They used to say happiness was 40-38 and that lead gained after 13 races looked at most risk in heat 14 with Widman out again and Verge programmed to ride – sensibly Thomas replaced Danno but it was ride seven on the night for the teen: could he hold the fresher home riders at bay? Stokes did indeed win but Thomas and Widman filling places second and third meant that only an unlikely 5-1 reverse in the very final heat could end Kent’s proud unbeaten run.
Sadly though with Branford without a machine after his huge off in heat 13, Ayres and Shanes despite the most magnificent of efforts could not stop that actual eventuality, Greaves & Bailey securing what had minutes before looked a hugely unlikely home win.
Unbowed the SLYDE Kings now go into their next home match looking for more TPNL points (having secured a ‘bonus’ point at King’s Lynn due to the closeness of eventual defeat) – Rye House Raiders visit on Monday (11/7) at Central Park
King's Lynn Young Stars 46 1. Josh Bailey 2,3,3,3,2* 13+1 2. Scott Campos 0,1,1,1 3 3. Ryan Kinsley 3,0,2,2 7 4. Tom Stokes 2*,1,1*,3 7+2 5. Nathan Greaves 3,2,2,1,3 11 6. Lewis Whitmore 1*,1* 0 2+2 7. Shane Hazelden 2,0,0,0,1* 3+1
Kent SLYDE Kings 44 1. Robert Branford (G) 3,3,3,FX 9 2. David Mason R/R 3. James Shanes 1,2*,3,2,3,1 12+1 4. Chris Widman (G) 0,0,0,1* 1+1 5. Danny Ayres 2,2,3,3,2,0 12 6. Danno Verge 0,0,0 0 7. Jack Thomas 1,3,1*,2*,1,0,2 10+2